Rune pounces on Davidovich Fokina error to snatch dramatic Wimbledon win

By Will Jennings at Wimbledon

Great Dane Holger Rune capitalised on a moment of madness from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to snatch a dramatic fifth-set tie-break victory in a third round Wimbledon thriller.

The fiery world No.6, 20, was locked at 8-8 in the deciding tie-break when Davidovich Fokina decided to take Rune by surprise with a cheeky underarm serve.

But the savvy Scandinavian telegraphed Davidovich Fokina’s bizarre intentions by charging towards the net and whacking a decisive cross-court winner past the 31st seed.

That handed Rune match point on Court 3 and he duly delivered to send the packed-out crowd into raptures and keep just his second SW19 campaign alive.

The two-time French Open quarter-finalist triumphed 6-3 4-6 3-6 6-4 7-6(8) after saving two match points in the most remarkable clash of the Championships so far.

And for Spaniard Davidovich Fokina, 24, it marked his second successive fifth-set tie-break defeat at the All England Club after also going down 10-8 against Czech Jiri Vesely – on a ball abuse point penalty – in the second round last year.

Relieved Rune, who had never previously won a match at Wimbledon and will face either Grigor Dimitrov or Frances Tiafoe in the last 16, said: “I was not expecting that [the underarm serve] was going to come – it was crazy but actually it was nice.

“He was serving unbelievably so it was a chance to get a match point – I was not expecting it so I had to be fast on my feet.

“But also, it's pressure, because imagine I missed that on – that would feel awful.

“I wouldn't do it – but every player has a different style. If he made it, it would have been the right shot, so it’s tough to say.

“I would trust my serve and go big, like I did in the match points and the match point I saved. I think it's different from person to person.

“Wow, what a match. It was unbelievable – it’s one of the most fun matches I’ve ever played.

“It’s quite a small court but the crowd made it absolutely amazing.

“It’s a great moment – I’m super happy to be in the fourth round for the first time, and it’s the first time I’ve ever won a match here.

“It’s going much better than I expected – I’m just so happy.”

Confused Davidovich Fokina, a French Open quarter-finalist in 2021, said: "I cannot explain what is going through my mind there in that moment because a lot of things are.

“Everybody is shouting and you are nervous.

"I cannot explain to you what is happening in my head."

Elsewhere, determined Daniil Medvedev insists he needs to improve his Wimbledon record if he is to be considered a true modern great.

The Russian star and world No.3, 27, battled from behind to beat Hungarian minnow Marton Fucsovics and book his place in the last 16.

The 2021 US Open champion trailed by a set on Court 1 but rallied when it mattered to complete an eventually comfortable 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 triumph.

Medvedev is a former king of Flushing Meadows, two-time Australian Open runner-up and also reached the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros back in 2021.

But he has never advanced past the fourth round at Wimbledon, going down against tricky Pole Hubert Hurkacz in 2021 and his win on Saturday now equalling his best ever run in SW19.

Medvedev is motivated to go further in the solitary Grand Slam on grass and knows he’ll need to raise his game against world No.37 Jiri Lehecka in the next round.

The former world No.1, who was unable to compete in last year’s Championships owing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said: "I really want to do well here – I'm very motivated and very determined.

“I was not playing last year and so far, it's my worst Grand Slam in terms of results.

“Right now, by the results, it's sure that on clay and the grass I play less well than on hard courts.

“Even Roland-Garros I managed to get into the quarters so I have big motivation to try to change it.

“But I want to try to change it and try to be in the finals of Slams playing the best players, even on these surfaces – that's another chance for me this year.

“I hope I can continue playing the way I played today – I felt like I played well.

“I play Jiri next, who's a really strong opponent and can be really dangerous on grass.

“I'm going to try my best to at least equal the French Open performance.

“But the further you go the tougher the opponents, so I hope I can just show my best tennis."

Over on Centre Court during a rain-affected Saturday of action, world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz channelled memories of his recent Brazilian battle with Chilean Nicolas Jarry to advance to the fourth round.

The world No.1 and top seed, still just 20, fought from behind to beat Jarry in the semi-finals of the Rio Open earlier this year and followed it up with another hard-fought triumph against the 25thseed.

The reigning US Open champion was pegged back at one set apiece and despite then being a break down in the fourth when 2-1 up, turned the tables to keep his hopes of a second Grand Slam title alive.

Alcaraz, whose win also equalled his best run at SW19 last year, said: “It was really tough – Nicolas is a really great player, coming in playing really well.

“We played in Rio and it was a really tough match, and it was here as well.

“I stayed focused all the time – I knew I was going to have my chances.

“It was really close, he has great shots, very solid.

"I was really happy with the level I played to get through this round – the energy we received was special.

"I am really happy to play here - it is something I dreamed since I very young – this court [Centre] is the most beautiful court I have played on."