There was a point in what looked to be a horribly lopsided first set when even the summoning of a great Hungarian victory on an English greensward might not have been enough to inspire Marton Fucsovics to an unlikely victory but there was no need to invoke memories of Ferenc Puskas side’s 6-3 Wembley win in 1953 as defending champion, Novak Djokovic, wobbled of his own accord, using up six set points before claiming that opening set and setting himself on the way towards yet another Sunday Wimbledon final.
It proved to be only a fleeting dip from Djokovic whose eyes narrow and gaze hardens as he closes in on the booty.
It had looked as if it would be a walk in the Wimbledon wide acres for the man tilting for a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam (to move alongside Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer and create The Blessed Trinity) with five games notched on the Djokovic belt inside 18 minutes.
Fucsovics, though, to the throaty applause of Centre Court’s first full house, got rid of his angst, found his range and made the 34-year-old graft for the reward of his 41st appearance in a Grand Slam semi-final, his tenth at Wimbledon. Perhaps that was the genius plan – to coax his opponent into stern resistance so as to be able to hone his own game ahead of the stiffer tests to come. The only unseeded player left in the tournament certainly did make a fist of it, and we should all be grateful for that. A proper contest sets the juices racing in a way that an exhibition does not.
Djokovic had only dropped serve three times in the entire Championships prior to this match yet he allowed the engaging Fucsovics briefly back into proceedings, making 11 unforced errors, three of them in succession as Fucsovics broke back to raise a glimmer of hope in that opening set. The 29-year-old, the first Hungarian since 1958 to reach a Wimbledon quarter-final, grew in stature as Djokovic fiddled and fretted, if only temporarily.
Djokovic, though, knows how to find his ‘inner wolf,’ as he calls it and he grew less generous, more focussed, sniffing out weakness and pouncing. You didn’t have to be Poirot to detect the frailty in Fucsovics’ game, his forehand. Mistake after mistake made it all too straightforward for Djokovic, although the primal roars he let out at various junctures told you how important it all was to him.
Djokovic broke in the opening game of the third set. It was eventually all wrapped up in 137 minutes. Onwards.
02:59 PM
The winning moment…
02:57 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Fucsovics
Djokovic backhand is called out but Hawkeye calls it in, 15-0. Djokovic ace, 30-0. Djokovic backhand into the net, 30-15. Fucsovics forehand long, 40-15.
GAME. SET. MATCH. Fucsovics forehand return long and it’s all over.
02:52 PM
Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 5-4 Fucsovics*
Fucsovics gets to 30-0 then puts a forehand long. And Djokovic puts a backhand long to concede the game.
One last shot for Fucsovics to stay in the match.
02:49 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 6-4, 5-3 Fucsovics
Djokovic races to 40-0 then nets a forehand as he looked for a big finish. But he gets the game when Fucsovics puts a return long. One game away now.
02:45 PM
Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 4-3 Fucsovics*
Fucsovics double fault to start the game. Lovely point by both players and Fucsovics comes out on top with a forehand winner.
Fucsovics lob goes wide, 15-30. But he responds by drilling a backhand winner down the line. Big Fucsovics serve knocks Djokovic off-balance, 40-30.
Djokovic takes the game to deuce after dragging his man left and right. And Fucsovics clings on to hold again.
02:40 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 6-4, 4-2 Fucsovics
Djokovic backhand slice into the net, 0-30. An opening for Fucsovics. Fucsovics forehand return long. Djokovic drills a backhand down the line which is too much for his opponent.
Another Djokovic slice into the net, break point Fucsovics. Sloppy game by Djokovic.
Agonizingly close for Fucsovics but his backhand is just long, deuce. Djokovic comes through to hold again.
02:34 PM
Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 3-2 Fucsovics*
Fucsovics ace, his fifth of the match, 30-15. He then shanks a forehand well out of the court, 30-30. Defensive Djokovic lob flies long, 40-30.
Nice finish to the game by Fucsovics as he blasts a forward winner into the corner.
02:31 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 6-4, 3-1 Fucsovics
Djokovic service hold to love. Fucsovics is making little impression the Serb’s serve.
02:28 PM
Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 2-1 Fucsovics*
Djokovic turning the screw as he gets to 15-30. But he then puts a backhand wide. Fucsovics double fault, 30-40.
Djokovic forehand wide. Fucsovics hangs on and pumps his fist. An important hold.
02:23 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 6-4, 2-0 Fucsovics
Wow. Three errors in a row by Djokovic and he falls to 0-40. He saves the first with a big wide serve.
