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Wimbledon 2024 LIVE! Alexei Popyrin vs Novak Djokovic latest score and updates from Centre Court

Wimbledon 2024 LIVE! Alexei Popyrin vs Novak Djokovic latest score and updates from Centre Court

Wimbledon 2024 LIVE!

Novak Djokovic continues his latest SW19 campaign on Centre Court this evening. The seven-time men’s singles champion is bidding to match great rival Roger Federer’s title record at the All England Club this summer, having proved his fitness in the aftermath of a knee injury that required surgery and forced his withdrawal from the French Open last month.

Djokovic began the week with a straight-sets demolition of Czech world No123 Vit Kopriva, before dropping a set in a tougher-than-expected test against plucky British No13 Jacob Fearnley. He now takes on Alexei Popyrin, the Australian who has successfully come through two long matches against Thiago Monteiro and 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry to reach this stage at Wimbledon for the first time in his career.

Djokovic will have top billing in west London tonight, with Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu’s scheduled mixed doubles match against Marcelo Arevalo and Zhang Shuai cancelled after the 2021 US Open champion withdrew due to wrist soreness, meaning the soon-to-be retired Murray has now played his final match at his home Grand Slam. Follow live coverage of Alexei Popyrin vs Novak Djokovic below with Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wimbledon!

Alexei Popyrin vs Novak Djokovic latest news

  • Start time: 6:20pm BST (approx)

  • How to watch: BBC

  • Raducanu pulls out of Murray mixed doubles match

  • Head to head (H2H) record

GAME SET AND MATCH DJOKOVIC — 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3)

21:37 , Dom Smith

The first point after the changeover sees Djokovic fire onto the line. Popyrin challenges but it’s well in and it’s 5-2.

Popyrin’s turn to serve again, and he opts to go down the centre, but he then nets mid-rally and is now a full break down, leaving Djokovic with four match points.

He saves the first, smashing into the open court.

Djokovic on serve, takes it. He’s into the fourth round! But what a fantastic effort that was by Popyrin, so close to knocking out the seven-time champion.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-6(4-2) Popyrin

21:32 , Dom Smith

An ace from Djokovic for 1-1 on serve, and then into the tramlines by Popyrin.

Then a sensational point by Popyrin who sent Djokovic flying despite a weak initial second serve. Then an even better point by Djokovic who is running this way and that due to Popyrin’s class but still manages to bypass the Aussie when he’s at the net. Mini break.

And Djokovic remains mini break and 4-2 up as the players change ends.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-6 Popyrin — tiebreak

21:27 , Dom Smith

Excellent change of direction by Djokovic who fizzes the ball to Popyrin’s right, forcing him to net for 15-0, but Djokovic’s easily-looking putaway then hits the net for 15-15.

At 40-30, Popyrin’s measured backhand slice lands just out and hands Djokovic a tight service game for 6-6. Tiebreak!

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 5-6 Popyrin

21:21 , Dom Smith

Oh dear! Popyrin makes an ill-judged decision to creep towards the net, miss-hits the ball, and is 0-30 down!

And then a terrible slice lands long and hands Djokovic three breaks points.

He saves the first with just about his greatest serve of the match so far. Nerves of steel. And the Djokovic wastes the second by clipping the tape after a very long rally! Even his wife looks frustrated at him, in his players’ box!

Ace. All three break points saved.

And then an incredible deuce where Popyrin is left punching the air and roaring loudly. He’s held again. Five points in a row.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 5-5 Popyrin

21:16 , Dom Smith

Excellent cool-as-ice serve from Djokovic at 15-15 which causes the chalk to fly up. Not sure why Popyrin challenges, but it was obviously in and Djokovic goes ahead.

Then, after a long rally, edges 40-15 in front with a nice drop shot.

And an unreturned serve makes it 5-5 in the fourth set. Tense!

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-5 Popyrin

21:11 , Dom Smith

Popyrin sends Djokovic bursting left and right, ultimately hammering into the unguarded court.

But a gutsy reply of serve from Djokovic gets him into the ascendency in the 40-0 point and he stays in the game by winning it.

And a fantastic winner by Popyrin then brings him another hold of serve. He looks at the crowd and gestures them to raise their voices. He’s loving it!

