Wimbledon 2024: Djokovic wins, Swiatek, Jabeur, Dart and Norrie out – as it happened

So that’s it from us, on a day when Iga Swiatek went out, along with Britain’s Harriet Dart and Cameron Norrie, to Alex Zverev. There was defeat too for Ons Jabeur, against Elina Svitolina, but wins for Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina. I think the final word, though, should be for a player who didn’t end up playing today, and never will again at Wimbledon. Thank you Andy. It’s been an absolute blast.

The men’s last 16 looks like this:

Sinner v Shelton
Dimitrov v Medvedev
Alcaraz v Humbert
Paul v Bautista Agut
Musetti v Mpetshi Perricard
Fritz v Zverev
Fils v De Minaur
Rune v Djokovic

He’s then asked about the pretend penalty he took on court when play was interrupted straight after England’s shoot-out victory. “Did England win in the end?” he asks. “Congrats to England.”

Djokovic will now face the 15th seed Holger Rune, who’s come from two sets to love down to end the run of the French qualifier Quentin Halys 6-1 in the decider. And one final result for today: in the darkness of No 2 Court, Taylor Fritz has set up a meeting with Alex Zverev, after defeating Alejandro Tabilo 7-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Djokovic’s thoughts:

It was another tough match, I didn’t expect anything less. He was close to winning that match we played in Australia earlier this year. With that serve and forehand, he’s dangerous on any surface. He was the better player for the first set. A very challenging match, mentally as well, not to have any concentration lapses. It was one of the best tie-breaks I’ve played this year, that’s for sure.

I think each match I’m getting better [physically], my confidence in my movement, I definitely felt better than in my second-round match. Hopefully the trajectory will keep going in a positive way.

Djokovic is unable to wrap up victory at the first opportunity, as Popyrin prevails at the net. 6-3. This time the match point is on Djokovic’s serve … and Popyrin prods his return into the net! Djokovic has been tested here – again – but is through to the fourth round. He celebrates by holding his racket by his head and pretending it’s a violin. I think it’s a dig at the crowd for offering so much support to Popyrin during the match.

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A cross-court backhand exchange on the next point, then Djokovic mixes it up by going down the line. Popyrin challenges but it’s unsuccessful. 5-2 Djokovic – and he grabs another point on Popyrin’s serve when the Australian nets! 6-2, four match points …

Djokovic has another look-in with a second serve but Popyrin goes on to win the point at the net. 2-2, which becomes mini-break Djokovic when he covers every blade of grass to come forward and put away the pass! His knee is looking just fine. 3-2 Djokovic, make that 4-2 as they change ends …

A let-off for Popyrin as Djokovic overhits his return from a second serve on the opening point. Djokovic regroups with an ace. And attacks with a one-two punch for 2-1 …

At 15-all, Djokovic goes back behind Popyrin with a forehand winner. And an unreturned serve makes it 40-15. Djokovic miscues on the next point, going long. 40-30. And Popyrin then skews his slice wide. With nearly three hours on the clock, it’s tie-break time!

Tremendous net play from Djokovic gets him to 0-15. Popyrin attempts to serve-volley on the next point but is unable to dig Djokovic’s rasping return out of the grass. 0-30. An errant slice from Popyrin at it’s 0-40, three break points, which are as good as match points. Djokovic is doing what he does, stepping up when it matters. But Popyrin produces an ace on the first point, Djokovic unwinds on the second after a long rally … and his forehand bashes the net and bounces back! 30-40. And an unreturned serve saves the third! An ace takes Popyrin to advantage and he’s fist-pumping and screaming after he comes out on top in a showdown at the net to secure the game! Popyrin comes from 0-40 down to go 6-5 ahead!

Djokovic holds to 15 for 5-5. Back to you Alexei …

15-0, 30-0, 40-0. That’s 15 straight points for Popyrin on serve. The run comes to an end on the next point, but it’s the only blot for him in this service game, as he holds to 15. He’s then got his arms in the air, Djokovic-style, milking the applause of the crowd. Popyrin leads 5-4.

Djokovic hasn’t been feeling too charitable on serve either. 15-0, 30-0. But at 30-15, Djokovic tries to settle matters with a drop shot … and Popyrin is wise to it! 30-all, a glimmer for the Australian. Djokovic dismissively puts away a smash – and follows that with an ace on game point. He’s waving his arms in the air asking for Centre Court’s applause. The crowd oblige. It’s Djokovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-4 Popyrin.

Djokovic’s passing radar is a bit off tonight, and he’s annoyed with himself when he fails to pierce Popyrin’s net defences on the first point. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. That’s 12 consecutive points on serve for Popyrin. He leads 4-3 and keeps up the scoreboard pressure as the sun starts to set at the All England Club.

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Djokovic’s son is watching on as Djokovic holds for 2-2 in the fourth. Surely it’s past his bedtime; maybe Djokovic will do his best to finish things off quickly. But Popyrin isn’t conceding – the Australian holds to love with an ace for 3-2. And seizes the first point on Djokovic’s serve. Djokovic takes the next four and they’re still on serve at 3-3.

