JABAR EKSPRES – Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round of Wimbledon for the 15th time after beating his longtime rival Stan Wawrinka late on Friday (7/7) local time.
Djokovic, chasing a record-equaling eighth Wimbledon title and 24th career Grand Slam crown, won 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) against 38-year-old Wawrinka.
World number two Djokovic will face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, whom he has beaten five times in as many meetings, for a place in the quarterfinals.
Friday night’s win was Djokovic’s 21st in 27 meetings with Wawrinka, a three-time major champion who famously beat the Serb in the 2015 French Open final and 2016 US Open final.
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Djokovic never faced a break point under the Centre Court roof and completed the victory just 15 minutes before the All England Club’s 11pm curfew took effect – otherwise they would have had to resume play on Saturday.
“Stan is doing an amazing job for his age – we’re two old guys,” said 36-year-old Djokovic, as broadcast by AFP on Saturday (7/8).
“We’ve had great battles over the years. I respect him as a player and love him as a person. He’s a very nice guy.”
Djokovic’s win puts him on track to play world number one and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz who beat 84th-ranked Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-4, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
The 20-year-old Alcaraz will face Chile’s Nicolas Jarry for a place in the round of 16.
Meanwhile, men’s third seed Daniil Medvedev returned to complete his second round match against Adrian Mannarino, the Frenchman who beat him at Wimbledon five years ago.
The Russian was up two sets and ahead 4-4 when play was stopped on Thursday (7/6), but quickly took victory in the third set tie-break.
Danish sixth seed Holger Rune reached the third round for the first time, edging out Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.
