Following yesterday's rain at Wimbledon, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Damir Dzumhur had to wait until today to get on Court 5. The Frenchman Herbert came through in four set 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-6, 6-3 and will face his doubles partner Nicolas Mahut after he ousted David Ferrer in straight sets.
Dzumhur takes the first set
Damir Dzumhur came under pressure immediately on his serve. In the second game, the Bosnian was forced to save three break points as he eventually got on the board in the set. The Frenchman was continually being dominated in the long rallies and forced to bring out the best in his defensive abilities. In the seventh game, the world number 87 ran away to a 0-40 lead before getting the all-important break in the set as he forced a backhand error.
Dzumhur consolidated and went 3-5 up on Herbert. The 25-year-old then lost his way as he threw in three double-faults including on set point to gift the set to the Bosnian. The Frenchman had struggled on serve in the set only managing to land 52 percent of first serves in while Dzumhur was having more success having served 59 percent of his first serves in.
Herbert levels in tiebreaker
With the opening set going the way of Dzumhur, Herbert had to come out strong and dictate the points more. The 24-year-old struggled in his opening service game, being taken to 30-30 before holding while Herbert eased through his opening service game to love for 1-1. Throughout the second set, the Bosnian was again in control of the rallies starting off with a strong serve, staying on top but finding no answer as most of the time Herbert was forcing errors as well as Dzumhur hitting some sloppy shots.
Game ten was the closest one of the two players came to getting the break. On the Frenchman's serve, Dzumhur pushed Herbert to deuce before the Frenchman finished off the game with a forehand volley winner. With nothing to separate the two players, it was Herbert who closed out the twelfth game to send the set into a tiebreaker. The 2015 US Open doubles champion got the mini-break in the breaker when Dzumhur hit an unforced error on his forehand side. From that moment on his French opponent won six points in a row to clinch the tiebreak and second set 7-6(1).
Dzumhur battles; loses set
Both players started the third by holding serve. The third game, however, saw the first break of the set which went the way of Dzumhur at 15-40. Herbert saved one point, but on the second, Dzumhur broke to go 1-2 up. The Frenchman didn't get downhearted and fought back to break the Bosnian immediately. He consolidated the break and went 3-2 up. The momentum was with the Frenchman at this point and he took full advantage.
After having two points saved, Herbert took his chance and broke for the second time in as many games. Once again he held serve and looked quite comfortable at 5-2. Following this, Dzumhur had to fight back and did so winning four games in a row, including breaking the world number 81 in the ninth game. With the set all square at 5-5, Herbert had to stop Dzumhur going ahead and battled to save two break points en route to holding. The Bosnian then took the set to the tiebreak and Herbert closed the set out without losing a point in the breaker.
Herbert runs away with set; clinches victory
The momentum going into the fourth set was with Herbert and it really showed throughout. He broke in the third game then went on to consolidate to go 3-1 up. The Frenchman continued to up his game and in the sixth game, he reached break point at 15-40 when he put a slice in the corner that couldn't be run down.
Dzumhur saved one point, but Herbert hit a delightful passing shot and broke for 5-2. With the set all but over, The world number 81 was forced to save three break points en route to clinching the match with an ace and going through to face Nicolas Mahut in the third round.