If Hubert Hurkacz had a mountain to climb as Sunday began, it was nothing compared to the task he was facing by the end of the day.
After one hour and 46 minutes of blistering serving from the Pole and precision defending from Novak Djokovic, Hurkacz (Hubi to his friends) found himself two sets down to the defending champion. Worse still, he had had his chances to win both of those sets.
As the Centre Court lights were turned out, Djokovic was leading 7-6(6), 7-6(6).
Djokovic had warned us a couple of days ago that this could be close. Nice as Hubi is – and he is extremely nice – he is an awkward prospect on a tennis court.
“He serves extremely powerful and good,” Djokovic began, listing the 26-year-old’s greatest strengths. “He covers the court very well. When he comes to the net, he has a very good feeling at the net. He closes the net very well.
"He's comfortable also to play from the back of the court, defending. For a very tall guy he defends well, even slides. He comes in and covers the net very well. Just overall a very complete player. I don't see too many holes in his game really.”
And Hubi’s secret weapon? “He has very long arms.”
The trouble was that the long arms of Hurkacz were up against the ridiculously long history of Djokovic on Centre Court. It had been 10 years and two days, three hours and 17 minutes since the Serb had lost a match on that particular patch of grass. This is his second home and he does not welcome visitors.
Still, Hurkacz had to try to find a way to win. That walloping serve was a good place to start and as he warmed up his right arm, the speed edged ever upwards: 131mph, 135mph, 141mph. On the other side of the net, Djokovic was matching the big man for accuracy if not speed. As he went to serve to stay in the first set, the champion had dropped just one service point.
He blotted that record somewhat with a double fault and an error or two – the earth shifted slightly on its axis in shock – but he still held. And then Hurkacz held to love with three aces and a winner. The tie-break was inevitable.
Now, this is where history starts to pile up against the opposition again. Djokovic’s tie-break record this year is played 22, won 18. And at Roland-Garros, he played six tie-breaks and did not record a single unforced error in any of them. Over to you, Hubi.
But this time Djokovic was not Mr Perfection. Not quite. He offered up a gift, a double fault, to give Hurkacz the first minibreak. Cue sharp intake of breath from the Centre Court crowd. Two thumping aces later, Hurkacz held three set points. Cue no one daring to breathe at all.
And then reality took over – Hurkacz dumped a forehand into the net followed by a backhand. His chance had gone. Djokovic was a set up. Exhale everyone; normal service had been resumed.
This level of ferocity could not be maintained for ever and, sure enough, Hurkacz started missing a few first serves in the second set. Not many, you understand, but Djokovic seldom needs much to work with when he starts to fillet an opponent.
He got his first look at a break point after an hour; Hubi whipped it away with an ace and two more to secure the game. He got three more three games later only for Hubi to save them with two aces and a service winner. Another break point, another thunderbolt.
And so we headed for the tie-break and, just as in the first set, Hurkacz got the early lead. Then he lost it and got it back again. He was now 5-4 up with two serves to come.
Surely this time he would get his reward. But no. Djokovic does not allow other people to win on his court. A Hurkacz error and Djokovic winner conjured out of the flick of a wrist and the Serb was off for a good night’s sleep. Hubi was in for a restless few hours.
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