Djokovic wary despite Wimbledon form, dominant Sinner faces Dimitrov
US player Amanda Anisimova (L) shakes hands with Czech Republic's Linda Noskova after winning their women's singles fourth round tennis match on the seventh day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2025. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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Novak Djokovic and world number one Jannik Sinner face their
stiffest tests of the tournament on Monday as they aim to take another step
towards a blockbuster semi-final face-off at Wimbledon.
Djokovic, who has a record 25th Gland Slam singles title in
his sights, meets Australia's Alex de Minaur while Sinner faces the talented
Grigor Dimitrov.
Five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek is the main
attraction in a wide-open side of the women's draw as she takes on Clara
Tauson.
'Complete' De Minaur
concerns Djokovic
Djokovic was in supreme form as he demolished compatriot
Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 to the delight of his seven-year-old daughter
Tara, who enjoyed a post-match celebratory dance with her dad.
But the seven-time champion is wary of the threat that lies
ahead of him in the second week, even before potential meetings with Sinner and
Carlos Alcaraz, who has beaten Djokovic in each of the past two finals.
De Minaur was forced to pull out of a quarter-final meeting
at Wimbledon with the Serb last year due to injury but gets another shot at
glory against one of the sport's all-time greats.
A two-time winner of grass court titles, the world number 11
has dropped just one set on his way to the last 16.
"He's playing the tennis of his life. He's definitely
knocking on the door of the final stages of Grand Slams," said Djokovic.
"You're not super excited to play Alex de Minaur on
grass, that's for sure, because he's so quick and he's a complete player."
Dimitrov not stressed
by dominant Sinner
Jannik Sinner does not have the Wimbledon track record of
Djokovic or Alcaraz, but the Italian has been the most dominant player in the men's
draw in the opening week.
The US Open and Australian Open champion has matched the
men's Open Era record at Wimbledon for fewest games lost -- 17 -- in reaching
the fourth round, set by Jan Kodes back in 1972.
Sinner is also yet to lose his serve this year at the All
England Club, not that his next opponent appears daunted by that prospect.
"We're in the second week of Wimbledon. Let's have
fun," said 34-year-old Dimitrov, who knows his days on the show courts at
Grand Slams are numbered.
The Bulgarian appeared destined to be a future Wimbledon
champion when he made the semi-finals in 2014, but has never progressed beyond
the fourth round since.
A rare defeat at the French Open has helped Swiatek finally
feel at home on the grass as the former world number one eyes just a second Wimbledon
quarter-final on Monday.
Aryna Sabalenka beat Swiatek in the semi-finals at Roland
Garros after the Polish player won four titles there in five years, but a
slightly earlier exit gave her more time to adjust to the grass.
Swiatek reached her first grass-court final in Bad Homburg
last week, after which she said there is "some hope" for her on the
surface.
"This year on grass I had some moments where I just
felt comfortable and I didn't have to think much. It was just pretty
smooth."
A flurry of early exits for all of the top six seeds other
than Sabalenka also means Swiatek could make the final without having to play
another top-10 player.


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