There are 10 men who are into the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, who have won the title here a combined 13 times, are not two of them.
This is the 11th time that the all-time greats have advanced to the Round of 16 at The Championships in the same year. On 10 of those occasions, they have both made the quarter-finals, and they will try to improve that number on Manic Monday.
“It's just very, very impressive to see what he's doing [again] this year. It's going to be another big one for him in the coming days,” Federer said of Djokovic. “He's able to have different ways to win matches. He's done incredibly well in Australia, now again also in Paris.”
Djokovic and Federer did not arrive at the All England Club this year with the same momentum. The Serbian superstar has won the season’s first two Grand Slams, and he is the favourite to triumph at Wimbledon for a sixth time. The top seed can keep alive his hopes of a calendar-year Grand Slam and tie Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most major trophies with 20.
“He looks like the big favourite here going into whatever round he goes into,” Federer said. “He deserves it. He's worked extremely hard. He's playing great at the same time, too. He's going to be tough to beat.”
Djokovic will next play 17th seed Cristian Garin, who had never won a match on the historic London lawns in three previous attempts. The World No. 1 beat the Chilean star 6-3, 6-3 in their only previous ATP Head2Head meeting at last year’s ATP Cup.
Garin has excelled on clay courts, winning all five of his ATP Tour titles — including one this year in Santiago — on that surface. The 25-year-old might look to attack Djokovic’s serve, as the Serbian was unhappy with his performance in that department against Denis Kudla.
After hitting 25 aces in the first round — a personal-best at Wimbledon — and landing 64 per cent of his first deliveries in the second round, the top seed only made 54 per cent of his first serves against the American.
“Obviously in some parts of the match it was good, but generally it wasn't that great of a rhythm that I had with that part of my game,” Djokovic said of his serve. “But it is what it is. I don't want to talk about negatives. I just won in straight sets.
“Honestly, I think I can play better. I hopefully will do in the next round.”
Djokovic has won 57 per cent of his baseline points to lead all players in the tournament. He will try to continue that strong play from the back of the court as he pursues a spot in his 12th quarter-final at the grass-court major
Federer did not arrive in London with the same great form. The 39-year-old Swiss lost a three-setter in the second round in Halle, where he is a 10-time champion. Continuing his comeback from two arthroscopic right knee surgeries last year, Federer had only managed a 5-3 record in his first four tournaments of the season.
But the eight-time Wimbledon winner has slowly worked his way into form en route to the second week. Two of his three matches — against Adrian Mannarino (who retired) in the first round and home favourite Cameron Norrie — were especially tough, but Federer has steadily improved.
“I definitely feel like I've gotten my rhythm now at this point,” Federer said.
The 20-time Slam champion will next play 23rd seed Lorenzo Sonego, who has enjoyed the best season of his career. The Italian had never won a match at Wimbledon (previously 0-2) and he is into the fourth round at a major for the second time (2020 Roland Garros).
Federer won their only previous ATP Head2Head match at Roland Garros two years ago. In that encounter, the Swiss cruised 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
Although the 26-year-old is known for his baseline prowess, he has won 77 per cent of his net points (57/74), matching Federer’s mark to tie for the lead among the remaining players in the event.
Two years ago in Paris, Sonego was the No. 74 player in the FedEx ATP Rankings. Now he is World No. 27, one spot off his career-best, and he will try to spoil another deep Federer run.
Did You Know?
Only one other player in the draw other than Federer and Djokovic, Roberto Bautista Agut, has made the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
This is the 11th time that the all-time greats have advanced to the Round of 16 at The Championships in the same year. On 10 of those occasions, they have both made the quarter-finals, and they will try to improve that number on Manic Monday.
“It's just very, very impressive to see what he's doing [again] this year. It's going to be another big one for him in the coming days,” Federer said of Djokovic. “He's able to have different ways to win matches. He's done incredibly well in Australia, now again also in Paris.”
Djokovic and Federer did not arrive at the All England Club this year with the same momentum. The Serbian superstar has won the season’s first two Grand Slams, and he is the favourite to triumph at Wimbledon for a sixth time. The top seed can keep alive his hopes of a calendar-year Grand Slam and tie Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most major trophies with 20.
“He looks like the big favourite here going into whatever round he goes into,” Federer said. “He deserves it. He's worked extremely hard. He's playing great at the same time, too. He's going to be tough to beat.”
Djokovic will next play 17th seed Cristian Garin, who had never won a match on the historic London lawns in three previous attempts. The World No. 1 beat the Chilean star 6-3, 6-3 in their only previous ATP Head2Head meeting at last year’s ATP Cup.
Garin has excelled on clay courts, winning all five of his ATP Tour titles — including one this year in Santiago — on that surface. The 25-year-old might look to attack Djokovic’s serve, as the Serbian was unhappy with his performance in that department against Denis Kudla.
After hitting 25 aces in the first round — a personal-best at Wimbledon — and landing 64 per cent of his first deliveries in the second round, the top seed only made 54 per cent of his first serves against the American.
“Obviously in some parts of the match it was good, but generally it wasn't that great of a rhythm that I had with that part of my game,” Djokovic said of his serve. “But it is what it is. I don't want to talk about negatives. I just won in straight sets.
“Honestly, I think I can play better. I hopefully will do in the next round.”
Djokovic has won 57 per cent of his baseline points to lead all players in the tournament. He will try to continue that strong play from the back of the court as he pursues a spot in his 12th quarter-final at the grass-court major
Federer did not arrive in London with the same great form. The 39-year-old Swiss lost a three-setter in the second round in Halle, where he is a 10-time champion. Continuing his comeback from two arthroscopic right knee surgeries last year, Federer had only managed a 5-3 record in his first four tournaments of the season.
But the eight-time Wimbledon winner has slowly worked his way into form en route to the second week. Two of his three matches — against Adrian Mannarino (who retired) in the first round and home favourite Cameron Norrie — were especially tough, but Federer has steadily improved.
“I definitely feel like I've gotten my rhythm now at this point,” Federer said.
The 20-time Slam champion will next play 23rd seed Lorenzo Sonego, who has enjoyed the best season of his career. The Italian had never won a match at Wimbledon (previously 0-2) and he is into the fourth round at a major for the second time (2020 Roland Garros).
Federer won their only previous ATP Head2Head match at Roland Garros two years ago. In that encounter, the Swiss cruised 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
Although the 26-year-old is known for his baseline prowess, he has won 77 per cent of his net points (57/74), matching Federer’s mark to tie for the lead among the remaining players in the event.
Two years ago in Paris, Sonego was the No. 74 player in the FedEx ATP Rankings. Now he is World No. 27, one spot off his career-best, and he will try to spoil another deep Federer run.
Did You Know?
Only one other player in the draw other than Federer and Djokovic, Roberto Bautista Agut, has made the semi-finals at Wimbledon.