Stat of the Day: Novak Djokovic notches 90th career match win at Wimbledon
The Serbian's four-set win over Hubert Hurkacz puts him into the quarterfinals for the 14th time at the All England Club—among other incredible things.
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Coming into Sunday's fourth-round encounter at Wimbledon between Novak Djokovic and Hubert Hurkacz, the Pole was one of two players who had yet to drop serve this fortnight. The tennis gods apparently decided to put Hurkacz's serve to the test, summoning the greatest returner in the sport's history to the opposite side of the net.
Hurkacz will leave the All England Club having been broken just once—a battle perhaps won. Yet he lost the war, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4. In doing so, the Serbian won his 90th career match at the historic grass-court Grand Slam.
Djokovic, who has won the past four editions of The Championships, is vying to win his eighth career title at the All England Club, which would tie him with Roger Federer for most all time. He now stands just 15 matches away from Federer's match-win total of 105 at SW19.
The match was completed on Monday, after the first two sets ended with roughly 25 minutes of time remaining before local curfew. Upon return, a familiar pattern resumed: hold, hold, hold. That is, until Hurkacz earned two break chances—his first two of the contest—returning up 6-5.
Djokovic snuffed the first break point away with an ace, but a forceful return from the No. 17 seed helped swing the second chance in his direction; it ended with a Djokovic ball into net.
But Djokovic, as he often is at Wimbledon, would not be denied.
"This is his moment to crack the Hurkacz serve," ESPN's Chris Fowler said from Centre Court when Djokovic got to 15-40 while returning at 3-3 in the fourth set. Hurkacz snuffed away the first break point away with aggression—and then wiped the second away the second with a 135 M.P.H. ace. Another ace followed.
But, on Djokovic's third break point of the game, Hurkacz finally capitulated—which is all the opening the superb Serb needed.
Other achievements Djokovic secured with his 90th win at Wimbledon:
- 14th Wimbledon quarterfinal
- 56th Grand Slam quarterfinasl
- 43rd straight win on Centre Court
- 32nd win in a row at Wimbledon
- 25th win in a row at a Grand Slam