Novak Djokovic came through a testing Wimbledon workout to stay on course for a record-equalling eighth men’s title, then went and watched as Andy Murray moved a step closer to his emotional exit.
Jessica Pegula became the highest-ranked player to exit the tournament so far, dumped out by China’s Wang Xinyu in the second round but women’s top seed Iga Swiatek cruised through.
Seven-time champion Djokovic did not have it all his own way against British wild card Jacob Fearnley but came through 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in a match lasting three hours.
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Osaka crashes out in second round | 01:16
It appeared to be business as usual for the Serbian as he coasted into a two-set lead on Centre Court but the 277th-ranked Fearnley broke his illustrious opponent twice in the third set to reduce the deficit.
Fearnley, playing in his first Grand Slam, carved out two break points in the sixth game of the fourth set but missed his chance and Djokovic broke in the 11th game before serving out for the win.
“I didn’t have a chance to see him play,” said Djokovic, 37. “Actually two days ago, I saw him for the first time.
“Obviously there’s always an element of surprise and with him having nothing to lose.” “Most of the British players grow up being exposed to grass courts, quick surfaces, so they know exactly how to play. It’s a very windy day, very challenging conditions and I thought he served very well.”
Djokovic, who is playing with protection after a recent knee operation, is seeking to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s titles and is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
PEGULA SENT PACKING
Fifth-ranked Pegula went down 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1 to China’s Wang Xinyu, who celebrated her first win against a top-10 player.
The American battled back after losing the first set, saving a match point in the second-set tie-break, before levelling the match.
But China’s 42nd-ranked Wang raced into a 5-0 lead in the decider and sealed the deal.
Wang, 22, said: “Couple of days ago I was asking my coach, ‘When will this happen?’ “Jessica was really tough to play on grass. Her ball was super low and I’m just really happy I won in the end.” Wang will face Harriet Dart, who defeated Nottingham champion Katie Boulter in an all-British clash for a spot in the last 16.
World number one Swiatek progressed smoothly into the third round at the expense of Croatia’s Petra Martic, racking up a 21st straight win.
A single break in each set was enough to give the 23-year-old, who has never been past the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Elsewhere on day four of Wimbledon, two-time finalist Ons Jabeur beat US qualifier Robin Montgomery in straight sets while Elena Rybakina, the 2022 women’s champion, finished strongly to beat Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
On the men’s side, 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov came back from two sets down to beat China’s Shang Juncheng while Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka exited at the hands of Gael Monfils.
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, seen as an outside tip for the title, was forced to quit his second-round match against Arthur Fils with a knee injury.
French Open finalist Alexander Zverev saw off Marcos Giron in straight sets but Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed out in four sets to Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.
AUSSIE DUO TOPPLES MURRAY BROTHERS
Andy Murray suffered a losing start in his farewell to Wimbledon on Thursday when he and brother Jamie were defeated in the first round of the men’s doubles before the former champion wept openly on Centre Court.
Murray, a two-time Wimbledon singles champion, and his brother lost 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 to Rinky Hijikata and John Peers of Australia.
The 37-year-old is not finished yet with the tournament as he is scheduled to play mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu.
“It was really special to play with Jamie. Physically it was not easy but I’m glad we got the chance to do this one time together,” said Murray.
Tears flowed when video tributes were paid to Murray by the a number of stars including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Career-long rival Djokovic was courtside to witness Murray’s emotional evening in the spotlight.
Murray received a standing ovation when he walked onto Centre Court alongside his brother, older by 15 months and a winner of two Grand Slam men’s doubles titles.
Up in the players’ box, his family, including mother Judy, father William, wife Kim and two of his children joined in the applause.
The famous arena witnessed some of Murray’s most dramatic moments. His tearful 2012 final loss to Roger Federer was followed by Olympic gold weeks later.
In 2013 he claimed his first Wimbledon title, ending a 77-year wait for a British male champion, and added another three years later.
The former world number one was treated to more ecstatic cheers when it was announced it was his turn to serve.
