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
God Novak is irritating.
Why is he asking for applause when Sinner was controlling the point until he made the error.
Can’t even watch working on deadlines!! But at least Sinner won two sets and gave a challenge!! Hopes at least he takes his chances and not just fold or choke! I expect let up in set 3 but that he can recover in set 4 or five!! Make it a match!
I think if Sinner can continue to serve well and not show Novak he is not intimidated he can win this!
I don’t expect it Mona given the huge let down in set 3
🤣🤣🤣🤣 hence the reason y I said IF!!! After beating Alcaraz and the toll it must have taken emotionally and physically there is little wonder Sinner has a let down! Is not every player that can take on that type of stuff consistently when playing the big three !!! Not even the big 3 can sustain that type of stuff with each other consistently!!! So let’s hope at least Sinner makes it competitive in the fifth!
What on earth is going on here? I just turned on the tennis to see Sinner up two sets? How did this happen?
Okay Sanju, are you feeling better now? Or you expect Djoker to withe next two sets? I don’t think anyone expected this.
At least Djoker has to work for it.
Mona said Sinner would at least take a set. Well he has done one better! Who saw this coming?
Now Sinner has to dig in if he wants to get the win. Otherwise Djoker is capable of coming back to win it in five.
I said earlier on the Djoko to win in five sets.
Sinner has the game to overpower Djoko but he won’t have the stamina to do it consistently in five sets. Djoko would grind his way to a win.
These youngsters are not experienced enough in five setters, they normally punch above their weights to try to win in straight sets when facing the big three but by the end of the first two sets, they are most probably spent, mentally if not physically.
Djoko has not even played that well in the first two sets, hitting into the net etc, probably rushed by Sinner’s big hitting. He is simply waiting for Sinner’s level to come down and then makes a comeback.
This match may be heading the way of the FO final last year, when Tsitsipas won the first two sets and then lost the remaining three to lose the final.
2 dfs by Sinner. Very costly. Not the way to start the fourth set.
Has to get his head together.
All if a sudden Sinner can’t even win a game. Is he just going to roll over for Novak? It’s best of five sets. Maybe he forgot.
The problem with the young guys is that they don’t have the physical conditioning to stay in a five set match. This is not best of three sets. Sinner can’t even win a game now.
Exactly!!! Hence the reason y the call it the majors, and that’s what Novak is very aware of!!! After giving his all in the first two sets he is hurting physically esp after playing Alcaraz? The reserve is near depleted! Hope he can recover in the fifth!
Maybe Sinner has nothing left? These young guys need to realize that they have to be conditioned to play a bestvif fyve set match. Now Sinner is just embarrassing himself out there.
Finalize he wins a game. Down two breaks. He will have to try to do it in five. But I am not liking his chances.
I’m not watching the match but I’m not at all surprised. Not the first time Djoker has pulled off a recovery from two sets down against the #NextGen And Sinner just had a big match v Alcaraz in the last round. But you’re right. A top player needs to be able to recover and play two or more tough matches in a row. Still, good effort by Sinner.
Yes it was a good effort for two sets. But that won’t cut it in a slam. Sinner just seemed to lose it from the third set on. Way too easy for Novak to come back.
I find it infuriating that Novak acts like a prima donna here. He should not have gotten down two sets in the first place. The way he was shouting to the crowd as he came back, was really just over the top. A little humility would do him a world of good. But I don’t see it happening.
I switched off nny!
I can’t stand how he behaves at times…
My biggest worry is not Novak winning this match ..it’s djoko winning the tourney always when he is down 2 sets to 0 mid tourney n wins that match
Its a well known tactic with certain players, playing dead then coming back strongly.
As for your worry, I hope it doesnt keep you awake at night
I stopped watching after the first game of the fourth set because it was obvious what was going to happen.
For all the good things Sinner did early on( where he also got a lot of help from Novak) it simply isn’t good enough that you can tell when someone is up 2 sets to 1 ( with virtually the entirety of the 4th set still to be played) what is going to happen.
Yes n djokovic turned beast mode on last 3 sets ..what did he do in the toilet is the qn..
Extremely difficult to stop him this wimby..only one with a small chance is rafa…but first let rafa get there
Small solace is Novak came down from 2 sets down against seppi too in rg12 n lost the final to rafa ..so yes not all hope lost
I thought Novak showed a lot of vulnerability in the first 2 sets. He has a lot of underlying tension.
Come on Ons!!
Amy ,nny worried abt tomm ? Hope we are happy tomm at this time
Sanju, if Rafa plays as he did the last 2 matches he will win.
It’s on his racquet.
Sanju,
I am with Amy. As I told you before, the quarterfinals are when I start getting really nervous. It’s crunch time. But Rafa has raised his level of play. I think he has another gear or two.
So I am feeling optimistic about tomorrow.
As amy said, it’s on his racket.
Vamos Rafa!
Will kyrgios be mentally checked out tomm due to the court summons..
I hope so! He is not an asset to the sport as a personality..
What court summons?
Nny I posted about his abusive behaviour on the Nadal Zandschulp thread. Can u look there please?
Just after posting we learnt his ex girlfriend has summonsed him for abuse.
amy,
I will go and check it out. This is the first I am hearing about it. My sister says it’s in The NY Times.
Isn’t it about time Ricky puts out his pick that Fritz is going to win?
He keeps tweeting about how amazing Fritz is this tournament so I reckon he will…
I want to see that prediction. Picking against Rafa here?
Maybe he doesn’t want to post it?!
Go Ons!!!!😀