Novak Djokovic’s 30-match Grand Slam winning streak ended stunningly Saturday with a 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5) loss to Sam Querrey in Wimbledon’s third round.
Djokovic had won the past four major titles in a row — and was halfway to the first calendar-year Grand Slam for a man since Rod laver in 1969.
“I believe in positive things in life, and I managed to win four Grand Slams in a row — two different seasons, though. I want to try to focus on that,” the No. 1-seeded Djokovic said, “rather than failure.”
Djokovic last exited as early as the third round at any major tournament all the way back in 2009, when he departed the French Open at that stage. He made at least the semifinals at Wimbledon every year since 2010.
Yet things began looking bleak for Djokovic when the match began Friday and he dropped the first two sets against Querrey, an American ranked 41st. Djokovic, normally so consistent, so efficient, never quite seemed to be himself, and after the match, asked whether he was 100 percent healthy, the 29-year-old Serb replied: “Not really, but it’s not the place and time to talk about it.”
Still, after play was halted Friday evening by rain — a recurring theme in this contest and the tournament as a whole — Djokovic came back out Saturday and played much better at the outset.
“He’s on his way to possibly being the best ever,” Querrey said, “and so you know he’s mentally tough and he was going to come back.”
Djokovic took the third set, then went up a break in the fourth at 5-4 by pounding a forehand winner that brought coach Boris Becker to his feet. But serving to even the match at two sets apiece, Djokovic faltered.
That game included two calls against Djokovic which, according to the BBC broadcast, were incorrect — but he was out of challenges and so couldn’t ask for a review. Querrey, 0 for 6 on break points in the set until then, converted No. 7 when Djokovic’s poor forehand volley found the net for 5-all.
“He overpowered me,” Djokovic said.
It’s the first loss for Djokovic at any major tournament in more than a year: He was beaten by Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final in June 2015.
Federer has it easy
Roger Federer eliminated another British player at Wimbledon, beating Daniel Evans 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the fourth round.
Playing under the roof on Centre Court, Federer won his 305th singles match at a Grand Slam tournament, only one behind the record set by Martina Navratilova.
Federer beat another British player, qualifier Marcus Willis, in the second round. “I might take a day off tomorrow, just because I can,” the 34-year-old Federer said with a smile. “Yeah, I can. I’m sorry, I can. I have to take them when I can. I’m an old guy.”
Bopanna, Mergea win
Rohan Bopanna and his Romanian partner Florin Mergea advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the rain-hit Wimbledon Championships after a straight set win over Andrej Martin and Hans Podlipnik-Castillo, here.
The sixth seeded Indo-Romanian pair faced early resistance from the Slovakian-Chile combination before prevailing 7-5 6-2 in the second round.
murray advances too
Andy Murray made his way into the fourth round at Wimbledon by beating John Millman 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
Murray, the 2013 champion at the All England Club, played his match on Centre Court, starting with the roof open but finishing with it closed after a rain delay.