Big guns brace for ‘Manic Monday’

ALL THE FOURTH ROUND MATCHES PLAYED TODAY Title and top spot in world rankings up for grabs in wide open women’s draw at the All England Club.

For the first time since 2011, the top four men’s seeds have reached the Wimbledon last-16 with Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal taking centre-stage on ‘‘Manic Monday’’.

The four stars have shared the Wimbledon title since 2003 when Federer won the first of his seven trophies at the All England Club.

Djokovic has claimed three with defending champion Murray and Nadal winning two apiece.

It’s the kind of domination that looks unlikely to end today when the fourth round takes place.

Murray, who has battled hip pain, is the only one of the ‘‘Big Four’’ to have dropped a set in the first week.

He faces unpredictable Frenchman Benoit Paire who is in the last-16 for the first time.

“He has very good hands, moves well, takes a lot of chances, goes for his shots,” said Murray who has a 1-0 career lead over Paire.

Djokovic takes a 1-0 career edge over unseeded Adrian Mannarino of France into his last-16 clash, with that win coming at Wimbledon in straight sets in the second round last year.

Federer bidding for a record eighth Wimbledon title, which would also make him the oldest champion at the All England Club, faces Grigor Dimitrov boasting a 5-0 record over the man once tipped as his natural heir.

“It’s a great day to play. I would be happy to be a fan,” said Federer of a day when all last-16 matches in the men’s and women’s events are played.

Nadal, fresh from a 10th French Open title, faces Gilles Muller, who is looking to make the quarterfinals for the first time in seven years. Nadal has a 5-1 record over Muller although he will be wary that the Luxembourg grass court specialist beat him at Wimbledon in 2005.

The title as well as the world No 1 spot are up for grabs in the women’s draw which remains wide open in the absence of Serena Williams.

Angelique Kerber, the runner-up to Williams last year, could lose the top spot to either Simona Halep or even Karolina Pliskova despite the Czech having been knocked out in the second round.

The German tackles 2015 runner-up Garbine Muguruza having survived a three-set scare to see off Shelby Rogers in the third round. – AFP