Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic admitted it was always going to be a tough match against Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the third round of Wimbledon. The Serbian registered a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) against the lanky Australian, who is known for his big serve.

The World No.2 lost the opening set but bounced back to take the next two sets. Djokovic was taken to the tiebreaker in the fourth set but he was able to bring his A-game when it mattered the most.

Popyrin had also taken Djokovic to four sets in the second round of the Australian Open earlier in the season.

“It was another tough match. I didn’t expect anything less than what we experienced on the court today from Alexei,” said Djokovic in his on-court interview. “I knew he was going to come into the match with confidence, with a lot of self-belief. He was close to winning that match we played against each other in Australia earlier this year.

“With that serve and powerful forehand, he is dangerous on any surface. I watched him play the first couple of rounds and knew he was in form and he was going to come out on the court believing he could win. That’s how he started, he was the better player for the first set, and then I stepped it up. I think I played a really good second and third, and the fourth really was anybody’s game.”

Meanwhile, during the second set, there was an amusing moment at Centre Court. The crowd was also following England’s penalty shoot out against Switzerland in Euro 2024 and cheered when Three Lions won by 5-3 to advance to the semifinal. 

To make it more interesting, Djokovic kicked an imaginary ball and Popyrin pretended to save it, to draw cheers from the fans.

“I assumed that it was a penalty shootout between England and Switzerland. It felt like for a set and a half that the crowd really wanted to understand what the score was,” joked Djokovic. “I tried to shoot a penalty. I’m left-footed, but Alexei defended it well.”

Djokovic will face Holger Rune in the round of 16 on Monday.