Novak Djokovic rises to Alexei Popyrin challenge and reaches fourth round

Novak Djokovic plays his racket like a violin to the player’s box after beating Alexei Popyrin. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Novak Djokovic, like England, knows all about extra time and penalties. He has been in that perilous zone most of the year, with no titles and ­gathering vulnerability – but unwavering self-belief to match mountainous expectations; he has never lacked for either.

And here he is, like England, still in the tournament, defying the ­consensus after recent knee surgery – and the sterling challenge of world No 47, Alexei Popyrin – to be three wins away from a 10th final, with the bookmakers twitching again.