Novak Djokovic eased into his 50th grand slam quarter-final with a straight-sets victory over Cristian Garin on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
The world number one made it 18 consecutive slam wins as he chases a third title of the year and 12 consecutive sets taken at the All England Club this year with a 6-2 6-4 6-2 success.
Had he been able to pick an opponent for a last-16 clash at Wimbledon, he could have done a lot worse than Chilean Garin who, despite being seeded 17th, is a clay-court specialist and had never won a match at SW19 prior to this year.
He had benefited from a kind draw to make it this far and he got a taste of the afternoon he was in for as Djokovic won the first eight points of the match and raced through the opening set.
Garin dug in well at the start of the second, holding his own in rallies a lot better and forcing Djokovic into a few uncomfortable moments.
Play was stopped in the fifth game of the second set as rain began to fall but it was so brief the players had barely sat down before they were back out on court.
Djokovic began to ramp up the pressure and, after failing to take five break points through the first seven games of the set, he found a way through to make it 5-4 and did not look back.
And he had ominous words for this rivals, saying in his post-match BBC interview: “”My confidence level is high after winning the French Open. It took a lot out me but it gave me wings.
“My energy levels are good. It takes some time to adjust from clay but the further the tournament goes the more comfortable I am feeling.”
Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who came through a punishing five-setter against Andrey Rublev of Russia, will face Djokovic in the next round.
02:47 PM
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Coco Gauff vs Angelique Kerber, Wimbledon 2021: live score and latest updates
02:42 PM
Djokovic
will play Hungarian Marton Fucsovics or Andrey Rublev of Russia in the next round, they’re locked in a fifth set right now.
02:35 PM
Something of a charm
offensive there from Novak, perhaps – bigging up the crowd, the court, the tournament etc.
02:30 PM
Djokovic post match interview
“I am delighted to see more fans in the centre court today. It is a pleasure to see you all. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
“Always a dream to come here. This is the most sacred court in our sport. To come here gives you goose bumps more than any other court. It is tough to recall the first time I played here, but it has been a while.
“This court evokes nervousness, butterflies.”
He is told that his next opponent (Marton Fucsovics or Andrey Rublev) is involved in a monumental battle at the moment.
“Wonderful. I hope it rains and they continue tomorrow. No, no, I am sorry.”
“My confidence level is high after winning the French Open. It took a lot out me but it gave me wings. Energy levels are good. Takes some time to adjust from clay. The further the tournament goes the more comfortable.”
02:29 PM
Novak Djokovic wins 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
And in so doing, he reaches his 50th Grand Slam quarter final. 23 mins, 57 mins, 29 mins.
02:27 PM
Novak Djokovic wins the third set
and that’s game, set and match.
02:27 PM
3nd set: Garin 2 Djokovic 5 (with two breaks) (ND leads 2-0 in sets
He does….
02:22 PM
3nd set: Garin 1 Djokovic 5 (with two breaks) (ND leads 2-0 in sets
Djokovic holds serve and Garin will now have to serve to stay in the match.
02:21 PM
3nd set: Garin 1 Djokovic 4 (with two breaks) (ND leads 2-0 in sets
Coming in a rush now, Garin broken once again.
02:14 PM
Guess who?
02:12 PM
3nd set: Garin 1 Djokovic 2 (with a break) (ND won two sets)
Garin’s on the board in the third set with a service hold
02:11 PM
Darcy Bussell’s in
02:08 PM
3nd set: Garin 0 Djokovic 2 (with a break) (ND won two sets)
Novak holds his service without too much fuss there and the strong sense is that this one is going to be over pretty sharpish now.
02:06 PM
3nd set: Garin 0 Djokovic 1 (with a break) (ND won two sets)
As one feared, that spirited second set effort might be as good as it gets for the Chilean. He is immediately broken in the first game of the third set.
01:58 PM
Novak Djokovic wins second set 6-4
And he now leads by two sets to nil
01:55 PM
2nd set: Garin 4 Djokovic 5 (with a break) (ND won first set)
Serving at 15-30, Garin makes a double fault – and that feels like a big moment in the match. An exchange at the net at 15-40 has got Djokovic written all over it and, when Garin puts a volley wide, the break is secured.
Novak Djokovic breaks serve and now serves for the set
01:53 PM
2nd set: Garin 4 Djokovic 4 (ND won first set)
Garin’s holding his service games with mini epics, but Novak is breezing through his.
01:45 PM
2nd set: Garin 4 Djokovic 3 (ND won first set)
Best game of the set, Novak is hunting this break, but Garin is digging deep. Seemingly in control at A-40, Novak has made an unforced error, hitting into the net cord when he had the rally at his mercy. He gives a long, meaningful look at his coach Goran Ivanisevic….
With a cute lob, ND forces a sixth deuce. Can Garin get out of this game? 11 minutes and counting.
Garin holds serve. Well done.
01:37 PM
2nd set: Garin 3 Djokovic 3 (ND won first set)
The centre court crowd getting behind Garin, because they obviously want to get their money’s worth. Garin serving at 3-3, 15-15. Nice shot! And a rare unforced error from Djokovic makes it 40-15. Djokovic has hit a flat patch and is looking a little disgruntled.
01:31 PM
2nd set: Garin 3 Djokovic 2 (ND won first set)
A little bit of a rain delay the during the 5th game… Garin serving. The players go and have a sit down in the chairs by the side of the court.
When they restart, Djokovic has his opponent under pressure and at 30-40, the Chilean has his work cut out. He produces an excellent serve but a good return from Novak keeps the pressure on. Garin saves the break point.