Murray had withdrawn from singles duty at the tournament after failing to recover from surgery to remove a cyst on his spine.
Hardly surprisingly, Murray appeared stiff in his movement, not helped by the chilly temperatures, which dipped to 18 degrees.
The brothers had a set point in the opener, which they were unable to convert. Hijikata made them pay with a drive forehand down the middle of the court when it came to his turn to capitalise on his team’s set point.
“Let’s go” shouted Andy Murray when he and Jamie staved off break points on his serve in the opening game of the second set.
Murray had grimaced as he struggled on serve – he defiantly clenched punched the air when he prevailed.
Moments later, Murray treated his fans to his trademark, nerve-tingling roar that has regularly bounced around Centre Court for the best part of two decades as he unleashed a winning forehand for a 2-0 lead in the second set.
The euphoria was brief as left-handed Jamie was broken.
Peers unintentionally speared a fierce forehand at the body of Andy Murray and immediately apologised.
Jamie dropped serve again as the Australian pair moved into a 4-3 lead with Hijikata eventually sealing victory with a smart backhand down the centre.
DAY FOUR RESULTS
Men’s Singles 2nd Round
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) bt Daniel Altmaier (GER) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 1-6, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4
Ben Shelton (USA x14) bt Lloyd Harris (RSA) 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 7-6 (10/7)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x10) bt Shang Juncheng (CHN) 5-7, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)
Francisco Comesana (ARG) bt Adam Walton (AUS) 7-5, 1-6, 6-7 (12/14), 6-1, 7-6 (10/8)
Lorenzo Musetti (ITA x25) bt Luciano Darderi (ITA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4
Taylor Fritz (USA x13) bt Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Alejandro Tabilo (CHI x24) bt Flavio Cobolli (ITA) 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 4-6, 6-4
Cameron Norrie (GBR) bt Jack Draper (GBR x28) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6)
Arthur Fils (FRA) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL x7) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 2-6, 6-6 – retired
Roman Safiullin (RUS) bt Tomas Machac (CZE) 6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
Lucas Pouille (FRA) bt Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 2-6, 7-5, 5-2 – retired
Alex De Minaur (AUS x9) bt Jaume Munar (ESP) 6-2, 6-2, 7-5
Holger Rune (DEN x15) bt Thiago Seyboth Wild (BRA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Quentin Halys (FRA) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x21) 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) bt Tomás Etcheverry (ARG x30) 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Jacob Fearnley (GBR) 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5
Women’s Singles 2nd Round
Iga Swiatek (POL x1) bt Petra Martic (CRO) 6-4, 6-3
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) bt Katerina Siniakova (CZE x27) 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
Bernarda Pera (USA) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA x23) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x13) bt Daria Snigur (UKR) 6-3, 6-0
Danielle Collins (USA x11) bt Dalma Gálfi (HUN) 6-3, 6-4
Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA x20) bt María Camila Osorio (COL) 3-0 – retired
Barbora Krejcíkova (CZE x31) bt Katie Volynets (USA) 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5)
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) bt Cristina Bucsa (ESP) 7-6 (7/1), 6-3
Elena Rybakina (KAZ x4) bt Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Anna Kalinskaya (RUS x17) bt Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 6-4, 6-1
Ons Jabeur (TUN x10) bt Robin Montgomery (USA) 6-1, 7-5
Elina Svitolina (UKR x21) bt Jule Niemeier (GER) 6-3, 6-4
Harriet Dart (GBR) bt Katie Boulter (GBR x32) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/8)
Wang Xinyu (CHN) bt Jessica Pegula (USA x5) 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1
Daria Kasatkina (RUS x14) bt Yuriko Lily Miyazaki (GBR) 6-0, 6-0
Paula Badosa (ESP) bt Brenda Fruhvirtova (CZE) 6-4, 6-2
Marta Kostyuk (UKR x18) bt Daria Saville (AUS) 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4
Madison Keys (USA x12) bt Wang Yafan (CHN) 6-2, 6-2
