Novak Djokovic secured his spot in the third round of Wimbledon by claiming a four-set victory over British wildcard Jacob Fearnley.
Djokovic emerged a 6-3 6-4 5-7 7-5 victor on Centre Court as he aims to lift a 25th grand slam title just weeks after undergoing knee surgery.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion had to wait until the eighth game to finally earn a break point against the world number 277, claiming the first set soon after.
Fearnley continued to impress, again going toe-to-toe with the Serbian, but was undone by a sole break once more as he found himself two sets down.
However, the Edinburgh-born star would roar back in the third set, serving five aces along the way to put pressure on the world number two.
Despite Fearnley's spirited display in a close fourth set, Djokovic's class would prove too much, ending a three-hour encounter with a strong forehand on match point.
"I was not really comfortable in my own skin in the third and fourth sets," said Djokovic, who was relieved the match did not go the distance.
"Sometimes you have rough days where you are maybe not feeling your best.
"Of course it depends on your opponents across the net. Jacob played at a high level and he made me earn this victory.
"He played very good tennis and deserves a great round of applause. It was a great effort from Jacob, he played great. I had not had a chance to see him play until two days ago. There is always an element of surprise and nothing to lose.
"Playing him at Wimbledon was always going to be tough. Most of the British players grow up being exposed to grass courts, quick surfaces, so they know how to play.
"I thought he served very well. It was very difficult to break his serve. He made me work. I was probably a bit lucky in the fourth not to go a break down.
"I could have won the match in three but this match potentially deserved to go into a fifth, with the way he played in the fourth. But I am very glad it didn't."
Djokovic will play Alexei Popyrin in the next round of the competition on Saturday as he continues to build up his fitness.
"On my side, I should have done some things better when I was a break up in the third," he said.
"Can I be playing better and moving better? Absolutely. I hope as the tournament progresses I'll be feeling much better."
Data Debrief: Djokovic progresses, but a memorable day for Fearnley
Djokovic's quest for a major title in 2024 continues after he showcased the class that has already seen him reach nine Wimbledon finals. He has now reached the third round an astonishing 18 times at the tournament, tying the record held by Roger Federer.
The Serbian, however, was made to work for the victory. The world number two faced six break points but was able to save four of them.
Fearnley can be proud of his efforts. The Briton won 71% of his first-serve points against Djokovic, while also serving 13 aces during the contest.
Wimbledon: Emotional Svitolina struggled for focus after Russia attacks on homeland Ukraine
An emotional Elina Svitolina says she struggled to focus during her last-16 win at Wimbledon after Russian attacks killed at least 29 people and hit a children's hospital in her native Ukraine.
The 29-year-old overcame China's Wang Xinyu to reach the quarter-finals on Monday but was reduced to tears in her on-court interview after the ongoings in her homeland.
The strike was part of one of the heaviest attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, with Svitolina sporting a black ribbon to pay tribute to her home country.
"It was a good performance from my side and it's a very difficult day today for Ukrainian people," said Svitolina, who has regularly addressed the impact of the war on Ukraine.
"It was not easy to focus on the match. Since the morning it was very difficult to read the news and just to go on the court... it's extremely tough.
"I'm happy I could play today and get a win."
Wimbledon organisers made a rare exception to relax the tournament's strict all-white rules for Svitolina's fourth-round match, allowing the 2023 semi-finalist to wear the black ribbon on the chest of her white outfit.
"I feel like it would be understandable after such a big attack on my country," she later added at a press conference.
Ukraine's largest children's hospital was among the buildings hit in the attack and world number 21 Svitolina will continue to raise awareness of the war.
"It's [an] incredibly sad day today for all Ukrainians. It was really difficult for me to really be here in a way and do anything," she continued after her 6-2 6-1 win.
"I just wanted to be in my room, just be there with my emotions, with everything.
"I have to put my head down and show up and do my best, my very best. Every Ukrainian is using their own way to raise awareness, to raise money, to help in every possible way they can."
