"Garbage tournament; doesn't think about players at all" - Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon 4R clash being abandoned due to curfew rules vexes tennis fans

The suspension of Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon fourth-round clash against Hubert Hurkacz due to the strict curfew rules has left several tennis fans frustrated and disappointed.

Djokovic looks poised to advance to the Wimbledon quarter-finals, but he will have to resume his match against Hurkacz on Monday to seal the deal. Despite his best efforts, the Serb struggled to break Hurkacz's impeccable serve on Sunday. The Pole is yet to lose a single service game in the tournament, boasting an impressive record of 58 consecutive successful holds.

Nevertheless, Djokovic managed to mount a comeback in both tie-breaks. He overcame a late mini-break deficit in the second set and even saved three set points in the first set before securing a 7-6(6), 7-6(6) lead.

Tournament referee Gerry Armstrong, however, made the decision to suspend play after the completion of the second set, at 10:35 p.m. local time. The call was made due to the highly improbable chance of the match being concluded before the 11 p.m. curfew.

The decision left fans feeling disheartened and they took to social media to express their disappointment.

A fan expressed their anger at the scheduling by the tournament organizers, claiming that they show favoritism towards local athletes and impose a curfew on other players without any valid reasons. Despite Wimbledon's rich traditions and history, the fan believes that the tournament is "garbage."

"They give preferential treatment to local athletes as they like, delaying start time and setting curfew for no apparent reason. Doesn't think about players at all, and even though it can't be run properly, it's really garbage tournament has a lot of tradition and formality," they tweeted.

Another fan expressed their disappointment with the Wimbledon Championships, claiming that the event was not being 'serious'.

"Unserious tournament. Shame this still has to happen in 2023," the fan tweeted.

Here are a few more reactions:

"Why do I need to think about his achievement? I have to think about myself" - Andrey Rublev on potential Wimbledon QF against Novak Djokovic

Andrey Rublev and Novak Djokovic

Andrey Rublev awaits the winner of the match between Novak Djokovic and Hubert Hurkacz in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. Following his fourth-round win over Alexander Bublik, Rublev shared his thoughts on the potential showdown with Djokovic.

On Sunday, Rublev emerged victorious over Bublik in a thrilling five-set match at SW19. The final scoreline read 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4, propelling Rublev into his first-ever Wimbledon quarterfinal and marking his eighth Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.

In his post-match press conference, Andrey Rublev discussed the possibility of facing Djokovic. He acknowledged that the Serb is undeniably one of the greatest players in the tournament's history, but added that he wasn't bothered by the 23-time Slam winner's previous wins at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

“To be honest, I'm not really thinking about it because this is his [Novak Djokovic's] history. He knows that he's one of the best players, especially at this place, at this court. Why I need to think about his achievement?” Rublev said.

Rublev further said he would be focusing on himself and give it his all in the quarterfinals.

“Me, I have to think about myself and to try to do my best,” the 25-year-old said. “He's one of the best. He didn’t really lose this year, especially in Slams. All the Slams that he played, he won. That's the toughest thing. You have to play really, really great match.”