"Novak did his Novak thing": Tim van Rijthoven's superb grass run halted by well-prepared Djokovic

HIGHLIGHTS: Djokovic beats Dutchman—and curfew—in QF return

One way to look at Novak Djokovic’s 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 round-of-16 win over Tim van Rijthoven is to think of it as a two-act play, each competitor topping the marquee for one act at a time.

Call the first two sets, Meet the New Contender. Ranked 205 a month ago, Van Rijthoven took a massive leap forward when he won the singles title in ‘s-Hertogenosch—only the second time he’d ever played an ATP Tour-level event. Along the way, van Rijthoven’s big wins included Taylor Fritz, Felix Auger-Aliassime and, in the final, Daniil Medvedev. He’s followed that up impressively at Wimbledon, in his Slam main-draw debut beating Federico Delbonis, 15th-seeded Reilly Opelka, and 22nd-seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Throughout the first two sets versus Djokovic, van Rijthoven was unflappable. With sharp forehands, intermittently lively one-handed backhands and an excellent serve, van Rijthoven sought to assert himself. Said Djokovic, “I knew coming into the match that it was always going to be a tough, challenging matchup against Tim, who I've never faced before. I watched him play. He's got a really good game for grass, which he proved today.”

Well-prepared as always, Djokovic took charge instantly. In van Rijthoven’s opening service game, Djokovic repeatedly pinned him with deep service returns and his distinct brand of all-court smothering, after a 12-minute game at last earning the break. Said van Rijthoven, “Yeah, the fact that I was on Centre Court really the first couple games I felt that, was a little nervous.”

But if the message was received, that did not mean van Rijthoven was going to roll over. Even after the first set went by 6-2, van Rijthoven remained tranquil, attuned to what he needed to do well to compete effectively. Serving in the second set at 1-2, 15-30, van Rijthoven struck an ace and eventually won that game. At 3-all, he held a break point and captured Djokovic’s serve with Pete Sampras-like calm and precision, rolling a sharply angled crosscourt forehand and closing out the rally with an overhead. Of course, van Rijthoven’s moment of truth came when he served for the set at 5-4. It took a while, Djokovic erasing both with winners—a trademark crosscourt backhand pass on one, a forehand half-volley drop shot on another. Finally, at deuce, van Rijthoven took matters into his own hands and again borrowed from Sampras, firing two straight aces.

Time now for Act Two: The King’s Victim’s Speech, best explained by van Rijthoven: “Then Novak did his Novak thing and played very, very well. He had all the answers.”

Overall I think I've played very well, very solid from back of the court. I got into his service rhythm, started reading his serve better in the third and fourth sets. —Novak Djokovic

Though Djokovic has struck his share of memorable shots under pressure, his brilliance is predicated less on a single great moment and more on the ability to subtly raise his game and sustain it, one airtight point after another. This was apparent from the minute the third set started. “It took me a little while to get used to his pace,” Djokovic said in his post-match, on-court interview. Once he did, though, van Rijthoven was helpless and, justifiably, increasingly tired in the face of so much movement, depth, and accuracy. The switch had been thrown. One man had briefly sparkled, but the other had enough wattage to do what he could do like few in tennis history: light up Centre Court.

Djokovic on Tuesday will play Jannik Sinner. Said Djokovic, “I kind of see a little bit of myself in his game, as well, from back of the court, playing flat backhand, constantly staying on the back of the line, trying to put pressure on opponents. I know it going to be a very challenging match for both of us. He's playing fast. He likes that rhythm. We practiced here a couple of times. I know what's expecting me. I'll make sure I'm ready for that one.” The two have only played one another once, Djokovic winning last year in Monte-Carlo.

Today’s day of tennis—the first year Wimbledon had planned months in advance for tennis on this Middle Sunday—had started with Djokovic walking on to Centre Court as part of a ceremony honoring Wimbledon’s past champions. There he’d been, alongside a gallery of greats that included Rod Laver, Billie Jean King, John Newcombe, Chrissie Evert, Roger Federer, Venus Williams, Bjorn Borg, Andy Murray, Simona Halep, and Rafael Nadal. Nine hours later, as night fell over the All England Club, Djokovic had earned his 36th straight victory on Centre Court and had Wimbledon all to himself.