LONDON: Six-time champion Novak Djokovic reached his 13th Wimbledon quarter-final on Sunday as injury-stricken rival Roger Federer revealed his desire to play at the All England Club “one more time.” Top seed Djokovic, seeking to move level with Pete Sampras as a seven-time champion, defeated Dutch wild card Tim van Rijthoven, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. “He was very tough.
I have never faced him before,” said Djokovic after racking up a 25th successive win on grass. “He has a great serve, powerful forehand and nice touch.” Earlier Sunday, 20-time major winner Djokovic had seen fifth seed Carlos Alcaraz, his scheduled last-eight opponent, beaten by Jannik Sinner.
The 20-year-old Italian clinched a 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3 win to set up a meeting with the top seed instead. Sinner, who had never won a grass court match before this Wimbledon, is the youngest man in the last-eight since Nick Kyrgios in 2014. “Carlos is a very tough opponent and a nice person.
It’s always a huge pleasure to play him,” said Sinner after making the quarter-finals of a Slam for the third time. Sinner needed six match points to seal the deal while Alcaraz was left to regret failing to convert any of his seven break points.