Félix Auger-Aliassime and Novak Djokovic competed for five hours and 15 minutes in Tuesday's Wimbledon quarter-final before Djokovic came out on top in a 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) thriller.
The match was Auger-Aliassime’s longest of his career, as well as the longest quarter-final in Wimbledon history.
The Canadian No. 1 was only broken twice in the marathon quarter-final, after losing serve for the first time at the event in his five setter against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina last round. The 25-year-old from Montreal had 74 winners in the match but had some critical unforced errors that contributed to his 61.
Auger-Aliassime’s near-flawless serve had its biggest test of The Championships thus far, but the Montrealer had no trouble getting through his opening three service games against one of tennis’ best returners, conceding just two points behind his delivery over that span. However, Djokovic slowly began to apply some pressure, holding a break point at 3-4 and 4-5, but Auger-Aliassime managed to extend the set.
In the tiebreaker, Djokovic’s 2-0 lead was the biggest as both players went back-and-forth, trading set points until the Serb had a third chance to close out the opener at 11-10. An untimely unforced error at the net from Auger-Aliassime handed the seven-time Wimbledon champion the one-set advantage.
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The Canadian had yet another strong start behind his serve in the second, dropping just one point across his first four service games. Auger-Aliassime broke at 3-4 and had to save a pair of break points in the eighth game as he eventually sealed the set.
After play stopped to close the roof on Centre Court, neither player looked comfortable on serve in the new environment. Djokovic let 40-love slip in the opening game of the third and needed to save break point before securing the hold. Auger-Aliassime then had to battle through a near 13-minute service game to equalize.
The middle of the third was where Djokovic began to show his experience. From 2-2, the 24-time Grand Slam titlist won 12 of the next 14 balls and pulled 5-2 in front. Looking to close out the set at 5-3, 40-love, the 39-year-old regained his advantage on the second try, putting away Auger-Aliassime’s short return.
Djokovic continued his strong spell to begin the fourth. The former world No. 1 won the first eight rallies of the set and had to hold the rest of the way to book his spot into the semifinals. However, it was the very next service game when Djokovic was broken as an Auger-Aliassime return winner at 2-1, love-40, brought the Canadian back on level terms.
Only a tiebreaker separated both players in the fourth as the two were even on points through 12 games. Auger-Aliassime this time scored the early mini-break for the 2-0 edge and brought his two-point lead into the changeover. At 5-3, Djokovic overhit his backhand to hand the Canuck three set points, where the world No. 4 brought the match to a decider on the second attempt.
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Auger-Aliassime had to be the first to hold his nerve in the final set, saving three break points in the second game as he kept things balanced. Then, it was the Montrealer’s turn to put a bit of stress on Djokovic’s serve at 4-4, love-30, but the Serb powered his way to the hold. Serving to stay alive, Auger-Aliassime fired his 29th ace of the evening at 5-6, 30-all, – one off his career high – before a second-straight unreturned serve sent the contest to a match tiebreaker.
Djokovic’s returning truly came to life in the tiebreaker as the world No. 8 only lost two of his return points on his way to a 15th Wimbledon semifinal.
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Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
