Jul 3, 2016- Novak Djokovic is out of Wimbledon after a shock defeat by American Sam Querrey – ending the world number one’s hopes of a calendar-year Grand Slam.
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Djokovic became the first man to win four consecutive grand slams since 1969 when he won last month’s French Open.
“[Mahut] was a match I wanted to win to make it to the quarterfinals”, Querrey said.
Laver was particularly caught off-guard by the way Djokovic meekly fell into a two-set deficit before play was halted Friday night because of rain.
Novak Djokovic’s exit at the hands of Sam Querrey has opened the door for many players, whose chances of winning the title just got higher in the Serbian’s absence, although not everyone is willing to admit it. “But, you know, I’m going to move on from this hopefully as a stronger player”. Way back in there somewhere you are thinking one thing; that it doesn’t matter, but you are thinking it does matter.
Makarova, a quarter-finalist in 2014 and beaten by Kvitova in the third round in 2013, broke in the 11th game of the first set and held serve to take the set, the Czech missing two chances to break back.
Meanwhile, the second round was finally completed – two days later than normal because of weather issues – as Alexander Zverev beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.
He put a forehand volley into the net to allow Querrey to break back before the 28th seed safely held serve for 6-5. “In the tiebreak, I was leading. His game was brutal and I was overpowered today”, said Djokovic after his admission of not being 100 per cent added: “This is not the place or time to talk about it”.
After all, Djokovic had never lost to an American at Wimbledon and had not bowed out of a grand slam before the quarter-finals since losing in straight sets to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round of the 2009 French Open.
How surprising was this result?
Djokovic has faced Nadal twice this year and has won all of their last seven meetings, most recently in the semifinal round of Indian Wells.
He said: “It’s definitely the biggest win I’ve ever had”. Querrey agreed that his easy-going nature, which his friends exploited to get him on to Millionaire Matchmaker, came to his aid Saturday especially when he went to two match points in the fourth set tiebreaker. They were on-target Friday, building that lead during 72 minutes of action before rain at 8 p.m.
Nick Kyrgios is into $13 with Ladbrokes and his price will be slashed if he is able to upset Murray, while there is then a substantial drop-off to Tomas Berdych ($29), Marin Cilic ($34), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ($41), Kei Nishikori ($41), Sam Querrey ($41), Bernard Tomic ($51) and Richard Gasquet ($51).
No. 1 and defending champion Serena Williams of U.S. will battle against the 21st seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russian Federation in the second match of the day on Centre Court. Among the men into the fourth round: No. 2 Andy Murray and Querrey’s fellow American and doubles partner Steve Johnson.
Nothing resonated, of course, like Djokovic’s defeat. He’d made it to the fourth round just three times and the third round just nine times.
“Welcome to an exclusive club, ” Laver said.
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While it would be risky to dismiss Djokovic’s chances of emulating Australian Laver’s 1969 Grand Slam, the clock is ticking and he knows the window of opportunity is closing.
