LONDON, July 9 — Novak Djokovic plays his 15th fourth-round match at Wimbledon today as he continues his push for a record-equalling eighth title, while Jannik Sinner eyes a second successive quarter-final place.
In a politically charged women’s singles match, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina takes on Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
AFP Sport picks out three standout last-16 matches on the seventh day of the 2023 tournament in London (x denotes seeded player):
Hubert Hurkacz (POL x17) v Novak Djokovic (SRB x2)
Hurkacz was the last man to play Roger Federer at Wimbledon, his straight-sets quarter-final win in 2021 proving to be the Swiss great’s final singles match before retirement.
Djokovic boasts a 5-0 winning record against the 26-year-old Pole, with one of those victories coming at Wimbledon in the third round in 2019.
“He covers the court very well. He has very long arms. When he comes to the net, he has a very good feeling at the net,” said Djokovic.
Hurkacz won a grass-court title in Halle last year.
Djokovic is looking to equal Federer’s mark of eight Wimbledon titles and Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record of 24.
He has been untroubled so far, making the fourth round without dropping a set.
Victoria Azarenka (x19) v Elina Svitolina (UKR)
Normally this would be billed as a battle of tennis mums but the last-16 clash will be tinged with political significance because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, backed by its ally Belarus
At the French Open, Svitolina and all Ukraine players refused to shake hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus.
“I won’t sell my country out for likes,” said Svitolina after refusing to shake hands with world number two Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in Paris.
Svitolina was even booed by the French crowd for her defiant stance.
At last year’s US Open, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk offered only a tap of the racquets after her match against Azarenka.
Both Svitolina and Azarenka are former semi-finalists at the tournament. Azarenka, however, enjoys a 5-0 head-to-head record over the Ukraine player.
Jannik Sinner (ITA x8) v Daniel Galan (COL)
Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2022 before squandering a two-sets to love lead in the quarter-final against Djokovic.
The beanpole Italian will hope to be backed by his ‘Carota Boys’ fan club, a group of men dressed as carrots in honour of the player’s occasional choice of snack during changeovers on court.
Galan, the world number 85, is in the third round for a second successive year.
Despite his modest tour record, the 27-year-old should not be under-estimated.
At the US Open last year, he came through qualifying and then defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round, taking victory on a ninth match point. — AFP