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-4 Popyrin

21:08 , Dom Smith

Popyrin can’t return Djokovic’s slammed forehand down the line, and then he can’t get a slammed serve back over either.

But he holds his nerve, pushes Djokovic wide, and it’s 30-15. Then a drop-shot from Djokovic brings Popyrin to the line, where he DEFTLY returns into the unguarded court. 30-30 and it’s the Aussie looking the more confident!

But Djokovic smashes a bouncer into the crowd and then second-serves down the T with an ace. Straight back out of trouble!

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-4 Popyrin

21:02 , Dom Smith

Really good point by Popyrin to begin with, coming to the net with confidence and it pays off.

He gets to 40-0 with some brutal serving, and another excellent delivery sees him hold to love. Big statement that!

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-3 Popyrin

21:00 , Dom Smith

Popyrin has a spring in his step here and punches a forehand beyond Djokovic’s grasp as the Serb looks to the turf below in resignation.

Popyrin winds up a slapped forehand sensing a chance of 0-30 but hits the net and gives Djokovic a lifeline.

Well-worked third point by the Serb to make it 30-15. Then 40-15. Then game. He’s relentless.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-3 Popyrin

20:56 , Dom Smith

Fine stuff from the Aussie, racing into a 30-0 lead with unreturned serves and then moving 40-0 ahead as Djokovic races to the net but then strokes the ball into it.

Beautiful serve to seal the game. 3-2 Popyrin in the fourth.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-2 Popyrin

20:55 , Dom Smith

Djokovic with another simple hold that Popyrin isn’t remotely close to breaking. It’s on serve in this fourth set as Popyrin prepares to serve now.

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 1-2 Popyrin

20:51 , Dom Smith

Popyrin with one of his most composed games for a long while, holding to 15 and finishing it off with a cross-court battered forehand as Djokovic flies in the other direction.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 1-1 Popyrin

20:49 , Dom Smith

Ace after ace from Djokovic, in a contest that has been all about who can serve more fiercely.

But he needs to turn on the style in a rally at 40-0 up, doing so with a deft drop shot that stunk of experience and which Popyrin was nowhere to.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 0-1 Popyrin

20:46 , Dom Smith

To get out of a bit of trouble, the Aussie put away a lovely volley at the net which Djokovic can’t get close to.

It helps him through his first service game of the fourth set.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Popyrin

20:38 , Dom Smith

After another show of big-serving, Djokovic comes inches away from serving out the set to love, but his first serve just misses the line.

Popyrin does well to get back to 40-30 but it’s Djokovic with the midas touch and the third set to boot!

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 5-4 Popyrin

20:33 , Dom Smith

Important for Popyrin to keep the pressure on, and his serving sees him through and keeps him in the third set.

Djokovic now to serve it out.

The Serb remains on top in this big-hitting clash on Centre.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 5-3 Popyrin

20:30 , Dom Smith

Another strong hold from Djokovic and he’s a game away from the second set...

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 3-4 Popyrin

20:24 , Dom Smith

Popyrin sends Djokovic skidding across the court and brings up 40-30, before tucking away down the line for 3-4 and a hold of serve at an important time.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 4-2 Popyrin

20:22 , Dom Smith

Djokovic holds again and Popyrin must be starting to wonder how he’s going to strangle his way back into this third set.

Popyrin to serve next. A hold wouldn’t hurt...

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 3-2 Popyrin

20:16 , Dom Smith

An apology from Djokovic who, at 30-0 down on Popyrin’s serve, finds a fortunate winner which pops up off the net and lands on the line.

Then Djokovic forces Popyrin into the extremities of the court, from which he cannot return and so it’s 30-30 and another chance to break potentially.

But a fine serve from Popyrin, and then another as he holds well.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 3-1 Popyrin

20:12 , Dom Smith

The world No2 is finding his range with cross-court serving and not needing long rallies to win points on serve at the moment.

He holds again. Popyrin struggling at the minute.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 2-1 Popyrin

20:10 , Dom Smith

Djokovic with a hammered backhand takes 40-15 to 40-30, but Popyrin’s serving is back to its best and Djokovic can’t return the last back over the net.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 2-0 Popyrin

20:07 , Dom Smith

Djokovic baits Popyrin into coming back into the centre of the court only to fire back from whence Popyrin had come from, bringing up 40-0 to Djokovic.

