Djokovic wants Center Court
All three top stars to play in quarters on Wednesday
Novak Djokovic insists it’s only fair that he should play his Wimbledon quarterfinal on Center Court on Wednesday, handing the All England Club a dilemma over relegating Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to Court One.
Despite being a three-time champion, Djokovic has featured just once on Center Court – against British home favorite Kyle Edmund in the last 32 – in the opening four rounds. By contrast, eight-time champion Federer, and Nadal, the title winner on two occasions, have played exclusively on the 15,000-seater Center Court.
So, with two quarterfinals being played on Center Court and two on Court One, something has got to give.
“We’ll see. Hopefully,” said Djokovic when asked if he expected to face Japan’s Kei Nishikori on the most famous arena in tennis.
The Serb has played twice on the 11,000-capacity Court One this year but was shunted off to the 4,000-seater Court Two for his second-round clash against Horacio Zeballos.
Three times he was scheduled last on court, putting him at risk of falling victim to fading light with the burden of having to return the following day.
He managed to finish off Russia’s Karen Khachanov in straight sets in the gathering gloom on Monday.
Twelve months ago, his last16 match with Adrian Mannarino, also scheduled for Court One, was canceled despite Center Court with its retractable roof being available. Djokovic had to play that fourth round on Tuesday and quarterfinal on Wednesday when he was forced to retire against Tomas Berdych with an elbow injury.
On Monday, he almost fell victim to the scheduling curse again.
“I heard that the organizers were planning to cancel my match if Gael Monfils and Kevin Anderson went to a fifth [set]. Luckily for me it didn’t happen,” he said of the tie which preceded his clash with Khachanov.
“It’s what I wished for,” said Djokovic when asked if he would have preferred to move to Center Court.
Wherever he ends up playing, Djokovic, the 2011, 2014 and 2015 champion, will be favorite to see off Nishikori for a 14th time in 16 meetings.
Defending champion Federer will be playing in his 16th Wimbledon quarterfinal and 53rd at all Grand Slams. His opponent on Wednesday is eighth-seeded Kevin Anderson.
Top seed Federer, 36, has now won 32 consecutive sets at Wimbledon, just two behind his record run from the third round in 2005 to his title triumph in 2006.
He also holds a 4-0 career lead over 2017 US Open runner-up Anderson who has yet to take a set off the Swiss.
Nadal has made the quarterfinals for the first time since finishing runner-up to Djokovic in 2011.