Wimbledon 2024: Djokovic sweeps Rune aside, Fritz fightback stuns Zverev – as it happened

That, then, is us. We’ll be back tomorrow at midday to bring you the first four quarter-finals, two men’s and two women’s – among them Jannik Sinner v Daniil Medvedev. See you then – but until then, peace out.

“Djokovic is absolutely right,” says Robert Speed. “People think they’re being clever by saying Rune’s name as an excuse to boo Djokovic. Do Rune chants ring out in his other matches? Doubt it. It’s happened before exactly like this, and good for Djokovic to call it out.”

I don’t know. I don’t think it matters if it’s happened in Rune’s previous matches, he’s playing the greatest of all-time, on Centre Court, that’s a different thing to most of what he’s done before. There are inescapable phonic similarities between the relevant sounds and I can see it’s possible people might relish that, but it’s still Rune’s name and based on other sporting chants – “Ruuuuuud” and “Roooooot”, a defence I find not unpersuasive.

I don’t know. I only mentioned Djokovic and the crowd a couple of times in the blog because Rishi’s explanation worked for me too. Of course Ruuuuuuuuuune sounds a bit like booooooo, but the way I read it, the crowd just wanted to see more tennis, were Danish, or both. So they wanted Djokovic to play less well, but that’s normal, and if Rune’s name didn’t include the relevant sound, they’d have done something else.

I can’t ignore the fact that Djokovic was on the court and could see and hear things I couldn’t, but the commentators didn’t appraise anything untoward either; from what was said in the interview, I think Djokovic thought they were boooing him under the cover of Ruuuuning Rune. All I can say is that’s not how I saw it.

However, Djokovic no doubt uses this kind of thing as fuel and his ability to be affronted then calmly avenge is a big reason he’s the greatest men’s tenniser we’ve ever seen. I look forward to seeing what happens when he comes out against De Minaur on Wednesday.

Djokovic is very pleased. He admits that Rune made a tough start, losing the first 12 points and that got to him mentally so he didn’t play his best or anywhere near. He also wonders if waiting all day to play harmed his opponent, but he’s also glad that he played such a solid match.

Asked about his dealings with the crowd, Djokovic thanks “all the fans that have respect and stayed her tonight, thanks you very much from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate it. And to all those who have chosen to disrespect a player, in this case me, have a gooooooood night! … Goooooodnight! Goooooodnight! Very gooooood night!”

To his credit, Rishi Persad wonders if they were just cheering Rune, not dissing him. “They were, they were, I don’t accept it,” says Djokovic. “Nonono. I know they were cheering for Rune but that’s an excuse, they also boo. Listen, I’ve been on the tour for more than 20 years so trust me, I know all the tricks, I know how it works. It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s OK. I focused on respectful people that have respect that paid a ticket to come along and watch tonight and love tennis. And love tennis. And appreciate the efforts that the players put in here. I played in much more hostile environments, trust me, you guys can’t touch me.”

Finally, asked about knee surgery, he says he’s feeling great on the court so is taking it day by day, will get on the practice court, and chat to his team. De Minaur is quick and playing well so he’ll have to do a lot of running but at 37 he’s still enjoying it so will look forward to it.

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“Absolutely insane!” purrs Nick Kyrgios when Djokovic finishes the match with a gorgeous volley backing up a concussive forehand. He plays his racket-guitar like a violin, a tribute to his young daughter who’s just started lessons – how cool must that be to do and receive?! And he played really well tonight, especially if he’s injured. Rune is good but was nowhere near him – he just didn’t have the weapons, hands or nous to hurt him. Next for Djokovic: Alex De Minaur, and providing he too is fit, that should be fun.

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Djokovic makes 0-15, finishing brilliant rally at the net, then Rune goes long, and he just has no answer here. Ultimately, though he’s a very fine and promising player, he lacks the weapons of the top few – and various others – so doesn’t have much tactical flexibility when playing the best. Shonuff, another error means 15-40 and three almost match-points; Djokovic flicks a drop back and on to the sideline, but a challenge shows the ball to have dropped out. Ach, but down 30-40, Rune disburses a double, challenging the second fault but walking towards his seat and hitting the net-post before discovering what he already knows. Djokovic has the double-break and will now serve for the match at 6-3 6-4 5-2.

Rune holds then Djokovic does some slipping and sliding en route to facing deuce. Rune, meantime, has decided to vary the angle and pace, chucking in a few moon-balls before a big forehand makes break point. So Djokovic goes for the hardest serve in the book, advantage court out wide because why not, then comes in behind it and taps away a volley. And from there he of course closes out; I’m beginning to suspect he is quite good at tennis.

