Qualifier Dennis Novak caused another big surprise in Wimbledon and continued his fairy-tale journey in the grass mecca in an impressive way. The world ranking 171st from Austria eliminated Lucas Pouille (France), who was seeded at position 17, after a nerve battle with 6:4, 6:2, 6:7 (8:10), 3:6, 6:2 and is in the third round for the first time in his only second major main field participation. Former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic (Canada/No. 13) will be waiting for the leap into the round of 16 on Friday.
By Ulrike Weinrich from Wimbledon
After 2:56 hours, Novak turned his third match point on court 18 thanks to his 16th ace and cheered his greatest success to date by slapping his hands in the face. It is the 24-year-old’s first victory against a player from the top 20, and Novak can also look forward to a prize money of £100,000 (around €113,000) – almost half of what he has earned in his career to date (equivalent to around €275,000).
The day before Novak’s buddy Dominic Thiem had already scored: “Dennis’ journey here is not over yet”. And it was like that. Günter Bresnik’s protégé entered the field impressively cool but also absolutely focused. He showed no respect whatsoever for former top ten player Pouille, who reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows in 2016. He was also not impressed by the fact that the Frenchman could make up for a 2-0 set deficit.
It wasn’t until 2017 that a qualifier from the Alpine republic caused a small sensation on Church Road. Sebastian Ofner had unexpectedly advanced into the third round – and then had to admit defeat to Alexander Zverev. Novak, however, got off to another great start in the green cathedral of tennis. He took Pouille off the first service game after Austria’s number four had circled a backhand and revealed his tactics: Full speed ahead.
Immediately afterwards he won his service to zero – it was another statement of the obviously self-confident right-hander, who had not made a single set in his three qualifying wins in the outsourced facility in Roehampton as well as in the first round.
Novak lost his opening match against ATP World Champion Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) at the Australian Open in January 2018. But against Pouille, who is advised by Tommy Haas, he presented himself wide awake.
Not least because Novak has always acted courageously. Also at the Frenchman’s only break point for a long time at a score of 2:1 in the first round. It quickly became clear that one of the most effective weapons of the Bresnik protégé, the serve, could become the match winner. With his already sixth ace he won 5:3 and closed the set a little later and after a total of 26 minutes.
In 84 percent of the cases to date he made the point when the first service came (83 percent at the second serve). Pouille could not keep up with this statistic either (67 and 63 percent). The 24-year-old from Grande-Synthe took the lead for the first time in the second round 1-0, but Novak broke 2-1 shortly afterwards.
Pouille was then treated on her right leg during a medical time-out. Meanwhile, the underdog indulged in his ritual of changing sides: he realigned his white cap. Novak, who was born in Wiener Neustadt, initially remained the dominant player.
However, he missed two match points in the tie-break of the third set – which took revenge. The tide turned in the further course: The third and fourth rounds went to the now more and more constant Pouille. Novak also passed this nerve test and fought back in the style of a ripped-off turf specialist: with strong serves as a basis.
He started promisingly into the decisive phase: with a break to 1-0 in the fifth set. But Pouille equalled the score at 2-2. A match developed by hook or by crook. Once again Novak took the service off the Haas protégé – and even added to it. As a reward, the happy end of a battle of nerves awaited us.
French open finalist Dominic Thiem (No. 7), who had to give up his first-round game against Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) injured on Tuesday, had already pointed out his buddy’s qualities before the tournament: “Dennis was born with how to play on grass. He’s been on the surface so naturally – and has been since junior times.”