Novak Djokovic punched his own leg 11 times after going 0-5 down to Arthur Rinderknech in the third set on Centre Court. The seven-time former champion was in control when he took a two-set lead, but he suddenly fell away in the third as the Frenchman became more aggressive, breaking twice to race ahead.
The 39-year-old looked visibly frustrated as he sat down at the change of ends on a five-game losing streak, and stretched out his leg before whacking it repeatedly, trying to wake himself up.
“Did not see this coming,” Andrew Cotter told viewers on the BBC after Rinderknech raced into a 5-0 lead in just a few minutes. As the No. 7 seed started punching his thigh, Cotter grimaced and added: “Oof, hang on… That’ll fix it.”
Retired British star Kyle Edmund, who was also in the commentary box, replied: “Not seen that technique before being used.”
Cotter continued: “On a serious point on him banging his leg, they are the things that will go when you’re 39 years old. Just, you haven’t quite got that acceleration, that movement, you’re just starting to feel a little bit heavy.”
Djokovic went 0-30 down as he served to stay in the set, coming just two points away from suffering his first-ever ‘bagel’ on the grass. But he got out alive and notched a game on the board before Rinderknech successfully served out the set 6-1 in just 18 minutes.
The 25th seed sealed it with an ace – his seventh of the set – and Tim Henman told viewers: “83 per cent first serves, seven aces, 93 per cent [first serves won]. Just fantastic stats all around. I mean, that’s got to go down as one of Rinderknech’s best sets of tennis in his career. 13 winners, two unforced errors. Happy days.”
And the left thigh continued bothering the No. 7 seed in the fourth set. Leading 2-1 on serve, he seemed to tap his racket against his leg again while standing at the baseline and waiting to return.
After a very one-sided third set, the fourth was anything but. They were neck-and-neck and went into a tiebreak. But Djokovic sensed his opportunity. Rinderknech sent the ball wide to give the Serb a match point on his own serve. It was a sensational match point, and both men ended up on the ground, but Djokovic got it done, winning 7-5 6-4 1-6 7-6(4).