‘So far, so good’ as Djokovic marches on; Sakkari stunned
Serbian demolishes Kecmanovic in straight sets to reach last 16, women seeds tumble at Wimbledon
Agencies
LONDON: Novak Djokovic comfortably reached the last 16 at Wimbledon on Friday while Maria Sakkari became the sixth top-10 women’s seed to crash out in the first week.
Three-time defending champion Djokovic demolished Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 to stay on course to pull level with Pete Sampras as a seven-time champion, one behind Roger Federer’s men’s record. Friday’s win was the 330th of Djokovic’s Grand Slam career.
“So far, so good,” said the 35-year-old top seed after beating a player who described him as his “idol”.
“I expect high standards from myself. You always want to raise the level and things are shaping up well.”
Waiting in the fourth round is Dutch wild card Tim van Rijthoven. Playing in his debut Grand Slam main draw, the world number 104 defeated 22nd seed Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
The 25-year-old Van Rijthoven proved his prowess on grass by winning the ‘s-hertogenbosch title last month, defeating world No 1 Daniil Medvedev in the final.
“Before the tournament started, it was a dream for me to play Djokovic,” said Van Rijthoven, only the seventh man since 2000 to reach the round of 16 on his Grand Slam debut.
Maria packs off Sakkari
Greek fifth seed Sakkari lost 6-3, 7-5 to German world No. 103 Tatjana Maria, who only returned to the tour last year after maternity leave. Maria, in the fourth round of a Slam for the first time, will face former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the quarter-finals. Ostapenko, a semi-finalist at the All England Club in 2018, took her winners count to 102 over three rounds by defeating Irina-camelia Begu of Romania 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Also exiting on Friday was 2018 champion Angelique Kerber, with the German 15th seed beaten 6-4, 7-5 by Elise Mertens. The Belgian, who had to save two match points in her previous round, next faces world No 2 Ons Jabeur. A quarter-finalist in 2021, Tunisia’s Jabeur breezed past French teenager Diane Parry 6-2, 6-3.
Sania-pavic in Round 2
Sania Mirza and Mate Pavic advanced to the second round of mixed doubles event with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) win over David Vega Hernandez and Natela Dzalamidze.