Playing him at Wimbledon was always going to be tough – Novak Djokovic lauds Jacob Fearnley

Novak Djokovic admitted it was always going to be a challenge to play against Jacob Fearnley at the Wimbledon. The Serbian was able to make it to the third round by earning a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 win against the Brit.

Djokovic was dominant in the first two sets but he was broken in the third set and looked a bit tentative in his game. However, the Serbian was able to bounce back in the fourth set and was glad that he wasn’t taken to the fifth set.

Djokovic was playing against Jacob Fearnley for the first time and admitted he had to bring his best.

“It was a great effort from Jacob, he played great,” Djokovic said. “I had not had a chance to see him play before until two days ago. There is always an element of surprise and nothing to lose. Playing him at Wimbledon was always going to be tough. Most of the British players grow up being exposed to grass courts, quick surfaces, so they know how to play.

“I thought he served very well. It was very difficult to break his serve. He made me work. I was probably a bit lucky in the fourth not to go a break down. I could have won the match in three but this match potentially deserved to go into a fifth, with the way he played in the fourt. But I am very glad it didn’t.”

Djokovic recently underwent surgery after suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee and admitted he wasn’t at his best in the third and fourth set.

“I was not really comfortable in my own skin in the third and fourth sets. Sometimes you have rough days where you are maybe not feeling your best,” Djokovic added. “Of course it depends on your opponents across the net. Today Jacob played at a high level and he made me earn this victory.”

Djokovic will next take on Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the third round.