And Garin holds serve
01:25 PM
2nd set: Garin 2 Djokovic 2 (ND won first set)
Djokovic holds his serve.
01:22 PM
2nd set: Garin 2 Djokovic 1 (ND won first set)
Garin serving. He is definitely getting into this, the Chilean (relatively speaking obviously). He’s held his serve here.
01:14 PM
2nd set: Garin 1 Djokovic 1 (ND won first set)
Garin with a successful challenge down the line takes it to 30-30, and now a really excellent return has put Djokovic under some pressure for the first time! But Novak digs in and saves the BP after a lengthy rally that concludes with the Chilean hitting a forehands into the net. But he hangs tough and has now forced another break point. Djokovic, with two highly accurate serves, quells the uprising. Garin hits a forehand long and that’s game.
Still, two break points, something encouraging there.
01:07 PM
2nd set: Garin 1 Djokovic 0 (ND won first set)
That’s a better start. The Chilean holds his serve in the first game of the second set.
01:02 PM
Novak Djokovic wins the first set 6-2
Djokovic nails that service game to love and that’s the end of the first set.
That took just 25 mins. Garin only got 12 of his 21 first serves in.
01:00 PM
Garin 2 Djokovic 5 (double break)
Garin’s won a service game there, seemed to get the serve working pretty well there.
Novak will serve for the set now with new balls.
12:58 PM
Garin 1 Djokovic 5 (double break)
Novak held his service without a fuss there.
He won the first eight points of this match and that, I have to say, has set the tone.
12:56 PM
Garin 1 Djokovic 4 (double break)
Oh dear. Djokovic brings his opponent into the net, and then produces a lovely touch lob to send the beefy Chilean panting to the back of the court. He gets there but cannot return the ball. That’s a second break.
“On this surface, the ways things stand, this is a mismatch. And this guy is ranked 20 in the world!” says John McEnroe.
12:51 PM
Garin 1 Djokovic 3 (with a break)
Novak employs the forehand drop shot that he seems to be favouring these days, and although Garin makes decent ground to get there, he cannot return the ball.
Djokovic serving at 30-15 needs his second serve, it’s a bit of a (relatively) hittable serve but Garin whacks his groundshot a yard. Those are the sort of quarter chances that he’s going to have to take, but he doesn’t, and it’s soon game to ND.
12:48 PM
Garin 1 Djokovic 2 (with a break)
Well done son. He’s held his first service game okay. A mis-hit at 40-15 briefly got Novak interested but the Chilean wrapped it up nicely.
12:46 PM
Garin 0 Djokovic 2 (with a break)
Novak holds his serve with alarming ease. Going to be a long, or rather a short, ordeal for our man from Santiago at this rate.
12:41 PM
Garin 0 Djokovic 1 (with a break)
Well, that’s a less than ideal start. It’s soon 0-40, Garin comes in behind a half-cooked shot, inviting Novak to pass him crosscourt with the forehand, and he does it with ease.
12:39 PM
Garin is going to serve first
Starts off with a double fault. Fast arm. “He’s not a big server,” says McEnroe on BBC comms.
12:35 PM
Garin
ranked 20 in the world, is a dark haired guy, six foot one, strong build, looks powerful in the chest and shoulders.
12:34 PM
Djokovic and Garin
are out on centre court, warming up. It’s a sunny but not hot day in here in London.
12:29 PM
Here’s what is coming up today
Wimbledon 2021: Order of play for day seven, draw details and Emma Raducanu start time
12:26 PM
Here he is in action earlier in the week
12:22 PM
Background on Garin
He’s the Chilean number one. He won the 2013 Junior French Open, beating Alexander Zverev in the final.
As an adult, he has won five ATP tour titles, but all of them have been on clay.
On his last three visits to Timbledon, he was bombed out in the first round, so this is clearly a big step in the right direction this year.
12:20 PM
Djokovic in practice
12:17 PM
75% crowds are allowed
in today, and 100% tomorrow.
12:00 PM
Novak Djokovic is on at half one
Good afternoon, welcome to our live blog coverage of day seven at Wimbledon 2021. On this day in 2014, Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer 6-7 (7) 6-4 7-6 (4) 5-7 6-4 to win the SW19 title for the second time, and while he has still got several matches to win this year, who would bet against him adding another trophy this year to make it six overall at Wimbledon?
The man trying to be an immediate barrier to that aim is Christian Garin, a 25-year-old Chilean right-hander, who has sneaked into the top 20 of the world rankings. He’s never been past the fourth round at a slam, although who did reach this stage at the French Open this year and is regarded as a man moving in the right direction.
This will be his first experience of facing one of the ‘big three’ at a Grand Slam and he said:
“I really enjoy facing these kinds of challenges. I think they will serve me well. I still have not played against any of the ‘Big Three’ at a Grand Slam, so I am pleased. Results aside, I want to go out and give it my all.”
It will be a typically busy day on Manic Monday
All the men’s and and women’s fourth-round matches are scheduled to be played as Wimbledon enters its second week following a last-ever rest day on Middle Sunday.
American teenager Coco Gauff and eight-time champion Roger Federer set to play on Centre Court after this match and we will be blogging both of them as well.
Gauff plays former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber.
Women’s No. 1 Ash Barty plays French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova on No. 1 Court.
Djokovic is happy to be back in action, and back in the groove at Wimbledon. He said:
“It feels great seeing everyone and being back on the most special, or sacred, tennis court in the world.
“It has been very difficult times for everyone but I’m very glad the sport is back.”