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Wheels! Rune charges in to pick up a stop-volley, flicking over the high part of the net to make 30-all on the Djokovic serve. For all the good it does him, Djokovic quickly securing another hold – though when he directs an overhead towards his man, he’s a little lucky the attempted pass is out not a winner. He leads 3-1 in the third.

Djokovic consolidates to 30 and you get the impression Rune knows the jig is up, his opponent improving through the rounds as the matches get harder. And with Zverev, the man he was seeded to meet in the semi, now out, from here he need only beat De Minaur then Fritz or Musetti to reach the final. as Ryan Giggs might say, he’d’ve took that. Rune, though, holds to get on the board in set three; he trails 3-6 4-6 1-2.

“I don’t remember much about the Denmark 0-0 Serbia Euro 2024 group stage match,” writes Peter Oh. “But that occasion probably featured less ironic chanting than Rune v Djokovic.”

I was blogging that game for a different outlet and can say that it is without doubt one of the worst games of anything ever played.

No further questions your honour.

You’ll not be surprised to learn that Djokovic makes 0-30, then chasing along the baseline, he skids, almost splitting, into a backhand cross that Rune can’t return at the net; a ridiculous shot for anyone, never mind a 37-year-old. Three break points, and though Rune saves the first, another stretch-backhand is again too good. Djokovic leads 6-3 6-4 1-0 and the way he serves and is serving, it’s hard to see how he loses from here.

Djokovic quickly makes 30-0 but a double makes things semi-interesting, then a butchered forehand levels the game. And have a look! A long rally from the back, and it’s Djokovic who blinks first; out of naewhere, Rune is in this, somehow raising his first break point of the match. I was about to type “and naturally a service-winner follows,” but I was wrong; it’s a mere big serve that sets up the unerring putaway. Then, a minger of a deep backhand sets up an inside-out winner down the line and a similar serve facilitates a swing-volley that Rune can’t get back.So Djokovic leads 6-3 6-4 and he goads the crowd by chanting Ruuuuuuune in as ostentatious a manner as possible. As you would.

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Djokovic makes 0-30 then guides a fine return deep into the backhand corner, doing enough with the overhead putaway to raise three points for a 2-0 lead. The first disappears when he returns long, the second when he returns into the net – I can’t believe he’s not got that one back into play because the serve was nothing special – and the third when he drops into the net. But he soon earns advantage and plays a fine shot to the corner, Rune responding well and forcing Djokovic to leap into the splits, still unable to get the ball back. If he can do that he must be doing alright, but he soon burns a fifth set point with a loose backhand, then cedes a sixth when Rune pastes a forehand inside-out and past him. In comms, they think Djokovic thinks he’s being booed when the crowd shout “Ruuuuuune”, but he’s a football fan; I can’t believe he’s not discerned what’s really going on. And as i type, Ruuuuuuune secures a taxing hold with a high-kicking ace down the T. Djokovic leads 6-3 5-4 and will shortly serve for a set he’s already bussed six chances to win.

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I say Djokovic doesn’t let you off the hook but that’s not entirely correct: when up a break, he has been known to tank returning games to prevent his opponent getting the rhythm they need to break back. What a gent! He holds to 15 and leads 6-3 5-3.

Up 40-30, Rune tries a hopeful drop and can’t make it, then a further error, a backhand shovelled long, means he must now defend a break point. So Rune sends down what he thinks is an ace but it’s overturned on review … so Rune sends down a terrific kick second serve then finishes the point with a forehand winner down the line. Thing is, it’s not really clear what his plan is here, and that’s a surprise because given who he’s playing, how can he win without one? He quickly nets a backhand then swats another wide because pressure tells – Djokovic just doesn’t let you off the hook, and the lead is now 6-3 4-3.

Back on Centre, Djokovic has some kind of stomach situation, grimacing and touching it. So he rushes off the court at change of ends to do who knows what, arrives back just in time, and holds to 30 for 3-3 in the second set. I’m Rune, I’m looking to get him stretching – and yes, I accept that is easier said than done.

“It’s a great feeling, it’s a huge honour to be here,” says Krejcikova. Having won a slam and played on big courts in doubles is a big help for her; Wimbledon is a “magic place”.

She’s looking forward to meeting Ostapenko next but for now will enjoy her win and the atmosphere in the family she’s staying with; she seems extremely calm, and having won a major before, won’t shrink from here on in.