Then the second when Fucsovics nets a backhand return. And the third when Fucsovic flicks the ball into the net after being on the defence.
A fourth break point for Fucsovics after Djokovic’s backhand flies long. But the Hungarian puts a forehand long when he tries to pass Djokovic.
Longest rally of the match and Djokovic roars towards the crowd as Fucsovics makes another forehand error.
Djokovic holds.
02:14 PM
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 1-0 Fucsovics*
Djokovic backhand return winner, 15-30. Fucsovics forehand error, two break points. That was the shot of a beaten man.
Another error by Fucsovics and Djokovic breaks in the opening game. Terrible start.
02:10 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 6-4 Fucsovics
Djokovic double fault, 15-15. Djokovic backhand into the net, 15-30. Fucsovics forehand long, 30-30. His 20th error of the match.
Beautiful drop shot by Djokovic, set point. Big Djokovic wide serve is unreturned by Fucsovics and he holds to take a two set led.
02:05 PM
Djokovic 6-3, 5-4 Fucsovics*
Fucsovics double fault, 15-30. Fucsovics unreturned serve, 30-30. Big point coming up.
Fucsovics forehand wide, break point Djokovic. Longest rally of the match, 27 shots, and it ends with Djokovic putting a forehand long.
Fucsovics forehand into the net, second Djokovic break point. Fucsovics backhand long, Djokovic breaks.
You knew it was coming.
01:59 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 4-4 Fucsovics
Djokovic forehand winner to start the game then Fucsovics nets a backhand. Djokovic completes a love hold in about a minute.
01:56 PM
Djokovic 6-3, 3-4 Fucsovics*
A lob from Djokovic flies long, 15-15. Big first serve by Fucsovics is too much for Djokovic, 30-15.
Djokovic forehand return long and Fucsovics holds. He continues to look very solid at the moment.
01:52 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 3-3 Fucsovics
Djokovic races to 40-15 then double faults. But he drags Fucsovics wide with a forehand and gets the error to hold.
01:48 PM
Djokovic 6-3, 2-3 Fucsovics*
Emphatic hold to love by Fucsovics. He’s looking good at the moment. So when will Djokovic break him?
01:45 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 2-2 Fucsovics
A backhand slice by Djokovic drifts long, 30-15. And he then puts an un-Djokovic like forehand into the net, 30-30. Chance for Fucsovics but his backhand is wide, 40-30. Big hitting by the Hungarian draws the error from Djokovic, deuce.
But vintage Djokovic returns to dominate from the baseline and finish with a forehand winner.
01:39 PM
Djokovic 6-3, 1-2 Fucsovics*
Djokovic slice drifts wide, 30-15. Good hustle from Fucsovics to reach a Djokovic drop shot and flick a forehand winner.
An emphatic ace to finish. Good tennis by Fucsovics.
01:36 PM
Djokovic* 6-3, 1-1 Fucsovics
Djokovic holds to 30. The Serbian looks to be biding his time.
01:31 PM
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 0-1 Fucsovics*
Fucsovics backhand long, 15-30. Then a forehand into the net. Instant pressure on the Fucsovic serve, two break points.
He saves the first then the second when Djokovic puts a backhand long. Djokovic earns another break point with a backhand volley winner. That’s saved by Fucsovics with his own backhand volley winner.
Fucsovics backhand long, fourth break point for Djokovic. Djokovic forehand into the net.
Fucsovics backhand winner and he holds with a lovely cross court forehand winner.
01:21 PM
Djokovic* 6-3 Fucsovics
Fucsovics forehand into the net, should have made that, 30-15. Fortune with the net for Djokovic brings him two more set points and he gets the job done finally.
01:18 PM
Djokovic 5-3 Fucsovics*
Gorgeous forehand winner by Djokovic as he steps forward, 15-15. He then gets the better of his man in a drop shot duel, 15-30.
Big Fucsovics serve is unreturned , 30-30. Another unreturned serve makes it, 40-30. A bad bounce hampers Fucsovics and Djokovic takes advantage, deuce.
Fucsovics forehand into the net, set point Djokovic. Saved by Fucsovic again with a big serve and backhand winner.
Another slip for Djokovic as he is wrong footed by a Fucsovics backhand winner. And Fucsovics holds. Gutsy fightback by the big man.
01:08 PM
Djokovic* 5-2 Fucsovics
Fucsovics backhand into the net, 30-15. Djokovic ace, two more break points. Djokovic double fault.
