Novak Djokovic’s second seeded opponent of the fortnight will come in the form of Jannik Sinner when quarterfinal competition gets underway on Tuesday. Cameron Norrie and David Goffin are also aiming for a place in the last four.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (10) Jannik Sinner
Djokovic and Sinner will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon. Their only previous meeting came last spring in Monte-Carlo, where Djokovic cruised 6-4, 6-2. Of course, another year on tour and a switch to grass should help Sinner. Even though the 20-year-old Italian is inexperienced on this surface, he will have a better chance of minimizing rallies–which he doesn’t want to get into with Djokovic. So far at the All-England Club Sinner has ousted Stan Wawrinka, Mikael Ymer, John Isner, and Carlos Alcaraz without going to five sets on any occasion.
If not dominant (mainly because he hasn’t had to be), Djokovic has been efficient as he bids for a fourth consecutive Wimbledon title. The top-seeded Serb booked his spot in the last eight by beating Soonwoo Kwon, Thanaski Kokkinakis, Miomir Kecmanovic, and Tim van Rijthoven. Both Kwon and van Rijthoven took a set, which should give Sinner some inspiration. However, Djokovic followed up his hiccup against Kwon by destroying Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 with a ruthless performance two days later. Look for the 35-year-old to answer another wakeup call and win a straight-set but at times competitive contest.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
David Goffin vs. (9) Cameron Norrie
Norrie has taken advantage of a favorable draw, but he shouldn’t have to apologize for finding himself in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. The world No. 12 was a Queen’s Club finalist last year and his game in general works well on grass–specifically a backhand that stays extremely low and an effective lefty serve. Norrie has improved to 31-15 this season with victories over Pablo Andujar, Jaume Munar, Steve Johnson, and Tommy Paul. Munar pushed the 2021 Indian Wells champion to five sets, but the others were straight-set affairs.
Goffin has advanced with victories over Radu Albot, Sebastian Baez, Ugo Humbert, and Frances Tiafoe. The 58th-ranked Belgian had previously reached the fourth round in SW19 twice, so this run is no fluke. The bad news is that Goffin is coming off an absolute battle against Tiafoe that the 31-year-old won 7-6(3), 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 after four hours and 36 minutes. It won’t be easy to recover in time for what will be another baseline slugfest against Norrie, so look for the crowd favorite to keep going all the way to the semis.
Pick: Norrie in 4
WWW?
I think Sinner will at least take a set!
Djoko in five, Norrie in four.
Eating my words for scoffing at Goffing! Here he is! Go Cam!
Sinner has to come out blazing from the start and take the first set if he wants any chance to win this match. Sinner has a complete game and that big serve can get him out of tricky situations if he gets a strong foothold in the match. Novak will get this done in 4 tough sets but i am hoping sinner shows the world what he is capable of today.
Agreed. If he plays like he did against Alcaraz he can take a set and give him a real match.
But he almost certainly needs to start strong.
I love Sinner, but my head says Joker in 3….and that Tiafoe match just took too much out of Goffin….Norrie in 3.
What chance does anyone have if you drop serve to begin the match. Just useless.. just bend over and surrender
Rubbish game by Novak to drop serve. I hope Jannik calms down a bit now..
Come on Jannik!
Novak is playing pretty awful.
Sinner serving for the set.
First set Sinner.
If Novak carries on playing this poorly he is going out.
First set to Sinner! Well done, let’s see whether he can continue with this winning momentum.
Novak is not playing poorly.he is hitting fh really well and his defense is very good. He is hitting hard. His second serve won points was low and his drop shots made the blunders
Sinner like everyone will hopefully not take foot off the pedal just coz you won a set. Atleast take this to long 5.
Novak is in trouble now. Sinner playing really well now as he has belief.
Up a set and a break.
Sinner took the first set and is a break up in the second.
Novak will be tested thoroughly here.
Sinner and alcarez are the future of tennis.
The break came way too early . Long road to finish the second
Good for Sinner! Hope he’s got staying power.
Sinner first serve has dropped, errors creeping in again
Insurance break in the second set for sinner.
Well,well,well…….
Novak is really losing it mentally…
Novak about to lose second set.
Is he going to lose in straights?
No win in 5
Whenever djoko has been 2 sets down and wins the match mid tourney ,he has gone on to win the tourney. Wimby 15 vs Anderson, rg 21 vs mussetti.
N now djoko takes his famous toilet break just like he did vs tsitsipas in rg21 final
I still say djoko in 5
That was a dud game by Sinner to lose serve.
The comeback started .sinners game falling apart..all ue creeping