Karen Khachanov qualified first this Friday for the round of 16 at Wimbledon. He was imitated by Andrey Rublev, Cristian Garin, Novak Djokovic, and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Novak Djokovic did not tremble against Dennis Kudla. The world number 1, two-time defending champion at Wimbledon, won in three sets against the American from qualifying. The latter did not leave the slightest space for the Serbian but it was wear and tear that the number 1 seed ended up getting what he was looking for. While Dennis Kudla served to stay in the first set, the latter cracked and, on his only break point, Novak Djokovic made the difference.
On his momentum, the Serbian broke from the start of the second round but the American immediately reacted and broke up on a shutout but the world number 1 regained the advantage to add to the bill and lead two rounds to nothing. With nothing more to lose, Dennis Kudla started the third set with a bang and broke into the break to lead three games to nothing. But Novak Djokovic then returned to four games all over before being taken to the tie-breaker.
A tiebreak during which the American failed to seize his chance to extend the match when the world number 1 only needed two match points to win (6-4, 6-3, 7- 6 in 2h19 ′). Cristian Garin now knows that he will challenge Novak Djokovic. The Chilean, seeded number 17, validated his ticket for the round of 16 at the expense of Pedro Martinez (6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4).
