Wimbledon 2016: Novak Djokovic two sets down to Sam Querrey before rain stops play on Court One
Reigning champion in disarray against big-serving American in third-round clash at SW19
NOVAK DJOKOVIC is facing a mammoth task to avoid a shock Wimbledon exit.
The world No 1, who is gunning for his FIFTH straight Grand Slam title, was losing 7-6 6-1 to American Sam Querrey when the rain came to his rescue.
The pair will resume on Saturday but super Serb Djokovic knows he will have to pull something special out the bag if he is to remain in the tournament.
Djokovic, 29, did not look comfortable throughout the one hour 13 minutes he was on court against the 6ft 6in Yank.
Perhaps it had to do with waiting all day for Venus Williams to get through her epic against Russian teen Daria Kasatkina.
Or maybe there was a physical issue, because at points he appeared to be stretching more than normal, particularly with his neck.
Whatever the reason, big-serving Querrey took full advantage as he held most of his service games comfortably while Djokovic had to battle constantly to hold his.
The 12-Slam winner saved FOUR set points when 6-5 down in the first to force a tie-break.
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But he could not repel his 28th seed opponent for much longer as Querrey, 28, took the shoot-out 8-6.
Most spectators then expected the out-of-sorts Djokovic to shake of his funk and Querrey to do the honourable thing, as so many had done before him, and submit.
But remarkably things got even worse for Djokovic, who appeared to become meeker and weaker as the match wore on.
Lord only knows what his coach Boris Becker must have been thinking, helpless up in the stands.
A tame effort hit long by the best player on the planet in the fourth game saw Querrey break, and the scenario repeated itself for the score incredibly to read 5-1.
Querrey, who has never been past the last 16 here, grew in confidence and powered home the advantage to register a 6-1 demolition.
Then, the rain came… mercifully, for the world’s best player.
Djokovic has only come back from two sets down on FOUR occasions previously in his 881 tour-level matches, so knows what work he has to do.
Andy Murray’s nemesis will also fail in his attempt to go level with Rod Laver in the all-time list of consecutive Grand Slam wins if he does not turn this around.
Djokovic is currently on 30, with Laver on 31 and American hero Don Budge out in front on 37 thanks to an historic streak in the 80s.
Murray would be unlikely to admit it, but he must be desperate for Querrey to finish off what he started - as would everyone in the men’s draw, such has been the level of Djokovic’s dominance.