NOVAK DJOKOVIC IS GIVEN A MAJOR SCARE ON CENTRE COURT BY BRITISH WILDCARD - AND WORLD NO 277 - JACOB FEARNLEY TO REACH WIMBLEDON'S THIRD ROUND
- Novak Djokovic is through Wimbledon's third round but it was far from easy
- British wildcard Jacob Fearnley came close to forcing a deciding set on Centre
Novak Djokovic was given a real scare on Centre Court by plucky Brit Jacob Fearnley, eventually winning 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 to reach round three.
The British wildcard, and world No 277, stunned the home crowd when he took the third set 7-5, rocking seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic.
Fearnley walked off Centre Court with his stock on the rise after a spirited display that few saw coming.
The 22-year-old wildcard was outside the world's top 500 only a month ago before a Challenger title win in Nottingham elevated him up more than 200 places.
Even with the mighty Djokovic on the other side of the net, Fearnley played without fear and took a high-risk, high-reward approach as the match wore on.
Particularly in the third set, which was sealed after Djokovic miscued a forehand return to lose his serve, Fearnley was rewarded for his daring.
Fearnley has never competed at a Grand Slam until this week so he has taken a series of huge strides forward in a positive few days.
For Djokovic, he will be eager to shake off the rustiness as he looks to stitch together an eighth Wimbledon title.
More to follow.
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