Media playback is not supported on this device Wimbledon 2018: Highlights - Novak Djokovic beats Kyle Edmund to end British hopes
Wimbledon 2018 on the BBC Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online.
British number one Kyle Edmund is out of Wimbledon after three-time champion Novak Djokovic fought back to win their third-round match.
Serbian Djokovic, seeded 12th, regained control after 23-year-old Edmund made an encouraging start, going on to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 on Centre Court.
The 21st seed's exit means there are no British players left in the singles.
Former world number one Djokovic, 31, will play Russian Karen Khachanov in the last 16 on Monday.
"I would have, looking back on it, liked to have been a little bit more aggressive at stages," Edmund said.
"But it's easier said than done when you're in rallies. Today was reasonably good."
Edmund had only won one main-draw match at Wimbledon going into this year's tournament, but carried the nation's hopes in the men's draw after Andy Murray pulled out on the eve of the tournament.
Two routine wins over qualifiers Alex Bolt and Bradley Klahn - players ranked outside the top 150 - raised hopes he could cause a shock against Djokovic.
The Yorkshireman earned his maiden win over Djokovic at the Madrid Open in May, victory which he said would give him belief when they met again in SW19.
However, that win was on the clay and over three sets - this match proved a different proposition as Djokovic showed he remains one of the biggest threats in the draw.
It is the first time since 2007 a British singles player has not made the second week at Wimbledon.
"I thought it was a high-quality tennis match," said Djokovic.
"It was very, very, very intense. Just a couple points here and there."
Edmund unable to ride English wave
The match was scheduled third on Centre Court on Saturday in an attempt to avoid a direct clash with England's World Cup quarter-final against Sweden.
And the players walked out on to Centre - which had a sparse crowd watching the preceding match between Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka - just moments after England wrapped up victory.
There were still a few empty seats as play started, but those who had returned created a buzz which they hoped could help Edmund make a fast start.
It did not materialise immediately as his serve came under pressure in the second game.
Edmund saved two break points after edging a baseline rally and a forehand volley, going on to seal what proved to be a significant hold.
With the energy of the crowd behind him, a pumped up Edmund picked up the pace and began to hurt Djokovic with ferocious forehands.
His trademark shot and biggest weapon enabled him to take the first break of the match at the fourth attempt for a 4-2 lead, going on to serve out the opener.
However, the buoyancy of the crowd - no doubt boosted by England's victory in the football - started to fade as Djokovic fought back.
Djokovic switches on to silence crowd
Media playback is not supported on this device 'We need Hawkeye & VAR' - Djokovic furious after double bounce shot
Djokovic has dropped down the rankings after spending six months out with an elbow injury and struggling to regain his consistency in recent months.
The 12-time Grand Slam winner has lost the aura of invincibility that surrounded him at his peak, at times seemingly lacking the focus which enabled him to win the biggest prizes.
It was evident in the opening set, particularly when the Serb pumped an easy forehand long when he threatened to break straight back.
His body language - angrily shouting at the court and often looking discouraged - as the opening set moved towards a conclusion was also stark.
However, something switched for the Serb in the second set.
Djokovic missed two more break points in Edmund's first service game, but continued to apply all the pressure.
Eventually it told when Edmund coughed up a damaging double fault on Djokovic's fourth break point of the eighth game, leaving his opponent to serve out for the set.
Edmund had lost the intensity he started with, his unforced error count creeping up as Djokovic broke in the opening game of the third set and then again for a 5-2 lead which he closed out.
The fourth set was another hard-fought battle, Edmund saving four break points in a dramatic seventh game - where he got away with a double bounce before hitting a winner.
It did not prove pivotal as Djokovic went on to break in Edmund's next service game, clinching the match with an ace to win in two hours and 53 minutes.
'Guys were coughing and whistling at me'
Djokovic has reached the Wimbledon last 16 for an 11th time
Djokovic - who had blown kisses to the crowd after they cheered a time violation given to him and then booed him - roared with delight in a wild celebration after reaching the last 16
"It was a Davis Cup-like atmosphere. I expected them to support Kyle, obviously. But at times they were slightly unfair to me," he said.
"I got time violation deservedly because I took more time. I thought the crowd's reaction after that was quite unnecessary.
"A couple guys really, you know, pretending they were coughing and whistling while I was bouncing the ball more or less to the end of the match at that end where I received the time violation.
"That's what I didn't like."
Analysis
Tim Henman, former Wimbledon semi-finalist on BBC TV
I'm disappointed Edmund lost, but I'm disappointed he lost to Djokovic, so in context it shows how far his game has come. Now he's a genuine contender in the Slams to get into the second week.
