Novak Djokovic: Serbian battles past Hubert Hurkacz to stand just three matches from eighth Wimbledon title

Novak Djokovic battled past Hubert Hurkacz in four sets to stand just three wins from a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title. It was not plain sailing for the Serbian against Hurkacz, whose huge and accurate serve kept him in the fourth-round encounter that stretched across two days in SW19. Ad But Djokovic eventually came through 7-6(6) 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 and will next take on Andrey Rublev for a place in the last four.

WimbledonDjokovic to resume fourth-round match with Hurkacz on Monday two sets up18 HOURS AGO Speaking afterwards to BBC Sport, Djokovic admitted the quality of Hurkacz's serve had made him feel «miserable». «Big credit for Hubert for playing an amazing match. He put up a great performance,» he said.

«Honestly I don't recall the last time I felt this miserable on returning games. He has one of the best serves in the world and it's difficult to read it on one of the quickest surfaces in the sport. It was not enjoyable for me.

»In the important moments I was fortunate to win that first set. This match could have gone a different way but I held my nerves when it mattered." The 22-time major winner had taken a two-set lead on Sunday night before the 11pm curfew forced the players off court, winning both of the first two sets on a tie-break as Hurkacz's serve proved unbreakable, even by a returner of Djokovic's calibre. Wimbledon Day 8 LIVE — Jabeur meets Kvitova, Djokovic through, Alcaraz later Medvedev into first Wimbledon quarter-final following Lehecka retirement Andreeva to umpire after point penalty — 'Do you understand what you are doing?' But when they re-emerged on Monday, it was Hurkacz who fought his way back into the match by breaking Djokovic at 6-5 ahead to take the set without having to serve it