LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Novak Djokovic of Serbia (R) shakes hands at the net with Alexei Popyrin … [+]
Novak Djokovic is into the fourth round at Wimbledon less than a month after meniscus surgery.
And Roger Federer is hailing the Serb’s comeback as “amazing.”
“Novak’s amazing, how he’s bounced back,” Federer said in an interview with ESPN’s Chris McKendry before Djokovic beat Alexei Popyrin, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) to advance to a showdown with No. 15 Holger Rune.
“I haven’t talked about it before but incredible effort for him after the surgery, after Paris, to come back and already be playing. I don’t know he’s feeling but it will be very interesting how he bounces back.”
Federer, the retired 20-time major champion, previously told Trevor Noah he hopes “Novak can go on and crush every record.”
Djokovic is bidding to tie Federer with an eighth Wimbledon title while scoring a record 25th major crown.
By reaching the fourth round for the 16th time, Djokovic has tied Jimmy Connors in second place on the Open Era list of most last-16 appearances at Wimbledon. Only Federer (18) has more.
“I think each match it’s getting better,” Djokovic said on court. “My feeling of movement, confidence in my movement, particularly the little bit of an extreme balls reaching, sliding, I definitely felt better today than I did in the second round match so hopefully the direction or trajectory will keep going in a positive way as the tournament progresses, I’ll feel better.
“Let’s see what happens the next one.”
THREE AMERICAN MEN INTO ROUND OF 16
Three American men are into the fourth round.
No. 13 Taylor Fritz meets No. 4 Alexander Zverev on Monday.
No. 12 Tommy Paul faces Roberto Bautista Agut on Sunday.
And No. 14 Ben Shelton meets No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Sunday.
“The pinnacle of tennis is playing the No. 1 in the world at Wimbledon, probably on Centre Court,” Shelton said after winning in five sets over Denis Shapovalov. “I’m very, very excited and ready to get after it.”