Sinner Powers Into Wimbledon Last 16 As Djokovic Eyes Century
Sinner took just one hour and 55 minutes to demolish 52nd-ranked Martinez 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in a Centre Court masterclass, though the Spaniard was struggling with a shoulder issue.
The 23-year-old will face Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov or Austria's Sebastian Ofner in the fourth round at the All England Club.
Sinner has lost just 17 games across his first three matches at this year's tournament, in contrast to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who has shown patchy form on route to the last 16.
The Italian returned from a doping ban in May, losing the Italian Open final to Alcaraz and squandering three championship points against the Spaniard in the French Open final last month.
His best performance at Wimbledon was a run to the semi-finals in 2023 and he reached the quarter-finals last year.
"Every time you reach the second week of a Grand Slam it's a very special occasion," said Sinner, who acknowledged Martinez's discomfort with his shoulder.
"Even more special here in Wimbledon, so I'm very happy to be in the second week."
Later on Centre Court, Djokovic will resume his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam crown.
The seven-time champion, locked with the long-retired Margaret Court on 24 majors, is aiming to reach the fourth round for the 17th time in his 20th appearance at Wimbledon.
A third-round clash against Serbian Davis Cup teammate Miomir Kecmanovic will hold few fears for the sixth seed, who has not lost against his 49th-ranked compatriot in three previous meetings.
If Djokovic beats Kecmanovic he will reach a century of victories at the All England Club, a feat only surpassed by eight-time champion Roger Federer, who won 105 times on the lawns of southwest London, and Martina Navratilova, who chalked up 120 victories.
"If I play like this, I feel like I have a very good chance against anybody, really, on the Centre Court of Wimbledon, a place where I maybe feel the most comfortable on any court," Djokovic said after beating Britain's Dan Evans in the second round.
Djokovic's first Wimbledon win came against Argentine Juan Monaco 20 years ago, when Kecmanovic was aged just five.
Former champion Elena Rybakina became the latest star to suffer a shock exit, losing to Denmark's Clara Tauson 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
Rybakina, the Kazakh 11th seed, won her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2022 and reached the semi-finals last year.
But the 26-year-old's hopes of another strong run were ended by 23rd-seeded Tauson in a third-round tie on Court Two.
Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva thrashed American world number 55 Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-3 in just 78 minutes on Court One.
The 18-year-old, seeded seventh, is one of the few leading players left in the women's draw.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the only player remaining from among the top six seeds.
Iga Swiatek has quietly gone about her business at this year's Wimbledon but will have watched the mass exodus of her top rivals with interest.
The five-time Grand Slam champion is seeded eighth at the All England club after slipping down the rankings, though she is now back in the world's top four after reaching the Bad Homburg final last week.
The Pole, who faces American Danielle Collins in the third round, has never been beyond the quarter-finals at the All England Club.
Swiatek, who has won four titles on the French Open clay, was beaten by former Australian Open finalist Collins at the Italian Open in May.
