Novak Djokovic Advances To Wimbledon Quarter-Finals
It was business as usual for tennis world number one Novak Djokovic as the Serbian beat Chile’s Cristian Garin 6-2 6-4 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finalst of Wimbledon, staying on course for a 20th Grand Slam title that would tie him with his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most major men’s titles.
Djokovic, who won the last two men’s singles titles at Wimbledon, will play his 50th Grand Slam quarter-final when he faces unseeded Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who beat Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-0 6-3.
The 25-year-old Garin, seeded 17th, soon realised he did not have the resources to trouble the Serbian on a sun-baked Centre Court. Djokovic won the first eight points and never took his foot off the pedal during the one hour 48 minute contest, dominating from the baseline and the net against the Chilean.
A sixth Wimbledon trophy on Sunday would also move the 34-year-old closer to the Golden Slam, with the Tokyo Olympics and the US Open to be played on his favourite hard courts.
The reigning Australian Open and French Open winner did not hide the fact that he was feeling at his best.
“Confidence level is very, very high obviously after winning the French Open,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “That was probably one of the biggest wins under those kinds of circumstances that I’ve played in. Particularly in the second week – two five-setters, two four-setters.”
“It took a lot out of me but, at the same time, it gave me wings. It gave me the confidence boost that I needed for Wimbledon and my energy levels are really good. I’m pleased.”
This is the quickest surface in sports so obviously coming from clay takes a little bit of time to adapt to adjust your game and to make sure that you’re at your best. So the further the tournament goes I feel like I’m more comfortable playing on grass. I look forward to the next challenge,” he added.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
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