Djokovic Eyes Seventh Successive Wimbledon Quarter-Final
Novak Djokovic, the seven-time champion, aims to reach his seventh consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final on Monday. Djokovic, chasing a record-equalling eighth title at the All England Club and a 25th Grand Slam crown, defeated Alexei Popyrin 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to advance to the fourth round for the 16th time. Djokovic, still recovering from knee surgery, displayed his playful side by miming a violin performance on Centre Court, a gesture for his daughter. He faces a tough test against 15th seed Holger Rune, who came back from two sets down to beat Quentin Halys. “He looks to me a player that is ready for big things. He’s a spectacular player, no doubt. He’s a very tricky opponent,” said Djokovic. “When it comes to competing, obviously we both have that fire. I’m sure on Monday we’ll see a lot of fireworks on the court.”
Putintseva Set for Ostapenko Battle
After eliminating world number one Iga Swiatek, Yulia Putintseva is prepared for another tough match against Jelena Ostapenko. Putintseva defeated Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, ending the top seed’s 21-match winning streak. “Last year I won no matches on grass. I mean, entering a tournament like Wimbledon, when you have five consecutive wins on grass, it’s pretty good,” said Putintseva. Ostapenko, who won the French Open in 2017 and reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018, beat Bernarda Pera 6-1, 6-3 to set up the clash with Putintseva.
Mpetshi Perricard’s Remarkable Run
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a lucky loser, aims to continue his historic Wimbledon run against 25th seed Lorenzo Musetti. Mpetshi Perricard, standing 6ft 8ins, lost in the final round of qualifying but was given a spot in the main draw due to an injury withdrawal. He has since made the most of his opportunity, defeating Emil Ruusuvuori to become the first lucky loser to reach the Wimbledon last 16 since 1995. With 105 aces so far, the 20-year-old Frenchman hopes to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final. “I’m very proud of myself. How far can I go? I don’t know. I’m just focused on the next one,” he said.
(Source: AFP)
