Seven over-30s into last 16 for first time in modern era

THEY have won 13 Wimbledon titles between them, but there is one other thing this year’s four favourites have in common – they are all aged over 30.

SW19’S old guard have succeeded in defying the physical demands of the grand slam with seven of the final 16 players in the men’s singles aged 30 or above for the first time in generations.

Among them are the tournament’s four favourites Roger Federer, 35, Rafael Nadal, 31, and 30-year-olds Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

They are joined by 34-year-old Gilles Muller and 31-year-olds Kevin Anderson and Tomas Berdych. The average age of this year’s final 16 is over 28 – higher than the previous 10 years.

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Federer said: “It’s nice to see them hanging on, still enjoying the tour, still making it difficult for the youngsters to break through.”