Novak Djokovic won a grind-out encounter while Andy Murray’s men’s doubles debut faltered in Wimbledon action on Thursday.
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DJOKOVIC WINS WIMBLEDON GRIND-OUT MATCH, OUSTS 22-YEAR-OLD SCOTTISH FOE
Djokovic won a grind-out matchup by ousting 22-year-old Scottish player Jacob Fearnley, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, on Center Court.
The world No.3 had his recently operated knee tested against Fearnley.
The Serbian would later display steady nerves in the fourth set to pull off the win.
“Can I be playing better and moving better? Yes, absolutely,” Djokovic said.
“So I’m hoping as the tournament progresses each day or each match I’ll be feeling a bit better,” he added.
The seven-time All-England champion could not close out his younger Scottish opponent because he “was not really comfortable in my own skin, particularly in the third and fourth.”
Furthermore, Djokovic advances to the third round against Australian Alexei Poyrin.
ANDY MURRAY’S MEN’S DOUBLES DEBUT FALTERS IN LOSS TO AUSTRALIAN TANDEM
Moreover, Andy Murray’s men’s doubles debut faltered, as he and his brother Jamie lost to an Australian pair.
The Murray brothers played through back pain as they battled through a tough opening set before they yielded a 7-6(6), 6-4 loss against Rinky Hijikata and John Peers.
Furthermore, Andy Murray described as “really special” the chance to play with Jamie on the court together.
“Yeah, it was obviously really special. We never got the chance to do it before. There was a chance this year,” Andy said.
“Obviously, it was a bit of a race against time to try and get out here, and physically it wasn’t easy today,” he added.
Andy will get another chance when he teams up with fellow Brit Emma Raducanu in the mixed doubles competition starting on Friday.
PEGULA LATEST WOMEN’S SEEDED PLAYER TO FALL, LOSES AGAINST WANG XINYU
Meanwhile, Jesica Pagula became the latest highest-seeded women’s player to fall after she lost against Wang Xinyu, 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-1.
World No.42 Wang posted 38 winners, while Pegula had 33 unforced errors to stem the tide in her favor.
Pegula hoped to top her quarterfinal appearance at the All England Club last year but instead joined world No.3 Aryna Sabalenka on the sidelines.
Sabalenka withdrew before the first round due to a shoulder injury.
“I would love to say it was good because I won a tournament, but obviously losing second round here isn’t ideal,” Pegula said.
“I definitely felt like I was playing better on the grass than I have in the past but for some reason it didn’t really seem to click,” she added.
Moreover, Wang won over a top-10 player for the first time as she advanced into the next round against Harriet Dart.
Dart reached the third round after she defeated Briton Katie Boulter, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(8).
