Djokovic books his place in quarterfinals
July 11, 2017
A shoulder complaint didn't stop Novak Djokovic easing past another opponent at Wimbledon. The Serbian beat Adrian Mannarino in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in two hours, 41 minutes to reach the quarterfinals.
The three-time Wimbledon champion was playing a rescheduled match after Gilles Müller needed nearly five hours to eliminate Rafael Nadal on Monday.
During the third set, Djokovic, 30, asked for a medical timeout and a trainer looked at his shoulder. Speaking after the match, the second seed said: "It's something I've been dragging back and forth for a while now. But I'm managing to play, which is the most important thing."
Djokovic has yet to drop a set since losing to Dominic Thiem in the French Open. He will play 11th seeded Tomas Berdych in the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Thursday.
Konta makes history to reach semis
A day after defeating world number one Angelique Kerber, Gabrine Muguruza defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to advance to her second Wimbledon semifinals.
At the age of 37, five-time champions Venus Williams became the oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist for 23 years, overpowering 20-year-old Jelena Ostapenko, the recent French Open winner.
Under the roof on Centre Court, a feverish home crowd witnessed history as Johanna Konta became the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinal since Virginia Wade in 1978. Romanian second seed Simona Halep took the first set on a tie-break but the British number one responded well to take the second set 7-6.
Her much improved fitness showed as she powered through the final set, breaking in the fifth game and ultimately wrapping up the tei 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. She will face Williams in the semifinal on Thursday.
Magdalena Rybarikova completed the semi-final line-up, beating CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-3 to make her first ever Grand Slam semi.
More court complaints
Djokovic and Mannarino played under a closed roof at Center Court, the first time it has been shut at this year's tournament. That did not stop the complaints about the playing surface.
The Serb pointed out a "hole" on the court to the chair umpire late in his three-set victory.
"During the match I complained there is a hole in the middle of the court, middle of the service line and he asked me to show it to him and I did. He was not very pleased to see that," Djokovic told British broadcaster BBC after the match.
Andy Murray and Roger Federer, both of whom have also played matches at Center Court, have also complained about the playing surface throughout the tournament.
dv/mp (AP, Reuters)