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Novak Djokovic roars into Wimbledon last eight with win against Tsonga Novak Djokovic roars into Wimbledon last eight with win against Tsonga
(about 1 hour later)
It was fast and furious – but when the chalk dust had settled and the febrile late-night cheers faded away, Novak Djokovic was through to his sixth straight Wimbledon quarter final after a thrilling 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) victory against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.It was fast and furious – but when the chalk dust had settled and the febrile late-night cheers faded away, Novak Djokovic was through to his sixth straight Wimbledon quarter final after a thrilling 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) victory against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
A match from the upper stratospheres was settled by a return from the gods, as Djokovic stretched to his left before somehow firing a stabbing cross-court return winner past Tsonga to win the third set tie-break 7-5. A match from the upper stratospheres was settled by a return from the gods, as Djokovic stretched to his left before somehow firing a stabbing cross-court return winner past Tsonga to win the third set tiebreak 7-5.
But the world No1 had to withstand a sustained charge from the Frenchman to book his place in the last eight against the No26 seed Marin Cilic, who served 33 aces as he beat Jérémy Chardy 7-6, 6-4, 6-4. But the world No2 had to withstand a sustained charge from the Frenchman to book his place in the last eight against the No26 seed, Marin Cilic, who served 33 aces as he beat Jérémy Chardy 7-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Afterwards Djokovic admitted that he was “feeling good after playing a great match” and added: “Especially in the third set he started to serve very well and it was very hard to get into the rally. It was important to hang in there and get to the tie-break. In the first week I had a couple of tough matches so I am very happy to get through to the next round.” Afterwards Djokovic admitted that he was “feeling good after playing a great match” but revealed he needed more treatment on the left shoulder he injured in the third round against Gilles Simon. “It’s still a bit sore because of the fall that I had a few days ago, but there is no damage, which is important.”
Djokovic holds a 9-0 record over Cilic but he knows he faces a tough test against the Croat, who pushed him to four sets in the French Open. “The win/loss record may be in my advantage mentally, but not significantly,” he said. “His serve is a weapon on this surface. He knows how to play on grass and has nothing to lose.” Djokovic also expressed sympathy with Stan Wawrinka, who has been the victim of bad weather and scheduling decisions – and called for Wimbledon’s middle Sunday, where there is no play, to be scrapped. “We have to rethink about this Sunday in between, because the day was beautiful,” he said. “We all know that tradition is something that is nurtured here in the All England Club but there are some rules that I believe should be updated, for the better of the schedule and the players.”
Earlier in the tournament Djokovic had dropped a set against Radek Stepanek in the second round and fired fitfully against Gilles Simon in the third, during which he had injured his left shoulder. But he was immediately in the zone under the Centre Court’s closed roof and one break gave him the first set in just 25 minutes. Earlier in the tournament Djokovic had dropped a set against Radek Stepanek in the second round and fired fitfully against Simon. But he immediately entered the zone playing under the Centre Court’s closed roof and a spell of sustained hitting earned him a solitary break before he took the first set in just 25 minutes.
When the pair met at the French Open at Roland Garros, Tsonga won just six games. But the Frenchman was holding his own in the short, often violent, exchanges and showed his serve was working with 134 and 129mph aces. However, again Djokovic was a little cuter when it mattered, and one break was again enough for him to win the second set.When the pair met at the French Open at Roland Garros, Tsonga won just six games. But the Frenchman was holding his own in the short, often violent, exchanges and showed his serve was working with 134 and 129mph aces. However, again Djokovic was a little cuter when it mattered, and one break was again enough for him to win the second set.
At this stage he had hit 28 winners and seven unforced errors – and had yet to concede a breakpoint. But Tsonga has a tendency to catch fire in even the most dire of circumstances. In 2011 he came from two sets down to beat Roger Federer and in this match, with the crowd urging him on, he raised his level and started to get Djokovic rattled.At this stage he had hit 28 winners and seven unforced errors – and had yet to concede a breakpoint. But Tsonga has a tendency to catch fire in even the most dire of circumstances. In 2011 he came from two sets down to beat Roger Federer and in this match, with the crowd urging him on, he raised his level and started to get Djokovic rattled.
At 4-3 the Frenchman finally had a chance to break as he went 15-40 on Djokovic’s serve. But the world No1 saved the first with an ace and another with an aggressive forehand that Tsonga sent long – and followed up with a sustained roar as he held for 4-4. At 4-3 the Frenchman finally had a chance to break as he went 15-40 on Djokovic’s serve. But the world No2 saved the first with an ace and another with an aggressive forehand that Tsonga sent long – and followed up with a sustained roar as he held for 4-4.
The set inevitably raced towards a tie-break. Tsonga started with an ace. Djokovic retaliated with one of his own. A 133mph ace – his third ace of the tie-break – put Tsonga 5-4 up but Djokovic held his next two serves to earn a match point at 6-5. Tsonga sent his serve out wide – but Djokovic was on it like a flash to secure a brilliant victory and a meeting with Cilic, whose game has improved significantly since employing Goran Ivanisevic, the Wimbledon champion in 2001. The set inevitably raced towards a tiebreak. Tsonga started with an ace. Djokovic retaliated with one of his own. A 133mph ace – his third ace of the tiebreak – put Tsonga 5-4 up but Djokovic held his next two serves to earn a match point at 6-5. Tsonga sent his serve out wide – but Djokovic was on it like a flash to secure a brilliant victory and a meeting with Cilic, whose game has improved significantly since employing Goran Ivanisevic, the Wimbledon champion, in 2001.
Meanwhile the last American in the men’s and women’s singles draw crashed out when Feliciano López beat John Isner 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 in a match that featured 86 aces – and just one break of serve.Meanwhile the last American in the men’s and women’s singles draw crashed out when Feliciano López beat John Isner 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 in a match that featured 86 aces – and just one break of serve.
Afterwards, when López was asked whether he had enjoyed the match, he shook his head. “No, it’s not fun,” he said. “It’s fun because I won it, but it’s a difficult match to play.”Afterwards, when López was asked whether he had enjoyed the match, he shook his head. “No, it’s not fun,” he said. “It’s fun because I won it, but it’s a difficult match to play.”
The 10th seed, Kei Nishikori, booked a last 16 meeting with the eighth seed, Milos Raonic, after defeating Simone Bolelli in five sets. “He was hitting a lot of winners, and sometimes I didn’t know what to do,” he joked. “I was kind of like a yo-yo.” The No10 seed, Kei Nishikori, booked a last 16 meeting with the No8 seed, Milos Raonic, after defeating Simone Bolelli in five sets. “He was hitting a lot of winners, and sometimes I didn’t know what to do,” he joked. “I was kind of like a yo-yo.”