Svitolina faces Russia-born Kazakh player Elena Rybakina in the next round of the grass-court major.
Wimbledon: Fritz fights back to stun Zverev in last-16 thriller
Taylor Fritz fought from behind to win a five-set thriller against Alexander Zverev on Centre Court, reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the second time.
Fritz, who previously made the last eight in 2022, was on the brink of defeat as a typical big-serving display from Zverev saw him take the first two sets.
However, the match turned on a fourth-set tie-break dominated by the American, Zverev losing his way as he missed out on a first quarter-final appearance at SW19, losing 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
The Centre Court crowd had to remain patient for a break in the opening set with both players excellent with ball in hand, Zverev winning 83% of his first-serve points to Fritz's 81%. A powerful backhand ensured it was Zverev who got the breakthrough nine games in.
Neither player could force a break point in a slog of a second set, which Zverev took in a tie-break, roaring to the crowd as Fritz sliced a backhand wide on set point.
But Fritz refused to go away, drawing Zverev to the net far more regularly and finally breaking the German's serve at the 15th attempt.
It was a similar story in the fourth as both players served well, but Fritz stepped up in the tie-break, Zverev looking dejected as he fell 6-1 down before slicing a backhand long on set point.
The momentum was with Fritz from there as he secured a huge break four games into the decider, holding his nerve from there to tee up a meeting with first-time grand slam quarter-finalist Lorenzo Musetti.
Earlier on Monday, Alex de Minaur sealed his place in the last eight – where he will face Holger Rune or Novak Djokovic – with a 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory over Arthur Fils.
Ninth seed De Minaur squandered a 4-2 lead in the third set but recovered to take the match in four, his flat groundstrokes proving too much for spirited 20-year-old Fils.
The Australian suffered a scare as he appeared to hurt his ankle on match point, but he played down fears over his condition after the match.
"I will be alright, I will find a way," he said. "I made it a lot harder than I should have but I'm happy to get through."
Data Debrief: Rare upset for Fritz
Fritz showed great character to hold firm in the face of Zverev's big-serving display before launching a rousing comeback in front of a delighted Centre Court crowd.
He previously held a 1-13 record against top-10 opponents at grand slams, but he has now become the first American to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in a single year since Andy Roddick in 2009.
Wimbledon: Rybakina reaches quarter-finals as Kalinskaya retires
Elena Rybakina has reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for a third straight year, with her progress to the last eight accelerated after opponent Anna Kalinskaya was forced to retire with an injury in the second set.
Fourth seed Rybakina was in complete control of the fourth-round match on Centre Court, leading 6-3 3-0 before Kalinskaya had to call time on the contest after 53 minutes of play, halting what had been her best career run at the tournament.
"Definitely not the way I wanted to finish the match," said Rybakina after her win.
"Anna is a great player. I know she was suffering with a couple of injuries and, if it is the wrist, it is of course very difficult to continue playing. I just wish her a speedy recovery."
Rybakina had also won the last contest between the two players – in Rome last year – due to a retirement from Kalinskaya.
With a strong grass-court record and as one of only two players seeded in the top 10 left in the women's singles tournament, Rybakina is seen as the favourite and player to beat in the second week. She will face either Elina Svitolina next.
Data Debrief: Rybakina in elite company
With a remarkable 18-2 match record at Wimbledon, Rybakina is now one of just three players in the Open Era to hold a win percentage of 90% or higher in the women’s singles.
The other two players are, like Rybakina, former Wimbledon champions: Ann Jones (12-1) and Steffi Graf (74-7).
While Rybakina thrives on grass, she has also impressed on other surfaces and she has now reached the quarter-final or better in 11 of her 12 tournaments played this season.
Aside from Rybakina, Iga Swiatek is the only other player over the past three seasons to hold a match win percentage of over 70% on all three surfaces at WTA level.
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