Then a backhand wide from the world No 1. Deuce. Hmmm, an off balance Djokovic puts a backhand long, break point Fucsovics.
And the five-time champion gifts the break with a backhand into the net.
01:03 PM
Djokovic 5-1 Fucsovics*
Djokovic backhand return winner, 0-30. He’s won 13 of the last 15 points. Fucsovics then puts a forehand wide, two set points.
Djokovic goes long with a return on the first. And then the second as he hustles well and Djokovic nets a backhand.
And he finally holds to win a game in this set. Huge ovation from the crowd.
12:57 PM
Djokovic* 5-0 Fucsovics
Djokovic in cruise control right now and Fucsovics has no answer. Only 18 minutes gone and the world No 1 is a game away from the set as he holds to love.
12:55 PM
Djokovic 4-0 Fucsovics*
More trouble for Fucsovics as Djokovic brings up two break points after dragging his man across the court.
Fucsovics saves the first but not the second as he slices into the net. Awful start for Fucsovics.
12:51 PM
Djokovic* 3-0 Fucsovics
A slip by Djokovic as he aims to reach a drop shot by Fucsovics, 15-30. He then responds with an ace.
Fucsovics forehand long and Djokovic holds when the Hungarian puts a backhand wide.
12:47 PM
Djokovic 2-0 Fucsovics*
Early problems for Fucsovics as he makes back-to-back backhand errors, 0-30.
Then a forehand long by Fucsovics makes it 15-40, two break points. And Djokovic wears his man down in a lengthy really to break. Ominious start.
12:43 PM
First set: Djokovic* 1-0 Fucsovics (*denotes server)
First point goes to Fucsovics as Djokovic puts a forehand long but the world No 1 gets on the board when his opponent puts a return long.
Djokovic then nets with a backhand, 15-30. Djokovic holds serve to 30 with a forehand winner.
12:39 PM
Djokovic wins toss
Djokovic to serve first…
12:34 PM
Djokovic vs Fucsovics
The two players stride onto court. Centre Court is not full but there will be a full house today.
12:20 PM
Karen Khachanov v Denis Shapovalov
The clash between the Russian and Canadian is underway on Court 1. It’s currently on serve with Khachanov leading 2-1.
The winner will play either Djokovic or Fucsovics.
12:07 PM
Pre-match insights
11:55 AM
Wednesday’s Order of play
Centre Court – 13:30
(1) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v Marton Fucsovics (Hungary)
(6) Roger Federer (Switzerland) v (14) Hubert Hurkacz (Poland)
Court One – 13:00
(25) Karen Khachanov (Russia) v (10) Denis Shapovalov (Canada)
(7) Matteo Berrettini (Italy) v (16) Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada)
11:45 AM
Good afternoon!
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s coverage of men’s quarter-final day at Wimbledon.
There might be a big match in north west London later tonight but for now all eyes are on south west London as Novak Djokovic aims to continue his match towards a 20th Grand Slam title against unseeded Marton Fucsovics.
Victory this year would give Djokovic his third major title of the year and the third in a row at SW19.
“You always enjoy obviously hearing those stats. It’s a privilege to break records in the sport that I truly love,” Djokovic said after his win over Cristian Garin. “I’m devoted to this sport as much as I think anybody out there on the tour. I just try to do my best. I am aware that there are many records on the line. They do inspire me to play my best tennis.
“If I start, you know, giving away my attention and energy to these speculations and discussions and debates, I feel like it’s going to derail me from what I feel is the priority at this moment for me: [to] take it step by step, day by day, stick to stuff that makes me feel good, that make me feel comfortable, confident, [and] that makes me prepare the best that I possibly can be prepared for the final stages of Grand Slams.
“It’s not a secret that I am trying to win as many Slams as possible. I went for the historic [weeks at] No. 1 [record]. I managed to achieve that milestone.”
“Against Novak, against the top guys, you cannot tell the winning strategy,” Fucsovics said. “I will go out there and try to enjoy every moment, fight for every point. That will be most important… This is the first time I reach the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam. Hopefully I get to play on the Centre Court, and I want to enjoy every moment of it.”
Djokovic will start the match as the clear favourite over Fucsovics and he leads their head-to-head 2-0. But the Hungarian says he will enjoy the moment.
“Against Novak, against the top guys, you cannot tell the winning strategy,” Fucsovics said. “I will go out there and try to enjoy every moment, fight for every point. That will be most important… This is the first time I reach the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam. Hopefully I get to play on the Centre Court, and I want to enjoy every moment of it.”