Defending women's champion Barbora Krejcikova is also in action on Saturday against American 10th seed Emma Navarro. Poland's Iga Swiatek has never been beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon AFP Italy's Jannik Sinner has reached the Wimbledon fourth round without dropping a set AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
13 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Alcaraz Seeks Top Gear At Wimbledon As Sabalenka Stays Calm
Carlos Alcaraz faces a tricky test on Sunday against volatile Russian Andrey Rublev in his charge towards a third consecutive Wimbledon title, while Aryna Sabalenka looks unstoppable as she prepares to take on Elise Mertens. Russia's Karen Khachanov was the first winner of the day, brushing aside Polish player Kamil Majchrzak 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 on Court Two to reach the quarter-finals. He will face US fifth seed Taylor Fritz, who was only on court for 41 minutes before Australia's Jordan Thompson retired injured, trailing 6-1, 3-0. Defending men's champion Alcaraz, 22, due on Centre Court later, has not hit top gear at this year's championships, dropping three sets in his three matches so far. In contrast, his two main rivals -- top seed Jannik Sinner and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic -- have glided through the draw to reach the fourth round, looking ominously good. But Rublev, who has never been beyond the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam, knows he will have to be at the top of his game to stand a chance against the world number two, who has won 32 of his 35 grass-court matches. "You cannot show any weaknesses," said Rublev on the challenge of facing Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in last month's French Open final. Rublev, the 14th seed, has already enjoyed a much happier time at Wimbledon than 12 months ago when he repeatedly smashed his racquet over his own leg during a shock first-round exit. He has credited the influence of two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin, himself a notorious hothead in his prime, for bringing some calm to his game. "There are two options," he said. "Try to go deeper. Or, if I lose, to lose it in a mature, adult way. "That would be success as well, to lose it in the right way." Sabalenka, 27, is the only woman left standing out of the top six seeds, and is keen to make up for lost time at the All England Club as she prepares for a match against Belgian 24th seed Elise Mertens. The three-time Grand Slam champion missed last year's Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury and was excluded in 2022 as part of a blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes. Sabalenka overcame a stern test of her tennis and temperament to end British favourite Emma Raducanu's run in the third round in arguably the match of the tournament so far. After losing control of her emotions in defeat to Coco Gauff in the French Open final, the Belarusian, who has never been beyond the semi-finals at Wimbledon, said she feels like a "different person". "Whatever happens on the court, you just have to be respectful, you have to be calm, and you just have to keep trying and keep fighting," she said. "I was just reminding myself that I'm strong enough, and I can handle this pressure." The odds are stacked against Mertens as she prepares to battle the power game of the world number one. Sabalenka has defeated no player on the tour more often -- a total of 10 times in 12 meetings. Britain's Sonay Kartal went down 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 against Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, leaving Cameron Norrie as the only British player left in the tournament. Pavlyuchenkova, 34, a former French Open runner-up, broke her opponent five times in the match and struck 36 winners against 47 unforced errors to reach the last eight at SW19 for the second time. America's Fritz faced gruelling five-set battles in his opening two matches at the All England Club but it was a different story in his fourth-round encounter on Court One. The Eastbourne champion broke Thompson twice to seal the first set in just 21 minutes and led 3-0 in the second set when the Australian decided he could not go on, due to an apparent thigh injury. Former semi-finalist Norrie is in action against Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry. Carlos Alcaraz is chasing a third consecutive Wimbledon crown AFP Australia's Jordan Thompson (right) was forced to retire from his Wimbledon fourth-round match against Taylor Fritz with an injury AFP
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Sinner Powers Into Wimbledon Last 16 As Djokovic Eyes Century
Wimbledon top seed Jannik Sinner crushed Pedro Martinez to reach the last 16 without losing a set on Saturday while title rival Novak Djokovic targets his 100th victory at the tournament. Sinner took just one hour and 55 minutes to demolish 52nd-ranked Martinez 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in a Centre Court masterclass, though the Spaniard was struggling with a shoulder issue. The 23-year-old will face Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov or Austria's Sebastian Ofner in the fourth round at the All England Club. Sinner has lost just 17 games across his first three matches at this year's tournament, in contrast to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who has shown patchy form on route to the last 16. The Italian returned from a doping ban in May, losing the Italian Open final to Alcaraz and squandering three championship points against the Spaniard in the French Open final last month. His best performance at Wimbledon was a run to the semi-finals in 2023 and he reached the quarter-finals last year. "Every time you reach the second week of a Grand Slam it's a very special occasion," said Sinner, who acknowledged Martinez's discomfort with his shoulder. "Even more special here in Wimbledon, so I'm very happy to be in the second week." Later on Centre Court, Djokovic will resume his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam crown. The seven-time champion, locked with the long-retired Margaret Court on 24 majors, is aiming to reach the fourth