Djokovic’s title charge on track
CRUISE CONTROL Peaking at the right time as second week of Wimbledon gets underway today
LONDON: Novak Djokovic believes he is peaking at just the right time as the world number one prepares to step up his bid for a second Wimbledon title.
Djokovic took the express route into the fourth round on Saturday as the world number one thrashed French 28th seed Jeremy Chardy 63, 6-2, 6-2.
The Serb, who faces German 13th seed Tommy Haas for a place in the quarter-finals, played a flawless first two sets without a single unforced error, and eventually hit 38 winners and served eight aces in one hour and 26 minutes of total dominance on Centre Court.
SERENE START
While several of Djokovic’s title rivals, including Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, have fallen foul of the shock defeats and injury withdrawals that have rocked Wimbledon, the 26-yearold has progressed serenely into the last 16 without dropping a set.
“My results are getting better and better, so this is very encouraging going into the second week,” Djokovic said.
“Now every match I’m going to play, every opponent I’m going to face is going to be more difficult. I’m going to expect a tough challenges in front of me. I’m ready for it. It was a fantastic match (against Chardy). I saw the stats that I won 100 percent of first serves. That was incredible for me.”
While Florian Mayer, Bobby Reynolds and Chardy have been contemptuously swatted aside by Djokovic, he acknowledges Haas is likely to provide far more resistence.
At 35, Haas is the oldest player left in the men's draw, but he has been playing with renewed verve over the last 18 months, climbing back into the top 15 following a series of injuries.
TOUGH HAAS
“He loves playing on grass and beat Roger (Federer) in the final of Halle last year. He doesn’t look like a 36-year- old for sure. He’s full of confidence on the court and he's been playing very close to the best tennis of his life.”
Djokovic won their last meeting, in the French Open quarter-finals in straight sets earlier this month, but he admits Haas pushed him hard enough to suggest he could do more damage on grass.
If Djokovic does progress to the latter stages of the tournament, he will be seeing more of former AC Milan and Ukraine footballer Andriy Shevchenko, who has become a good friend of the Serb.
The pair met at the ATP World Tour Finals in London and have remained in contact, with Shevchenko, cheering on Djokovic along with his son in the players' box during the last two rounds at Wimbledon.
LOOKING FOR 601st WIN?
Serena Williams, meanwhile, continues her gentle cruise towards a sixth title. She beat Kimiko Date- Krumm for her 600th career win. Now she faces German 23rd seed Sabine Lisicki for a quarter-final place where victory will also give her a 35th successive win, taking her level with sister Venus’s record set in 2000.
“Wow, 600 wins. I had no idea. What better place than under the roof at Centre Court to achieve it,” Serena said.