A close call as Djokovic tames joker
THE best match of this Wimbledon so f ar ended last night with Radek Stepanek on his knees, theatrically praying that a Hawk-Eye line call would save him.
Czech veteran Stepanek had wowed the Centre Court with his antics and rocked Novak Djokovic with the consistent quality of his old- school tennis, briefly threatening to provide the first dramatic upset of the Championships.
Yet, when it seemed we could be heading for a classic deciding set, the world No 2 reached inside himself to clinch a four-sets victory with a rasping forehand that clipped the sideline.
At the conclusion, the Centre Court rose to acclaim the combatants and the relief will have been felt not just by Djokovic but also by his coach Boris Becker.
Stepanek plays a wonderful brand of tennis, caressing the ball with soft hands and delighting the public with an animated demeanour that goes against the grain of stoic seriousness which is now so prevalent.
His histrionics cl early riled Djokovic at certain points and contributed to a general unease that the Serb might be a little more vulnerable this year after another Grand Slam final setback at the French Open.
Andy Murray, who went through yesterday i n such contrasting fashion, will have taken note, as he is on course for a repeat of last year’s final a week tomorrow in the last four.
The 35-year-old Czech, playing in his 12th Championships, could so easily have pushed this one the full distance.
Having come back from 2-5 down in the second tie-break to 5-5 thanks to some uncharacteristic wobbling from Djokovic, he netted a straightforward volley that would have given him a set point. While not entirely convincing, the second seed is still not a man who needs a second invitation and he finished it on his first chance, generously pointing to his opponent afterwards as they soaked up the acclaim.
It was not the only time the 27- year- old f rom Belgrade had shown his sportsmanship. In the 11th game of the fourth set at deuce he had sportingly conceded a point by admitting that an incorrect call had not interfered with his shot that went out.
Afterwards Djokovic said: ‘I should not have complicated my life in this way, but credit to him, he’s an entertainer and loves the big stage.’ The whole effect was a reminder that i t need not be a Murray command performance to bring the old arena to its feet.
So far the big upsets of last year have not come, and the likes of Djokovic will feel more sure of themselves as the slick new grass courts become harder and browner as the fortnight progresses.
The Serb, who could have wrapped it up in straight sets, is relying here on Becker, with his l ong- term mentor Marian Vajda sitting back at home, where he has pledged to spend more time. The reduced team will have plenty to debate before his next outing, against Frenchman Gilles Simon.