Wimbledon: Djokovic Triumphs Over Fearnley in Thrilling Opener World No. 1 Novak Djokovic kicked off his Wimbledon campaign with a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over British wild card Jack Fearnley on Monday. The match started strongly for Djokovic, who broke Fearnley’s serve in the fourth game and maintained his lead to take the first set. Fearnley, making his Wimbledon debut, showed resilience in the second set, breaking Djokovic’s serve twice to level the match. In the third set, Djokovic regained control, breaking Fearnley’s serve in the fifth game and holding on to win. Fearnley continued to challenge Djokovic in the fourth set, but the Serbian eventually broke through in the ninth game and served out the match. Djokovic was impressed by Fearnley’s performance. “He played really well, especially considering it was his first Wimbledon match,” said Djokovic. “He has a big serve and hits the ball very cleanly.” Fearnley was proud of his effort despite the loss. “It was an incredible experience playing against Novak,” he said. “I’m proud of the way I played, but I’m also disappointed that I couldn’t get the win.” Djokovic will face Miomir Kecmanović in the second round, while Fearnley’s tournament is over. Djokovic is the favorite to win Wimbledon this year, having won the championship six times previously.Despite Novak Djokovic’s ongoing recovery from a right knee injury, defeating him at Wimbledon remained a formidable task for the 277th-ranked Briton, Jacob Fearnley. The Serb ultimately emerged victorious with a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 triumph, but the match was far from straightforward.Despite Novak Djokovic’s ongoing recovery from a right knee injury, defeating him at Wimbledon remained a formidable task for the 277th-ranked Briton, Jacob Fearnley. The Serb ultimately emerged victorious with a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 triumph, but the match was far from straightforward. Fearnley, a wild card who had rapidly climbed the rankings after winning a Challenger tournament in Nottingham, relished his Centre Court debut. The roar Djokovic unleashed upon breaking Fearnley’s serve in the third set left a lasting impression. Fearnley also drew applause from the legend when he executed a stunning cross-court shot. Fearnley’s breakthrough came when he broke Djokovic’s serve for the first time, earning a rapturous ovation. He further employed a high-risk strategy in the final game of the third set, forcing Djokovic to squander a forehand and concede the set. Fearnley continued to challenge Djokovic, earning break points in the fourth set. Djokovic’s irritation was evident as he attempted to silence the crowd. However, the support for Fearnley only intensified. Despite the veteran Scot’s heroics, his efforts fell short against a player aiming for a career-best Grand Slam match victory. Djokovic sealed the victory with a forehand winner, preserving his 100% record against British players (excluding Andy Murray) at majors. Djokovic acknowledged Fearnley’s remarkable performance, stating that the match could have easily gone to a fifth set. Expressing relief at avoiding such an outcome, he credited Fearnley’s exceptional play, particularly in the fourth set. The article also includes details about the author (Saurabh Kumar) and the publication date (July 4, 2024).Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, survived a challenge from British wild card Jack Fearnley in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday. Djokovic, who is seeking a record-equaling seventh Wimbledon title, dropped the first set but recovered to win 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. Fearnley, a 19-year-old who was making his Wimbledon debut, gave Djokovic a scare in the first set, breaking his serve twice. But Djokovic settled down in the second set and gradually took control of the match. “He played really well,” Djokovic said of Fearnley. “He was hitting the ball very cleanly and making me move around a lot. I’m just glad I was able to find my rhythm in the second set and get the win.” Djokovic will face Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia in the second round. In other first-round action on Monday, Rafael Nadal, the second-ranked player in the world, defeated Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Defending champion Roger Federer, who is seeded third, will begin his campaign on Tuesday against Adrian Mannarino of France.