round for the 17th time in his 20th appearance at Wimbledon. A third-round clash against Serbian Davis Cup teammate Miomir Kecmanovic will hold few fears for the sixth seed, who has not lost against his 49th-ranked compatriot in three previous meetings. If Djokovic beats Kecmanovic he will reach a century of victories at the All England Club, a feat only surpassed by eight-time champion Roger Federer, who won 105 times on the lawns of southwest London, and Martina Navratilova, who chalked up 120 victories. "If I play like this, I feel like I have a very good chance against anybody, really, on the Centre Court of Wimbledon, a place where I maybe feel the most comfortable on any court," Djokovic said after beating Britain's Dan Evans in the second round. Djokovic's first Wimbledon win came against Argentine Juan Monaco 20 years ago, when Kecmanovic was aged just five. Former champion Elena Rybakina became the latest star to suffer a shock exit, losing to Denmark's Clara Tauson 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. Rybakina, the Kazakh 11th seed, won her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2022 and reached the semi-finals last year. But the 26-year-old's hopes of another strong run were ended by 23rd-seeded Tauson in a third-round tie on Court Two. Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva thrashed American world number 55 Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-3 in just 78 minutes on Court One. The 18-year-old, seeded seventh, is one of the few leading players left in the women's draw. World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the only player remaining from among the top six seeds. Iga Swiatek has quietly gone about her business at this year's Wimbledon but will have watched the mass exodus of her top rivals with interest. The five-time Grand Slam champion is seeded eighth at the All England club after slipping down the rankings, though she is now back in the world's top four after reaching the Bad Homburg final last week. The Pole, who faces American Danielle Collins in the third round, has never been beyond the quarter-finals at the All England Club. Swiatek, who has won four titles on the French Open clay, was beaten by former Australian Open finalist Collins at the Italian Open in May. Defending women's champion Barbora Krejcikova is also in action on Saturday against American 10th seed Emma Navarro. Poland's Iga Swiatek has never been beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon AFP Italy's Jannik Sinner has reached the Wimbledon fourth round without dropping a set AFP
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Djokovic Routs Evans To Step Up History Bid At Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while defending women's champion Barbora Krejcikova seeks to prolong her love affair with the All England Club. After three days of stunning upsets at Wimbledon, Djokovic avoided becoming the latest star to crash out in second-round action. The Serb needed just one hour and 47 minutes to dispatch Evans with a ruthless 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Centre Court. "It means I've been playing quite a long time!" Djokovic said when told he had just secured his 99th Wimbledon match victory. "I still enjoy it. This court has given me so much. Wimbledon has a special place in my heart. Any history made here is obviously extra special." Djokovic is dreaming of putting an exclamation point on his incredible career by becoming the most successful singles player in tennis history. The 38-year-old has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning his most recent major prize at the 2023 US Open. And despite losing the last two Wimbledon finals against Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic believes the lawns of south-west London provide his best chance to win that elusive 25th major. "I'm aware of the history on the line. I'm thinking about the big things I can do in this tournament," he said. "I don't reflect on it for now. I think that will come when I sip a margarita on the beach with (Roger) Federer and (Rafael) Nadal!" Krejcikova and world number one Jannik Sinner follow onto court later on Thursday, with both doubtless looking to steer clear of fresh giant-killing acts. Eight top 10 seeds in the men's and women's singles were beaten in the first round, which ranks as the most at a Grand Slam in the Open era. Italy's Jasmine Paolini, last year's Wimbledon runner-up, was defeated in the second round on Wednesday to leave only one of the top five women's seeds -- world number one Aryna Sabalenka -- still standing. Krejcikova looked in deep trouble in her opening match before cutting out the errors and finding another gear to see off Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in three sets. The Czech 17th seed next takes on US player Caroline Dolehide, whom she has faced just once, beating her on clay in the United States in 2019. Krejcikova has had a miserable time with injuries this year and arrived at Wimbledon with just six matches under her belt in 2025. But the two-time Grand Slam champion is relishing being back on the hallowed turf of the All England Club, describing walking onto Centre Court for her first-round match as a "very beautiful and just very joyful experience". "It's just great to be back," she said. "It's just great to be playing in the temple of tennis. It's just a very, very special place." Jack Draper is the new figurehead of British tennis, taking on a role filled for a generation by the now-retired Andy Murray. The fourth seed, who meets former finalist Marin Cilic in the second round, appears comfortable with his new status. "I kind of play every match like my life depends on it anyway," said the 23-year-old. Sinner, who has never reached the Wimbledon final, takes on Australia's Aleksandar Vukic, while five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek faces America's Caty McNally. Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, aged just 18, beat Italy's Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) on Court One. American 10th seed Emma Navarro also advanced to the third round with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Russia's Veronika Kudermetova.
