Manic Monday at Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer cruise; Coco Gauff falls in fourth round
It's the final Manic Monday in Wimbledon history, where every fourth-round contest in the men's and women's singles draw is played on a single day.
The unique Grand Slam scheduling move was made for Middle Sunday, a day of pause in the two-week format to give the grass surfaces a day of recovery. But with advances in technology, the break is no longer needed, so in 2022, the 16 total fourth-round matches will be spread across Sunday and Monday.
But back to 2021, where American teen Coco Gauff and British teen Emma Raducanu are attempting to reach their first quarterfinals at the All England Club. And on the men's side, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are looking to keep their hold on Grand Slam titles.
Roger Federer comes out of rain delay to smash into quarters
Roger Federer was locked into a 5-5 first set, with opportunities to close it against challenger Lorenzo Sonego when the rain drops started to fall and play paused for the roof to come out at Centre Court.
Federer returned from the brief 25-minute pause to break, hold and cruise through the next two sets in as much time to advance, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.
“I’m extremely happy ... after the first set, I was able to control things," Federer said, via The Guardian. "It was a great match, I couldn’t be happier to be in the quarters ... thank you guys for coming out, and making it special.”
Federer broke in the fifth game and held the advantage while going up 4-0 in the third en route to the closer.
This @rogerfederer forehand. On repeat. 😍#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/YdYwAhSO8D
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2021
He and his team walked the grounds on Sunday, the last time the tournament will have a full day off for competitors during the tournament. Federer is in his 18th Wimbledon quarterfinal and will await his opponent in the next round. He turns 40 in August and is the oldest male player to reach the tournament's quarterfinals.
The match between No. 14 seed Hubert Hurkacz and No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev was suspended in the fourth set because of rain and the lack of roof on the No. 2 court. Medvedev holds the match advantage 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3. Hurkacz leads the fourth set, 4-3.
Coco Gauff can't overcome Kerber's cross-court shots
Coco Gauff fell behind and couldn't handle Kerber's on-point, net-skimming, cross-court shots in the ensuing set to fall out of Wimbledon. Kerber advanced past the American teen, 6-4, 6-4, and is now the only former Wimbledon champion still left in the draw.
Kerber, 33, had not reached a quarterfinal in 11 appearances dating back to 2018 at Wimbledon.
The pursuit of #Wimbledon title No.2 continues...@AngeliqueKerber seals her victory over Coco Gauff with an ace, winning 6-4, 6-4 pic.twitter.com/WN6VQnTExi
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2021
Gauff hit in only 56% of her first serves, whereas Kerber had 70%. The teenager fought brilliantly in an attempt to even the second set once she fell behind, 4-3. But she hit a drop shot wide and put two returns into the net. That was ultimately the end and Kerber hit an ace for the winning point.
The lefty Kerber was at her best cross low shots into the corners and out of reach for Gauff, who was burned a few times trying to come up and play the net.
It's hard to stop @AngeliqueKerber when she's in this form 🤩#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/7qCZvl7SNt
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2021
It was a battle between the oldest and youngest players on the women's side in the fourth round.
Kerber, seeded 25th, will face Karolina Muchova, a 7-6 (6), 6-4 winner in the fourth round.
Novak Djokovic keeps rolling
It was another swift afternoon for Novak Djokovic. The 19-time Grand Slam winner advanced with ease to the quarterfinals in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Cristian Garin.
He's into the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the 50th time, second-best to Roger Federer's 57 (which became 58 later in the day). Djokovic is on his way to winning the first three legs of the calendar Grand Slam, and would be the first man since 1969 to do that, per ESPN. He's also going for the Golden Slam with the Tokyo Olympics beginning later this month.
#Wimbledon quarter-finalist for a 12th time...
Defending champion @DjokerNole defeats Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final eight pic.twitter.com/skJOrqvjx3— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2021
Djokovic took the first set in 23 minutes and finished it off in a clean 1:49. He joked during the on-court interview he wanted to see his potential opponent, who was playing concurrently, play into the night and the next day.
Hungarian Marton Fucsovics and Russian Andrewy Rublev went into a fifth set in a game that came close to three hours. Fucsovics advanced 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Djokovic had to work in the second set against the No. 17 seed but eventually took it over the hour-long battle. The third set again came easily. Garin only took Djokovic's serve to deuce twice, never forcing an advantage point, and had half the winners. Djokovic put down nine aces.
Nos. 1, 2 seeds make it to quarterfinals
It has been a tournament of upsets in the women's singles draw, but the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds have made it through to the quarterfinals.
No. 1 seed Ashleigh Barty, the world No. 1, advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 victory against Czech and No. 14 seed Barbora Krejcikova. Barty's previous best at Wimbledon is the round of 16 in 2019.
The party continues 🎉
No.1 seed @ashbarty navigates through to the quarter-finals after a tricky encounter against Roland-Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova, winning 7-5, 6-3#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/7QxzUFADWJ— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2021
Krejcikova, a doubles specialist and 2018 Wimbledon winner with Katerina Siniakova, made her main singles draw debut at the tournament and had never played a Tour match on grass before.
No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka is also into her first Grand Slam quarterfinals behind a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win over No. 18 seed Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka, 24, dug out of early trouble with two big serves in a tightly contested and even match. She's a two-time doubles Grand Slam champion, including the year's first slam of the Australian Open.
She will face No. 21 seed Ons Jabeur, who advanced 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 against Iga Swiatek.
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