And the 2nd seed holds as Popyrin slaps into the net.

Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 Popyrin

20:04

Popyrin under pressure immediately, and via deuce Djokovic breaks in the first game of the third set with Popyrin slapping wide cross-court with the decisive shot.

Feels like Djokovic is just clicking through the gears now. He has, let’s remember, as many gears as any player in the men’s draw. Hoping to hold for 2-0 now.

Djokovic 4-6 6-3 Popyrin

19:56 , Dom Smith

And that’s that. Djokovic is back level at one set all as outstanding serving sees him hold out the set to love.

The final serve, down the T with fierce power, felt like a statement.

Djokovic 4-6 5-3 Popyrin

19:55 , Dom Smith

Popyrin is under pressure at 15-30 down and celebrates with a shake of the racket as Djokovic goes long to bring up 30-30. Popyrin holds via deuce. Still in the set, just.

Djokovic 4-6 5-2 Popyrin

19:51 , Dom Smith

Really good from Djokovic as he waits at the net and caresses a lovely backhand to the right of the court, with Popyrin nowhere near.

He holds his serve to move a game away from the second set.

Djokovic 4-6 4-2 Popyrin

19:47 , Dom Smith

Popyrin has served incredibly well in this match so far, and he fires himself 30-0 up, but Djokovic pushes the Aussie far down the baseline and then waits at the net to tap home.

Djokovic takes it to deuce and has plans to break Popyrin again. And he takes a break point as Popyrin can’t clip a shot over the net from close in.

It’s a mightily long deuce, swinging this way and that, Popyrin holds though.

Djokovic 4-6 4-1 Popyrin

19:37 , Dom Smith

Lovely winding forehand into the corner by Popyrin for 0-30 on Djokovic’s serve, but the Serb does well to level at 30-30.

From there, a thumping serve serve to get ahead but it’s soon deuce.

Amazing winner across the court by Popyrin to save game point. But Djokovic stays calm and holds. 4-1.

Djokovic 4-6 3-1 Popyrin

19:31 , Dom Smith

Oh dear. Djokovic is 15-40 up and it’s time for Popyrin to assert himself with his masterful serve and save two break points.

But he clips a forehand into the net and Djokovic has the first break of the second set!

Djokovic 4-6 2-1 Popyrin

19:26 , Dom Smith

Never mind breaking back, Djokovic needs to be careful on his OWN serve, as Popyrin gets back from 30-0 down to level at 30-30. Then Popyrin is celebrating as Djokovic fires into the tramlines poorly.

Djokovic is able to save the game point, and then a serve down the T under pressure to bring up game point. And another to win the game. Important hold of serve that!

Djokovic 4-6 1-1 Popyrin

19:22 , Dom Smith

This time it’s Popyrin to take centre stage on this Centre Court show of strong serving.

He does so to love as Djokovic gets close to none of them! 1-1. Hard to see how the Serb is going to break back as it stands!

Djokovic 4-6 1-0 Popyrin

19:21 , Dom Smith

Djokovic steams into a 40-15 lead, before Popyrin pulls back a single point.

But it’s a consolation because his next return of serve is straight into the net.

Hold of serve for Djokovic.

We're back underway

19:19 , Dom Smith

Safely closely closed, Djokovic to serve as we begin the second set.

Break of play

19:14 , Dom Smith

Little pause here as the roof is closed on Centre Court

Djokovic 4-6 Popyrin

19:09 , Dom Smith

Djokovic looks to have pulled it long but challenges. It’s just, JUST wide of the mark, and it’s back to 15-15 for Popyrin.

Then Djokovic forces the Aussie to drag into the net and at 30-30, Djokovic senses a chance.

But Popyrin’s winner brings up set point. Taken! Well well well!

Djokovic 4-5 Popyrin

19:04 , Dom Smith

And again. This time Djokovic steps forward to produce an infinitely better service game than his last, when he was broken!

It’s Popyrin to serve out the first set now though...

Djokovic 3-5 Popyrin

19:02 , Dom Smith

That was over before it began! A hold to love for Popyrin who is really moving well and serving superbly.

Djokovic 3-4 Popyrin

18:59 , Dom Smith

Djokovic put under pressure on his serve in the seventh game of the first set as Popyrin gets to 30-30, and soon there’s a break point for the Aussie as Djokovic’s crosscourt backhand clips the net and lands out.

