Djokovic survives scare to reach Wimbledon quarters, Sinner in action
Novak Djokovic survived a scare to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals with a tense four-set victory over Alex de Minaur on Monday, staying on course for a blockbuster clash with world No 1 Jannik Sinner.
Seven-time champion Djokovic endured a nightmare start to his last-16 match against the Australian 11th seed on Centre Court, but eventually battled back to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Fresh from his 100th win at Wimbledon on Saturday – making him the third player to achieve that feat after Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer – Djokovic reached his 16th quarter-final at the tournament.
Aged 38, Djokovic is aiming to win a record 25th major title, breaking a tie with the long-retired Margaret Court, and a record-equalling eighth men's crown at the All England Club.
That would make him the oldest Grand Slam singles champion in the Open era.
"It wasn't a great start for me, it was a great start for Alex de Minaur obviously. I kind of reset myself in the second set," Djokovic said.
"I was very pleased to hang in tough in the right moments and win this one."
Sixth-seeded Djokovic's 101st victory at Wimbledon came under the gaze of Federer, who was sitting in the front row of the royal box alongside his wife Mirka.
"It's probably the first time he's watching me and I've won the match," said Djokovic. "The last couple I lost, so good to break the curse.
"No, it's great, obviously, great to have Roger, a huge champion and someone that I admired and respected a lot.
"We shared the stage for so many years, and it's great to have him back."
SINNER IN THE GROOVE
In the last eight, Djokovic faces Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli, who beat former Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/3).
The 23-year-old will be playing in his first Grand Slam quarter-final, having never advanced past the third round in his seven previous appearances at majors.
While defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is yet to consistently find his top form at the tournament, Sinner has been dominant on the grass.
The three-time Grand Slam champion, who takes on Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dmitrov on Monday, is seeking to reach his maiden Wimbledon final.
He has dropped just 17 games in his first three matches, equalling Jan Kodes' 1972 record for the lowest number of games lost en route to the Wimbledon last 16.
Sinner or Dimitrov will play American 10th seed Ben Shelton, who beat Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 7-5 to reach his first Wimbledon quarter-final.
In the women's draw, Liudmila Samsonova, beat Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 7-5, 7-5 to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Samsonova, the 19th seed, will face either Polish eighth seed Iga Swiatek or Dane Clara Tauson, seeded 23rd, who played in the evening match.
Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, 18, reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time with a 6-2, 6-3 win against American 10th seed Emma Navarro, who ended Barbora Krejcikova's reign as champion on Saturday.
Andreeva next plays former Swiss Olympic champion Belinda Bencic who made her maiden Wimbledon quarter-final with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 victory against Russian world number 17 Ekaterina Alexandrova.
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