The match was the second meeting between Djokovic and Popyrin at the Grand Slams in 2024. The 24-year-old Aussie also pushed Djokovic to four sets when they met in the second round at this year’s Australian Open.
Djokovic improves to 3-0 lifetime against Popyrin, and 95-11 at Wimbledon, with his win. He needed to play a superb tiebreak as Popyrin was angling to push the match to a deciding fifth set in a fourth set that saw his level rise.
“It was a very challenging match today, mentally as well, to hang in there and not allow any concentration lapses,” Djokovic said. “I think I’ve done well in that regard, and I think it reflected well in the tiebreak – that was one of the best tiebreaks I played this year, that’s for sure.”
Playing Wimbledon just one month after undergoing knee surgery to repair his right meniscus is a challenging endeavor, and Djokovic, who continues to sport a grey compression sleeve on his right leg, has had his difficulties in the first week.
He told reporters he felt some pain in his first-round match and added that the muscles around the knee are more sore than usual. After his second consecutive three hour match he gave the thumbs-up about his condition.
“I think each match is getting better,” he said. “My confidence in my movement, particularly on the extreme balls, reaching and sliding, I definitely felt better today than I have in the second round match, so hopefully the trajectory will keep going in a positive way, and as the tournament progresses each match I will feel better.
Djokovic holds a 3-2 lifetime edge against Rune, who came through in five sets against France’s Quentin Halys on Saturday. He has won their last two meetings.
London (Grand Slam), other third-round results (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 50.000.000, most recent results first):
