Djokovic dumps Kyle to leave no Brits for first time in 11 years
Serb Novak hits back at Centre Court boo-boys
There will be no British Singles players in the second week of Wimbledon as Kyle Edmund was toppled by former Champion Novak Djokovic yesterday.
Edmund looked like he was going to match the feats of England’s footballers at the World Cup and record a famous victory as he took the opening set.
But he was powerless to resist a comeback from a fired-up Djokovic, who took exception to some sections of the Centre Crowd, before coming through to win the next three and complete a 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 success. Edmund was carrying home hopes with Andy Murray sitting the tournament out as the Scot continues his recovery from hip surgery.
But although his performance in reaching the third round was the best of his career, it will be the first time since 2007 that no Briton will compete in the last-16. On that occasion, Murray was also missing through injury.
“The margins were pretty close,” Edmund said afterwards. “But in a best-of-five-sets match you have to play well consistently throughout.
“Overall, I’m happy with Wimbledon has gone, but I just would have liked to have won today. But it didn’t happen.”
Edmund has enjoyed a stellar year and climbed to a career high 17th in the rankings, aided by a run to the semi-finals at the Australian Open.
But facing a three-time Wimbledon winner on the world’s most-famous court was new territory.
Starting after the football had finished in Russia, the 23-year-old fed off the good vibes in the crowd as he held off break points in his opening service game and then broke in the seventh to go a set up.
Yet there is a reason why Djokovic has won 12 Grand Slams, and the Serbian used all of his quality to get back into the match.
Having struggled with form and fitness for two years, there were signs that the former World No. 1 was finding his best tennis as he stormed back to take the next two sets.
There was then a big controversy at three-all in the fourth set as Edmund hit a winner on breakpoint down after the ball had bounced twice.
Djokovic was unhappy with the umpire, but regained his composure and three games later, he had sealed victory with an ace and a place in the fourth round against Russian Karen Khachanov.
He was delighted to overcome a difficult opponent and a partisan crowd, with whom he had constant run-ins after being given a time violation.
“It was a Davis Cup-like atmosphere,” he said. “I expected them to support Kyle, but they were slightly unfair to me.
“A couple of guys were pretending to cough and whistle while I was bouncing the ball. I just think it’s not necessary. “When I played Andy Murray in the Olympics and the Wimbledon final, it was not like this.
“There is an unwritten borderline where you just feel it’s a bit too much. I didn’t deserve to be treated as I was by certain individuals. That’s one thing I didn’t like.”