Wimbledon 2021: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer ease into the quarter-finals as first-timers shine

London: Novak Djokovic marched into his 50th Grand Slam quarter-final while Roger Federer became the oldest man in the modern era to make the last-eight at Wimbledon on ‘Manic Monday’ at the All England Club. World number one Djokovic, chasing a sixth Wimbledon and record-equalling 20th major, eased into the last-eight for the 12th time with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Chile’s Cristian Garin. Federer, who will be 40 in just under five weeks’ time, brushed aside Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 to make the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the 18th time and 58th overall at the majors. Djokovic will next face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, one of a host of players booking last-eight spots at the tournament for the first time. The list included women’s top seed Ashleigh Barty, second seed Aryna Sabalenka, Karolina Pliskova, Viktorija Golubic as well as Matteo Berrettini, Denis Shapovalov, Karen Khachanov and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the men’s draw. Djokovic is halfway to a calendar Grand Slam. Only two men have swept all four majors in the same year with Rod Laver the most recent back in 1969. “Confidence levels are very high after winning the French Open,” said Djokovic. “It was one of my biggest wins in the circumstances - two five-setters, two four-setters in the second week. ‘Gave me wings’ “They took a lot out of me but they also gave me wings.” Eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer will face either second seed Daniil Medvedev or Hubert Hurkacz, the 14th seed, for a place in the semi-finals. Medvedev was leading Hurkacz 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 3-4 when play was halted for the night due to rain. “It is not fair for anyone. I have been in these situations before - but these guys are young and they can recover,” said Federer, the oldest man in the last-eight since the dawn of the Open Era in 1968. [caption id=“attachment_9781131” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Ashleigh Barty celebrates after defeating Barbora Krejcikova. AP[/caption] Barty reached the quarter-finals for the first time, beating French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3. The 25-year-old Australian will play compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic who was leading Emma Raducanu 6-4, 3-0 when the British teenager, ranked at 338 in the world, retired due to medical reasons. “It was an incredibly tough match,” said Barty. “Barbora has had an unbelievable year and am happy to come through in the end.” [caption id=“attachment_9780861” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Ons Jabeur in action at Wimbledon. AP[/caption] Ons Jabeur’s historic campaign saw her also reach the quarter-finals for the first time, beating Poland’s 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. The 26-year-old is the first Tunisian woman to reach the last eight and will face Belarus second seed Aryna Sabalenka who defeated Elena Rybakina 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. “It was a great match and I had to stay calm rather than get angry,” said Jabeur. Both Jabeur and Sabalenka have a season-leading 33 wins in 2021. 13 service breaks Former world number one Pliskova reached her first Wimbledon quarter-final with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Russian wildcard Liudmila Samsonova. Men’s seventh seed Berrettini became only the fifth Italian man to make the last eight with a quickfire 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 win over Ilya Ivashka of Belarus. The Queen’s Club champion, the first Italian man in the quarter-finals since 1998, will face Auger-Aliassime of Canada. Auger-Aliassime, seeded 16, defeated fourth-seeded German opponent Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 3-6, 6-4. Zverev was undone by 20 double faults and 42 unforced errors. Khachanov also reached a maiden quarter-final at the tournament with a five-set win over Sebastian Korda who was celebrating his 21st birthday. Russian 25th seed Khachanov triumphed 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 and will face Canadian 10th seed Denis Shapovalov. A marathon 81-minute final set on Court 18 featured a record 13 breaks of serve. Shapovalov, who knocked out two-time champion Andy Murray in the last round, dismissed Spain’s 2019 semi-finalist and eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. Fucsovics became just the third Hungarian man and first in 73 years to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. The 29-year-old, ranked at 48 in the world, defeated Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3. [caption id=“attachment_9781511” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Angelique Kerber celebrates after defeating Coco Gauff. AP[/caption] Angelique Kerber, the 2018 champion, beat 17-year-old Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-4 and will face Karolina Muchova for a semi-final place. Viktorija Golubic, ranked 66, defeated Madison Keys 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 as she also broke through to the last eight for the first time where she’ll face Pliskova.