Krejcikova has got surprisingly good on grass, able to hit it hard but also use angles and spins; she meets Ostapenko next.

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Ach, Collins can’t keep it going, wrongfooted on the baseline when Krejcikova lands a winner on the chalk for 0-40. Three match points to the Czech…

Rune races out of court to try a forehand down the line but clobbers a ballboy, who’s fine; Djokovic holds. And well done Danielle Collins, who raises break point – she’s hitting it a bit harder now – only to miss with a forehand. No matter, Krejcikova sends down a double and Collins takes control of the point with a nice forehand, but the follow up is cautious and invites the winner down the line that restores deuce. And from there, consecutive errors from the Czech cede one of her breaks! Collins will now serve down 5-7 3-5.

Holds for Collins and Rune, meaning Krejcikova will now serve for the match at 7-5 5-2, and Rune is up 1-0 in the second having lost the first.

It may be a coincidence, but it’s impossible not to notice how many players are struggling with injury. Obviously there’s Collins, Djokovic has a knee-brace, so did Zverev, and yesterday Keys and Dimitrov defaulted while Raducanu thought about it. And that’s just the last two days. Perhaps the players play too much, though I also reckon the depth of quality and how physical the game now is makes a difference; there are far fewer coasting opportunities.

Er yeah, Djokovic serves out to 15 and clinches a 6-3 first set. Rune has improved since losing the first three games to love, but you can’t give this lad a start like that and expect to emerge with anything. He needs to start cracking it from the back and probably coming in more, but perhaps more than anything, 59% of first serves landed is nowhere near enough against the best returner of all time, who will not be threatened by his second delivery. Elsewhere, Krejcikova holds to lead Collins 7-5 5-1.

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Collins returns but she’s not moving freely and Krejcikova quickly secures the double break for 4-1. On Centre, Djokovic is serving for the first set at 5-3

A hold apiece on Centre, Djokovic now up 5-2 while, on No 1, Krejcikova keeps herself warm. It’d be a such a shame if this was the last we saw of Collins, though in fairness she looks close to the exit regardless of her injury.

Down 5-7 1-3 0-30, Collins calls for the trainer; she seems to have an issue with her left knee and perhaps her back. So she goes off for treatment, and in comms Jo Durie reckons this’ll be an ijury she was managing, not one she sustained in this match.

More gnashing form Collins as Krejcikova breaks then consolidates to love. She leads 7-5 3-1 and the American is struggling to adjust her feet to deal with the variable bounce you get on grass. On Centre, meanwhile, another comfortable hold for Djokovic and Rune is struggling to respond; it’s hard to see a way he can win this, and he certainly can’t by lasting longer in baseline rallies. He’s surely got to try and shorten points, coming to the net if necessary; at the moment, he’s serving at 1-4 deuce, again struggling to hold.

Wild cheers as Rune makes 15-0 – he smiles because what else can he do? – holding to 15 to trail 1-3. Collins and Krejcikova, meanwhile, are 1-1 in set two, the Czech having taken the first 7-5.

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Another hold for Djokovic – he leads 3-0 – and Rune has still not won a point. He’ll have given himself a talking-to before going out there, discussing what he planned to do, ordering himself to stay calm, and, well.

Djokovic holds to love then breaks to love, and Rune trails 0-2 having not won a point. In comms, Mac thinks he’s trying to serve a bit harder, and for now, it’s not working out for him. Meantime, Collins survives break points in the process of holding at the start of set two to trail 5-7 1-0.

Rune has beaten Djokovic a couple of times before and the big advantage he has over many others is self-belief; I’m told he genuinely believes himself to be the best player in the world. He also hits the ball flat and hard which prevents Djokovic from shaping his own shots as he’d like, even though you assume he’ll find a way.

Apparently there’s a very significant storm imminent, so there probably won’t be much more play on outside courts. But our roofs are extended so we’re good to go in our main matches, and on Centre, Djokovic is about to serve.

Krejcikova has looked the likelier, eventually breaking for 6-5, and when Collins larrups a forehand long, she clinches the set having seemed to handle the business-end pressure the better.

It’s now 5-5 on No 1, Collins chastising herself as she nets to cede 0-15. I’d be staggered if either of these lifted the trophy on Saturday, just as I was when … Krejcikova won Roland Garros. It’s hard to look past Rybakina, I guess, but if Ostapenkz maintains her level, it’ll take something significant to stop here.