Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon fourth round for the 16th time on Saturday after taking a break to help the Centre Court crowd celebrate England’s Euro 2024 win over Switzerland in Germany.
Djokovic claimed a battling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin as he stayed on course for a record-equalling eighth title at the All England Club and 25th Grand Slam.
He has now made the last 16 at the majors for a 65th time while Saturday’s win was also the 95th at Wimbledon for Djokovic who underwent knee surgery last month.
Djokovic also marked England’s quarter-final win over Switzerland by imitating taking a penalty kick during the match.
Having lost the first set 6-4, seven-times champion Djokovic was leading 4-1 in the second when fans inside Centre Court let out a huge roar and applause to mark the England national team’s penalty shootout win in Dusseldorf.
While Djokovic shadow-kicked the ball, his Australian opponent took on the role of goalkeeper, shaping to make a save.
WATCH:
Centre Court erupts as the news that @England have won on penalties filters through #Wimbledon | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/OoKv7n1tVo— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2024
“I assumed it was a penalty shootout between England and Switzerland – it felt like for a set and a half the crowd really wanted to understand what the score is in the football match,” explained Djokovic.
“Did England win in the end? That’s why you guys stayed. Congrats to England.”
He added: “I tried to shoot a penalty, I’m left-footed, but Alexei defended it well.”
Social media users though were split on the reaction of the crowd as well as the players-
This match Bit like England’s performance, popyrin/swiss strike first but novak/ don’t take long to level things up then /probs Novak win pic.twitter.com/zSu2hfY90F— S.a.m (@sam__wxm) July 6, 2024
What a great moment. And great awareness from the two players to take it all in good spirit. They read the room.— HeyJoe (@NoggNoggin) July 6, 2024
ITS COMING HOME!— ZAIN (@apkewaalid) July 6, 2024
You should show Popyrin defending skills too— Tomasz Dubiel (@TomaszD24) July 6, 2024
Odd. If you’re that arsed why are you sat watching tennis when there’s a 1/4 final on— Big Jim (@baldybastardUtd) July 6, 2024
Not only is that extremely weird behaviour, it is so rude and disrespectful to the players.— Stuart C (@sc1874) July 6, 2024
World number two Djokovic will face Holger Rune, the 15th seed from Denmark, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Rune, a quarter-finalist last year, defeated Quinton Halys 1-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 to register his first win from two sets down.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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