Novak Djokovic will look to edge another step closer to history when he returns for his third-round match at Wimbledon on Friday.
In the round of 32, women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka takes on former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, while defending champion Jannik Sinner is also competing.
On Wednesday, Djokovic dominated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round, demonstrating his unwavering resolve to ultimately capture the elusive 25th Grand Slam title. With a brilliant straight-sets victory on Centre Court, the 39-year-old Serb sent a message to his Wimbledon title rivals.
Djokovic was so enthralled with his performance that he even made time to play a practical joke on a ball girl, acting as though her shirt repair job had injured him. He then playfully challenged golf player Rory McIlroy, who was watching from the royal box, to a tennis match. It made sense that the seven-time Wimbledon champion was in a good mood.
Seventh-seeded Djokovic is currently only one victory away from matching Roger Federer’s Wimbledon men’s singles record of 105. But Djokovic has higher aspirations in his sights, wanting to equal Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon victories — which would break his tie with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam crowns by either a man or woman.
Winning Wimbledon would also make Djokovic the oldest man to hoist a Grand Slam trophy in the Open era. “Age is just a number,” as Djokovic stated following his victory over Tsitsipas. Next up for the ageless Serb is a first ever encounter with French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus holds a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko heading into their clash. Still chasing her maiden Wimbledon title, Sabalenka faces a stern challenge against Ostapenko in one of the standout matches of the third round.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, who has advanced to 14 major quarterfinals in a row, hasn’t been at her dominant best thus far in the competition. The 28-year-old has lost in the semi-finals of her last three Wimbledon trips and has never won the tournament.
Sabalenka has become a regular fixture in the latter stages of Grand Slam tournaments, but she has converted just one of the last six majors into a title. Standing in her way this time is 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, who presents a formidable challenge in the third round.
The 29-year-old, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals eight years ago, possesses the powerful groundstrokes needed to unsettle Sabalenka.
Jannik Sinner holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over American Jenson Brooksby ahead of their third-round meeting.
With a stunning final triumph over Carlos Alcaraz last year, Sinner ended the Spaniard’s two-year tenure as Wimbledon champion. The four-time Grand Slam champion is still some way from such lofty heights entering into his third round encounter against American world number 81 Jenson Brooksby.
Sinner appeared somewhat unprepared in his victories over Miomir Kecmanovic and Nuno Borges in the first and second rounds after choosing not to play a Wimbledon warm-up event for the first time in his career.
The world number one lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round of the French Open in June, blowing a two-set lead. He hasn’t advanced to a Grand Slam final this year.