And the way he played at the end of the first set and beginning of the second, you felt this could be another opportunity for him to make another breakthrough.
From Djokovic's point of view it is a very important victory. He's been trending in the right direction. He's fit, he's healthy, his movement is exceptional.
There's some challenges mentally, he still looks frustrated out there, so I think it was good for him to get through.
Pat Cash, 1987 Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
That was a very good performance from Edmund and I think it will give him a lot of confidence going forward.
Watching this match and the way Djokovic had to raise his standard to the level we know he can has given me the confidence to say Kyle will be in Grand Slam finals in the future and a top 10 player. That was a good performance. Djokovic really had to get to his best level to beat him.
Media playback is not supported on this device Wimbledon 2018: Football fever, hot dogs, celeb spots and day six funnies
Wimbledon 2018 on the BBC Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online.
The British interest in the singles at Wimbledon ended for another year with Kyle Edmund going out in the third round, but there was still so much to enjoy on day six at Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal cruised into the fourth round and asked if football was coming home, while top seed Simona Halep was knocked out by a veteran player who's been enjoying lobster and burgers at the All England Club.
And Centre Court invited a host of celebrities into the famous Royal Box.
Here are five things you might have missed from middle Saturday at the Championships.
'England, it's coming home or not?'
Englishman Liam Broady tweeted a picture of screens in the players' lounge
With England playing their World Cup quarter-final against Sweden at 15:00 BST, the spectators at Wimbledon were faced with the difficult decision of whether to stay on court to watch the tennis or leave to watch the football elsewhere.
It wasn't shown in any public areas at the All England club - although Britain's Liam Broady revealed on Twitter that it was being shown in the players' lounge.
World number one Nadal finished his third-round match shortly after kick-off, knocking out Australian Alex de Minaur in straight sets, and said he was off to watch the football. He ended his post-match BBC interview by asking: "England, it's coming home or not?"
Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka were up next on Centre Court and it was almost empty in the stands at the start, although the crowd did increase throughout the match.
At full-time, when England sealed their first World Cup semi-final appearance since 1990, there was a loud cheer around the grounds.
Edmund bows out on Centre
One person who wasn't allowed to watch the football was British number one Kyle Edmund.
His Swedish coach Fredrik Rosengren told BBC Radio 5 live it was his job to stop Edmund from cheering on the Three Lions before his match with Novak Djokovic because it can "take too much energy from him".
Edmund arrived on Centre Court after England's win and took the first set 6-4, prompting BBC pundit John McEnroe to say: "The energy in here is incredible right now, it's a direct connection to the football."
But, unfortunately for Edmund, the crowd could not carry him into the fourth round for the first time.
Three-time champion Djokovic recovered to take the match 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4, meaning no Britons are left in the singles at SW19.
Trick shots, arguments and random acts of kindness
Media playback is not supported on this device Paire entertains, but loses to Del Potro - best shots
Juan Martin del Potro made history on Saturday by becoming the first Argentine to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon on four occasions.
And he did it in style, with a thoroughly entertaining win over Benoit Paire.
The pair exchanged trick shots and the Frenchman argued with the umpire, while Del Potro cemented his reputation as the gentle giant of the men's game by climbing over the net to scoop up a struggling Paire after he fell over during a rally.
The 2009 US Open champion and fifth seed came through 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 and will meet Gilles Simon in the next round.
Lobster and burgers help Hsieh knock out Halep
Media playback is not supported on this device Wimbledon 2018: Hsieh Su-wei beats the top seed Simona Halep 3-6 6-4 7-5 - best shots
Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei had never made it past the third round in the singles at Wimbledon - until now.
The 32-year-old world number 48 knocked out top seed and French Open champion Simona Halep in a thrilling match on Court One.
Hsieh, a former doubles champion, survived seven breaks of serve and a match point to come through 3-6 6-4 7-5, meaning seventh seed Karolina Pliskova is the only top 10 seed left in the women's draw.
Hsieh was asked after her match what she had done differently this year, to which she replied: "I was trying to enjoy, not just tennis, but life, the food like the strawberries and cream, the burgers and lobster, all the shops.
"When you play singles and doubles, I need to find tiny time to run out to get all these foods."
World Cup winner in the Royal Box
Sir Bobby Charlton was among the guests in the Royal Box on Saturday
As is tradition on middle Saturday, there were a host of special guests in the Royal Box on Centre Court.
Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the heroes from England's World Cup win in 1966, got a huge reception from the crowd and opted to miss some of the England match to focus on the tennis.
Olympians Adam Peaty, Nile Wilson and Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill were also in attendance, along with legendary BBC commentator Barry Davies, who is commentating on his final Wimbledon.
Put away the flags, turn down the music, take off that silly hat, don’t forget to put out the cat. Kyle Edmund, surfing the wave of national euphoria that had drifted over from the Volga and enveloped the nation just as he walked on to Centre Court with Novak Djokovic, tried hard to keep the party going but had to settle for the consolation of taking a set off one of the finest players of his era in a match that began brightly and ended in literal and metaphorical gloom.
When the 23-year-old Yorkshireman bullied the three-times Wimbledon champion all over the court in the first set, the crowd went wild – or what passes for wild at the All England club. For too long thereafter, his racket seemed like an unknown implement to him, and Djokovic, who won 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in just under three hours, next plays the Russian power-server Karen Khachanov, who earlier took five sets to get rid of the bustling American Frances Tiafoe.
Rafael Nadal pulls no punches to knock out teenager Alex de Minaur Read more
The seventh game of the fourth set was where an already weird third-round match went awry. Serving at three-all and 15-40, Edmund felt hard done by on a marginal call, claiming it came after he had hit his shot. The light was fading, and so were his chances.
Then it was Djokovic’s turn to explode, railing at a dreadful call in favour of Edmund, who plainly had not put his racket under the ball going for a drop shot at 15-40. His flying racket then hit the net and the ball went out, all of which was missed by, well, everyone. Nonetheless, Edmund saved four break points (with a third double-fault thrown in), and on they raged until Djokovic served it out with his 17th ace.
“I was 100% convinced,” Djokovic said of the injustice of it all in the farce of the double-bounce. “Everyone can make a mistake. It was a very important point, obviously. It didn’t make any sense. I had to stay mentally tough. I was just glad to overcome in the end. I’m looking forward to the second week. I’ve got some wonderful memories here.”
Play Video 2:51 Wimbledon day six highlights: Djokovic beats Edmund, Nadal soars and Halep crashes out – video
After a stuttering start, Edmund found a rhythm, striking his ground strokes with tremendous force and accuracy, as Djokovic looked to be fighting an internal demon of some sort. Edmund broke in the seventh game with a dab down the line past his stranded, anxious opponent, celebrating with a rare fist-pump.
Djokovic found a fifth ace to stay in the set and, while Edmund seemed incapable of landing his first serve – he managed 16 out of 36 in the first 48 minutes – he fired a cracker enough down the middle to win it 6-4.
Oddly, Djokovic’s first-serve percentage of 84 was twice as good as Edmund’s, yet he still looked vulnerable. He followed his sixth ace with his first double-fault to hold at the start of the second set but he could not convert either of two break points as Edmund’s erratic serve continued to plague him.
The level dipped markedly on both sides of the net as they passed the hour mark, and defied rational analysis; although Edmund appeared relaxed and up for it, his precision deserted him, especially on serve, and the aces kept flowing for Djokovic, who seemed in a state of irretrievable turmoil as he failed to cash in on the many chances that came his way.
In the eighth game, Edmund saved three break points, then double-faulted to drop his serve. Serving for the set, Djokovic momentarily let the wildly swinging events get to him and motioned to hit the ball into the crowd, at 15-15. It was not well received. A clipped net cord gave him two set points, Edmund saving him the trouble with an errant forehand.
Hsieh Su-wei dumps world No 1 Simona Halep out of Wimbledon Read more
When Djokovic broke at the start of the third, Edmund had gone from possible winner to battling survivor, although the fans were still with him. What was more significant was Djokovic’s demeanour, which moved from sullen to roaringly aggressive.
Edmund’s serve improved – up to 60% on first efforts and the aces climbed to eight as they approached the third hour – but he confronted a revived Djokovic. Mistakes were punished. Openings closed like iron gates. This could only become more difficult.
Serving at 3-2 and 15-30, Djokovic received a time violation but held his composure and his serve. It was a crucial moment; had he imploded, Edmund might have worked his way back into the set but he remained calm and looked properly in control going into the fourth set.
Then came the rumpus and the quick finish. Edmund, controversy aside, had fought hard in every point, but framed a forehand and Djokovic was through.
He found a comforting word or two for Edmund. “It was tough. Edmund has been playing really well, won our last encounter, on clay. He has improved his game a lot, especially on the backhand. He was a set up, not ideal, but I managed to come back.”