Just the three matches still taking place now: Djokovic v Popyrin, Rune v Halys and Fritz v Tabilo. Rune is at 5-all in the fourth set as he tries to take the match to a decider; and Fritz is two sets to the good, 7-6, 6-3.

Collins’s victory means the women’s last 16 draw is now set:

Putintseva v Ostapenko
Collins v Krejcikova
Rybakina v Kalinskaya
Svitolina v Wang
Sun v Raducanu
Badosa v Vekic
Paolini v Keys
Navarro v Gauff

They’re back out on the outside courts and the Queen’s runner-up Lorenzo Musetti is through to the fourth round for the first time, ending the run of Argentina’s Francisco Comesana in four sets, 6-2, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3. He next faces the ace machine Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. And Danielle Collins, in her last Wimbledon, has also broken new ground by reaching the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia. She’s the fourth American woman to reach the second week.

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Enough of my musings. Djokovic isn’t going anywhere quite yet, and is serving for the third set at 5-4. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0. Popyrin ignores the script by taking the next two points, but Djokovic seals the set with a second-serve ace. The seven-times champion is now in control at 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

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It’s not just watching Murray’s triumphs that makes us emotional, I think Daniel got it spot on the other day when he wrote about how Murray’s retirement makes us all keenly feel the passing of time. I was just starting out as a tennis reporter in 2004, when Murray won the US Open junior title; it was my first overseas grand slam as a journalist. It feels like a lifetime ago. And now Murray is departing, Roger Federer has already departed, Rafael Nadal is nearly departed, Djokovic is hanging on – and things will never quite be the same again.

It’s been an incredible era for tennis, and Murray can be so proud of the part he played in that, defying the odds against the three all-time greats through his sheer will to win, unwavering dedication and relentless work ethic. The sad irony is that his attritional style of play and desire to always hit one more shot than his opponent probably played a part in his body then breaking down. At least he’ll still get one final send-off at the Olympics in Paris next month.

Djokovic backs up the break for 2-0. And is still in charge at 4-2 in the third set. Meanwhile on No 1 Court there’s a huge Muracanu void, because Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu should have been playing their mixed doubles first-round match, but instead the crowd are filtering away. Instead we’ll have to console ourselves with this.

And this.

And why not a bit of this too.

As Rybakina serves for the match, Djokovic strikes at the start of the third set with a break from deuce, when Popryin’s forehand whistles wide. Wozniacki appeals to Hawk-Eye in the hope of overturning a match point, but the appeal is in vain. So it’s 40-30. And a ruthless Rybakina wraps up the win. The only player left in the draw to have won Wimbledon before is looking in superb touch. She’ll face Anna Kalinskaya in the last 16 and, for me, is the favourite for the title going into the second week, just ahead of Coco Gauff, whom she could meet in the final.

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Over on No 1 Court Rybakina is in the zone, leading 6-0, 4-1, and 30-40 on Wozniacki’s serve. Wozniacki is probably wishing right now that she hadn’t come out of retirement. But Rybakina – generously – throws in a rare error. Deuce. Advantage Rybakina. Wozniacki lets out a bit of frustration by battering a backhand down the line; that’ll have felt good. Deuce. Advantage Rybakina. Game Rybakina, when Wozniacki lobs long. Rybakina, the former champion, will serve for the match at 6-0, 5-1.

15-0, 30-0, 40-0, three set points to level up this match. Ace down the T. No messing about there.

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Djokovic is looking stronger and stronger. 4-2 is quickly 5-2, and then he’s scenting blood on the Popyrin serve at 30-all. Popyrin edges to 40-30 but is soon pulled back to deuce. Popyrin survives the next two points to hold but Djokovic, in this mood, looks set to serve this set out.

But 40-30 turns into deuce, and advantage Popyrin turns into deuce too. And deuce becomes advantage Djokovic. Popyrin saves the break point and should go on to win the game at his advantage, but miscues. Deuce. Eventually Popyrin holds, but it’s Djokovic still with the break, leading 4-2 in the second, having lost the first 6-4.

The hugest of cheers on Centre Court – but it’s not for Djokovic or Popyrin – it’s for England’s victory of course. Ladies and gentlemen, quiet please. But they’re not calming down. Popyrin and Djokovic are smiling, they don’t seem to mind too much. They eventually resume at 30-all on the Popyrin serve, and the Australian shows real composure to recover from the interruption and slam down another serve …

At advantage in the next game, Djokovic delays his serve – he’s being distracted by the noise of those watching the penalty shoot-out around the grounds. And probably in the stands too. He’s brought back to deuce but soon returns to advantage. And holds for 4-1. And the phones are out in force at the changeover. Jessica Ennis-Hill has now snuck down to the front row of the Royal Box because it looks as if Jason Kenny has his phone hidden on his lap. They’re both caught out by the cameras.

Djokovic is in danger at break point down, 30-40, 1-1. An ace gets him to deuce. And a second-serve ace brings up advantage. Popyrin’s return is then long and Djokovic holds … before he picks off Popyrin with the pass to give himself two break points in the next game at 15-40. Popyrin goes for a one-two punch before coming to the net … but he makes a mess of the volley! Djokovic breaks for 3-1 in the second set – could this be a turning point?