And Popyrin takes the game, breaking for 4-3. Blimey!

Djokovic 3-3 Popyrin

18:55 , Dom Smith

Djokovic struggling with the beaming sunshine and cannot return a relatively limp serve from at 30-0 down, going 40-0 down.

Second serve Popyrin, and it’s a good one, but Djokovic gets the better of him in the rally and forces his opponent to chip into the net. Soon enough, it’s deuce.

At advantage up, Popyrin nets. Then on another advantage, he comes to the net but can only watch as Djokovic passes a gorgeous backhand onto the tramline and in.

Job done in the end.

Djokovic 3-2 Popyrin

18:47 , Dom Smith

Strange one at 40-15 up, when Djokovic seeks to hit his serve down the tramlines but instead misses by a huge margin.

But he changes the direction with the second serve, which Popyrin slaps miles over the court and it’s another comfortable hold by the second seed.

Djokovic 2-2 Popyrin

18:44 , Dom Smith

Really good serve down the tramlines from Popyrin takes the pressure off the Aussie and makes it 30-0.

But Djokovic reaches out a lovely return of serve with the third point to slap a winner past Popyrin.

Excellent serving again, though. Another hold. Superb serving so far in this match.

Djokovic 2-1 Popyrin

18:40 , Dom Smith

Lovely winner pummelled into the far corner by Djokovic, which Popyrin simply cannot reach, bringing up 30-0.

Then it’s 40-0.

Held again by the Serb.

Djokovic 1-1 Popyrin

18:37 , Dom Smith

Popyrin begins with an ace in his first service game, and then beats Djokovic in rallies in the next two points too.

But Djokovic comes back with two lovely winners in the next couple of points to put immediate pressure on Popyrin’s serve.

But Popyrin holds his nerve.

Djokovic 1-0 Popyrin

18:34 , Dom Smith

Some good serving from Djokovic gets him up and running in the evening sun, as Popyrin struggles to contain him in the first game.

And we're off

18:31 , Dom Smith

Djokovic to serve...

Players are out!

18:29 , Dom Smith

The players are out warming up and we’re soon to start!

Head to head record

18:21 , Dom Smith

This will be just the third-ever meeting between Novak Djokovic and Alexei Popyrin at tour level.

Djokovic has won both of their two previous meetings — who could have guess?! — and knocked the Aussie out of his home slam at the round of 16 stage of the Australian Open earlier this year.

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray out of mixed doubles

18:14 , Dom Smith

As we discovered earlier today, Sir Andy Murray has played his final match at Wimbledon after Emma Raducanu pulled out of their planned mixed doubles match citing stiffness in her right wrist.

Raducanu is prioritising her fourth-round singles match on Sunday against Lulu Sun of New Zealand and cancelled plans to compete with Murray last on Court 1 on Saturday, when the British icons were due to begin their mixed doubles run against Shuai Zhang of China and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador.

It means that Murray has now played his final match at SW19. The two-time Wimbledon champion pulled out of the singles due to failing to recover in time after a cyst close to his spinal cord was removed because it was causing nerve pain in his right leg.

Read the full article here.

How to watch

18:08 , Dom Smith

The match will be shown BBC Two and online on the BBC iPlayer.

Or you can follow it here with regular updates via Standard Sport’s dedicated live blog!

Start time

18:06 , Dom Smith

The Djokovic v Popyrin match is set to begin at roughly 6:20pm BST this evening.

Game, set, match Svitolina!

18:04 , Dom Smith

Svitolina wins the tiebreak by making the second match point count, and she’s defeated last year’s finalist Jabeur in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6!

Djokovic v Popyrin will follow!

Waiting on Centre Court...

17:57 , Dom Smith

This match follows the women’s singles match currently on Centre Court between Elina Svitolina and Ons Jabeur.

The Ukrainian took the first set, and the second has followed serve all the way to a tiebreak, which is currently on serve at one point all.

Good evening!

17:40 , Dom Smith

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s live blog of Novak Djokovic versus Alexei Popyrin in the third round here at Wimbledon!

We’ll have updates game by game as Djokovic seeks to get past the Aussie and set up a fourth-round meeting with either Quentin Halys or Holger Rune on Monday.

Not long to go now. Stay with us!