Djokovic jostles past Van Rijthoven to set up Sinner showdown

Novak Djokovic remained on course for a seventh Wimbledon title after overcoming qualifier Tim van Rijthoven in the fourth round on Sunday.

The reigning champion took a step closer to triumphing at SW19 for a fifth consecutive year following a 6-2 4-6 6-2 6-1 victory over the Dutch debutant.

Though pegged back in the second set, Djokovic dropped just three games thereon as he reached his 13th quarter-final in 17 appearances.

The Serb is now one of only four players to win 25 successive matches at Wimbledon after Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.

The world number one also recorded his 84th main-draw success at the All England Club – moving level with Jimmy Connors – with only Federer (105) registering more.

Next up for Djokovic is Jannik Sinner, who saw off Carlos Alcaraz 6-1 6-4 6-7(8) 6-3 in a battle of the rising stars.

The Italian had not won a tour-level match on grass prior to this fortnight, but is now through to the third Grand Slam quarter-final of his career – all of which have come on different surfaces.

Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie kept the British dream alive; reaching the last eight of a Slam for the first time – and becoming only the second Briton to do so at SW19 since 2004 after Andy Murray – following a straight-sets defeat of Tommy Paul.

His reward is a showdown with David Goffin, who is the first Belgian to reach multiple Wimbledon quarter-finals after edging out Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller that lasted four hours and 36 minutes.

Elsewhere, Ons Jabeur is yet to drop a set on the way to reaching consecutive quarter-finals; the third seed overcoming Elise Mertens for her 82nd victory over the past two seasons – more than any other player on the WTA.

Her last-eight opponent will be Marie Bouzkova. The Czech had only won three matches in her previous 13 Grand Slam appearances prior to this week, but extended her career-best run with 7-5 6-2 success over Caroline Garcia.

Tatjana Maria became the seventh female of the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals after turning 34, as she came from behind and rescuing two match points before seeing off Eastbourne runner-up Jelena Ostapenko 5-7 7-5 7-5.

That set up an all-German clash with Jule Niemeier, who continued her fairytale run by denying home favourite Heather Watson 6-2 6-4.

As a result, two German female players have reached the last eight at SW19 for only the fifth time in the Open Era.

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Wimbledon 2022 Day 7 Results

Sunday July 3

Centre Court (1.30pm onwards)
Heather Watson 2-6 4-6 Jule Niemeier
Jannik Sinner 6-1 6-4 6-7(8) 6-3 Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic 6-2 4-6 6-1 6-2 Tim Van Rijthoven

No.1 Court (1pm onwards)
Tatjana Maria 5-7 7-5 7-5 Jelena Ostapenko
Cameron Norrie 6-4 7-5 6-4 Tommy Paul
Elise Mertens 6-7(9) 4-6 Ons Jabeur

No.2 Court
Marie Bouzkova 7-5 6-2 Caroline Garcia
David Goffin 7-6(3) 5-7 5-7 6-4 7-5 Frances Tiafoe