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Aryna Sabalenka sets up a mouth-watering battle with Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon as Coco Gough matches her best run, while Novak Djokovic and Janic Ciner continue their pursuit of titles.
Sabalenka came through a strong fight with Jelena Ostapenko to set up a fourth-round showdown with Osaka.
Sabalenka and Osaka first met at the US Open in 2018, with the Japanese star winning her first Grand Slam title, but did not face each other again until Indian Wells this spring.
Remarkably, this will be their fourth meeting, in the last 16, with Sabalenka also beating Osaka in Madrid and the French Open.
Until this season, grass was seen as the least likely surface for Osaka to crash, but the former world No. 1 has been in great form this month.
Osaka reached her first final on grass in Germany ahead of Wimbledon and is yet to drop a set at the All England Club, with her 6-1 6-3 win over Daria Kasatkina taking her into the fourth round for the first time here.
The 28-year-old stepped out on Court One wearing another version of her Japanese-inspired outfit, this time featuring a floor-length dress with flowing draped sleeves.
Although her recent record against Sabalenka has not been good, Osaka is not unhappy about facing the top seed again.
“For the last few months I’ve only lost to him and Iga (Swatek),” he said. “Hey, a win is a win, I’ll take it.
“Also, he’s the number one player in the world. If there’s someone I have to lose to, I’ll pick that ranking position. I’d say I’ve learned from all those matches, so hopefully I can apply (it).”
Sabalenka celebrates her victory over Jelena Ostapenko
Sabalenka’s clash with former French Open champion Ostapenko was always going to be a first-strike battle between the hardest hitters on tour.
Ostapenko comes with an impressive pedigree on grass, having reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2018 and won two titles on the surface – two more than Sabalenka – but the world number one proved too strong in a 6-4 6-4 victory.
Sabalenka said of playing Osaka: “Another aggressive player, a very strong match. I’m ready to bring the fire, fight and do whatever it takes to get through.”
Goff’s best run at Wimbledon
Coco Gough The American qualifier took another step towards breaking her ‘grass ceiling’ after overcoming a second-set shock to advance to the fourth round with a rollercoaster win over qualifier Claire Liu.
The two-time Grand Slam winner has struggled to dominate the All England Club surface of the famously stunning five-time champion Venus Williams since her debut at the age of 15.
Against a compatriot ranked 139 places below him, Goff breezed through the opening set but squandered three match points at 5–4 before losing on a double fault in the second set tie-break.
The world No 7 eventually won 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 in two hours and 26 minutes to match his best run at the Championships.
She will bid to break new ground with 11th seed Belinda Bencic for a place in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic recovers to continue title bid
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic Safely advanced to the fourth round but narrowly avoided being served a bagel in a hard-fought victory over 25th seed Arthur Rinderknecht.
Djokovic suffered a shock exit in the last 32 of the French Open last month and while preventing a repeat at the All England Club on Friday afternoon, a 7-5 6-4 1-6 7-6 (7-4) victory told only half the story for the 24-time Grand Slam singles winner.
The Frenchman was two points away from Djokovic’s 13th career 6-0 score during a remarkable 18-minute third set on Center Court, but the 39-year-old shrugged off the unwanted feat and regrouped in set four.
Djokovic had hoped to face his French Open winner and highly rated 19-year-old Joao Fonseca next, but was beaten by that. Roman Safiulin before the day
Qualifier Safiulin produced 41 winners during a dominant display, but has lost all three previous meetings with Djokovic.
The sinner finally wins regularly
Janic Ciner showed a rare sign of emotion on match point during his win
A mortal sinner Jenson defeated Brooksby in straight sets to reach the fourth round with a drama-free victory.
The defending champion suffered a collapse and a bloody leg in a five-set clash with Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round, followed by a two-and-a-half-hour, two-tie-break battle with Nuno Borges two days earlier.
So a relatively straightforward 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory, in two hours and 14 minutes, was most welcome for the Italian.
He said, I am very happy to win. “I’m trying to improve every day, it’s a small step today. I’m trying to do better if I want to go far in this tournament.”
American Brooksby had the odd sticky moment despite reaching a nine-match losing streak in London this summer.
There was also a rare display of emotion at match point from the normally unheralded world No. 1, pointing to his ears to engage the crowd.
On his cue, he added: “I don’t know. It was very unusual – but I needed it today.
“I had a break up and couldn’t serve it, I tried to rush to the finish line. It helped me today. Thanks for pushing me.”
Cina will face the Japanese qualifiers Shintaro Mochizukiwho defeated Spain’s Rafael Zodar in four rounds.
“We’ve never played. Let’s see,” Ciner said. “Whoever is in the fourth round of a Grand Slam deserves to be there.”
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