Djokovic relegates Federer to Court One
london — Novak Djokovic won his battle to be promoted to Centre Court billing for Wednesday’s quarterfinals, forcing eight-time champion Roger Federer off the sport’s most famous arena for the first time in three years.
Three-time champion Djokovic will open the Centre Court programme against Kei Nishikori followed by two-time winner and world number one Rafael Nadal facing Juan Martin del Potro.
Defending champion Federer, who has played all of his Wimbledon matches since the 2015 semifinals on Centre Court, will instead open proceedings on Court One against Kevin Anderson.
The other last-eight tie, between Milos Raonic and John Isner, finishes off the Court One schedule.
Djokovic has featured just once on Centre Court — against British home favourite Kyle Edmund in the last 32 — in the opening four rounds.
By contrast, Federer and Nadal have played exclusively on the 15,000-seater Centre Court.
Djokovic had told reporters that he had been hopeful of playing his quarterfinal match on Centre Court before telling Serbian media that he “deserved” the honour and intended to lobby the All England Club.
Djokovic 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 has been 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 last-16 match with Adrian Mannarino, also scheduled for Court One, was cancelled despite Centre Court with its retractable roof being available.
Djokovic had to play that fourth round match on the Tuesday and quarterfinal on the Wednesday, when he was forced to retire against Tomas Berdych with an elbow injury.
Djokovic, the 2011, 2014 and 2015 champion, will be favourite to see off Nishikori for a 14th time in 16 meetings.
Nishikori is playing in his first Wimbledon quarterfinal.
He is also the first Japanese man to reach the quarterfinals since Shuzo Matsuoka in 1995. —