Novak Djokovic displayed a masterclass of skill on Centre Court, combining impressive aerial play and powerful shots to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon. He secured a straight-sets victory against Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday.
The player seeking his 25th Grand Slam singles title, Djokovic, defeated his fellow Serb 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 in 1 hour and 47 minutes. This win sets up a fourth-round match against Alex de Minaur, who advanced by beating August Holmgren 6-4, 7-6, 6-3.
Djokovic, who has won Wimbledon seven times, aims for his fifth consecutive appearance in the final, after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the previous two years.
Even as the tennis world looks towards a new era potentially dominated by Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, the 38-year-old Djokovic proved he remains a formidable force on grass.
This victory was Djokovic`s 100th at Wimbledon, placing him in an elite group with Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer.
“It`s very historic, it feels great. I am incredibly grateful and privileged to be in this position,” Djokovic commented on court.
“Tennis has given me amazing life experiences, so I try to appreciate every moment, especially at my age, still competing strongly against younger players – sliding and pushing my limits! Wimbledon is a favorite and a dream tournament for most tennis players, not just me. As a child, most kids dream of playing and winning here. I`ve been fortunate to do it many times. Any history I make at my favorite tournament is a blessing.”
Earlier this week, Djokovic humorously mentioned the idea of relaxing on a beach with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, reflecting on their great rivalry. However, his performance today showed he`s far from ready to retire.
Kecmanovic held his own against Djokovic until late in the first set, but was ultimately defeated by one of the most remarkable points of the tournament.
The two players engaged in a thrilling net exchange. Djokovic sent Kecmanovic to the back with a lob, but he returned it. Djokovic couldn`t finish with a smash and met Kecmanovic at the net again, executing a spectacular diving backhand volley to his left that drew a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd. A remarkable effort, especially for a 38-year-old.
This point gave the Wimbledon favorite a 5-3 lead, and he then secured the set with an ace.
In the second set, Djokovic increased his pace and intensity. A powerful backhand winner down the line secured him a double break and a 3-0 lead, leading to a bagel set where he won 91% of his first-serve points and all six net points.
Kecmanovic kept fighting, playing reasonably well against a dominant Djokovic. However, a fantastic reflex backhand return from Djokovic clipped the line, creating an advantage and leading to a break for a 4-1 lead in the third set.
There was a slight scare late in the match when Kecmanovic converted his first break point to narrow the score to 5-3, then held serve easily to apply a bit of pressure.
A rare double fault from Djokovic created a tense moment, giving Kecmanovic a 30-15 lead on Djokovic`s serve. But Djokovic responded immediately with an ace to reach match point.
Djokovic then served out the game to secure the win, easing any lingering tension on Centre Court.
Swiatek Progresses, While Defending Champion Krejcikova Falls
Iga Swiatek, the eighth seed, continued her strong run, defeating Danielle Collins comfortably. Meanwhile, the reigning women`s singles champion, Barbora Krejcikova, was eliminated by Emma Navarro.
Eighth seed Swiatek showcased perhaps her most dominant performance on grass yet in her career, avenging her loss to Collins in Rome with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory.
This win moved her past Martina Hingis to the 11th highest winning percentage in Women`s singles Grand Slam events in the Open Era, holding a record of 96 wins and 20 losses, based on Opta data.
“I was in the zone. I knew I had to be brave and just let my hands work, playing fast and direct from the start,” Swiatek commented in her post-match interview.
“I`m very happy with the performance because it was consistent and a strong match. It`s a new feeling for me to feel so comfortable on grass!”
Swiatek controlled the first set from the baseline, winning 88% of her first-serve points and making only six unforced errors compared to Collins` fourteen, who failed to convert any of her three break points. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Swiatek increasing her dominance and not allowing Collins any break point chances.
Swiatek will face Denmark`s Clara Tauson next, who defeated 11th seed Elena Rybakina 7-6, 6-3.
In another match, a visibly emotional Krejcikova saw her title defense end after a 6-2, 3-6, 4-6 loss to Navarro.
The Czech player received medical attention for her blood pressure during the third set and was later seen crying near the back of the court as she was on the verge of defeat.
Krejcikova left the court briefly under a towel after losing the second set. Upon returning, she missed five break point opportunities and lost her serve again, facilitating Navarro`s path to victory.
Navarro will now play Mirra Andreeva, after the 18-year-old won her match against Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-3.
Sinner Advances Smoothly
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner easily defeated Pedro Martinez, securing his spot in the Wimbledon fourth round with a straightforward victory over the Spaniard.
Sinner remains undefeated in sets at the tournament after beating Martinez 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in 1 hour and 55 minutes. He is now set to face 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who also won his match against Sebastian Ofner in straight sets.
Martinez offered little resistance against the Italian`s consistent power, timing, and accuracy. Sinner hit 12 winners compared to Martinez`s two and won 80% of his first-serve points en route to taking the first set.
Martinez had a chance while trailing 4-3 in the second set, but wasted four break points. This felt like a crucial moment; converting one might have given him a chance against Sinner.
From that point, the match was dominated by Sinner, who served powerfully and hit 15 more winners, bringing his total to 46 compared to Martinez`s 12.
“I`m very happy, but we could all see he had a shoulder issue and couldn`t serve properly,” Sinner stated. “On grass, if your serve isn`t working, it`s very difficult to play. But I have great respect for him for coming out and competing.”
“From my side, I tried to remain steady from the baseline. We had some excellent rallies.”
“It`s a great honor to play in front of you [the crowd]. It`s amazing.”
“The first week couldn`t have gone any better, so let`s see what happens now [in the second week].”
Meanwhile, American 10th seed Ben Shelton also hasn`t dropped a set, defeating Márton Fucsovics 6-3, 7-6, 6-2. He will face Lorenzo Sonego in the fourth round, who won a five-set thriller against Brandon Nakashima.
Marin Cilic built on his win over Jack Draper by defeating Spain`s Jaume Munar 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. His next opponent will be Flavio Cobolli, who beat Jakub Mensik 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.
