The Pak Banker

Djokovic joined by parade of newcomers in quarters

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Novak Djokovic marched effortless­ly into his 50th Grand Slam quarter-final as Ons Jabeur became the first Tunisian player to make the lasteight at the All England Club, leading a host of first timers to reach the landmark on 'Manic Monday'.

World number one Djokovic, chasing a sixth Wimbledon and recordequa­lling 20th major, eased into the last-eight at the tournament for the 12th time with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Chile's Cristian Garin. He will next face Hungary's Marton Fucsovics, one of a host of players booking lasteight spots at the tournament for the first time.

The list included women's top seed Ashleigh Barty, second seed Aryna Sabalenka, Karolina Pliskova, Viktorija Golubic as well as Matteo Berrettini, Denis Shapovalov and Karen Khachanov in the men's draw. Djokovic is halfway to a calendar Grand Slam. Only two men have swept all four majors in the same year with Rod Laver the most recent back in 1969.

"Confidence levels are very high after winning the French Open," said Djokovic. "It was one of my biggest wins in the circumstan­ces - two five-setters, two four-setters in the second week. They took a lot out of me but they also gave me wings."

Barty reached the quarter-finals for the first time, beating French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3.

The 25-year-old Australian will play the winner of the match between unseeded compatriot Ajla Tomljanovi­c and British teenager Emma Raducanu for a place in the semi-finals.

"It was an incredibly tough match," said Barty.

"Barbora has had an unbelievab­le year and am happy to come through in the end.

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