Sweet 16 For Novak Djokovic As Wimbledon Seeds Crash Out
Top seed Djokovic brushed aside 79th-ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 and will face Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic for a last-16 place
Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon third round for the 16th time on Wednesday as potential semi-final opponent Casper Ruud crashed out. Top seed Djokovic brushed aside 79th-ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 and will face Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic for a last-16 place. Third seed and French Open runner-up Ruud was knocked out by 112th-ranked Ugo Humbert, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4.
"I'm very happy with my performance. I started very well, solid from the back of the court," said Djokovic, who is looking to join Pete Sampras as a seven-time Wimbledon champion.
"I made him work for every point and worked him around the court," added the 20-time major winner.
Kokkinakis had likened Djokovic to a "brick wall" before the match. "It was one-way traffic. I got chopped today," said the 26-year-old Australian after his Centre Court torment.
Kontaveit, Muguruza, Raducanu out
In the women's event, second seed Anett Kontaveit lost 6-4, 6-0 to Germany's Julie Niemeier as the Estonian endured another Grand Slam to forget.
Kontaveit has made the quarter-finals of a major just once in 29 attempts.
Ninth seed and 2017 champion Garbine Muguruza also exited in her delayed first-round clash, losing 6-4, 6-0 to Belgium's Greet Minnen.
US Open champion Emma Raducanu crashed out of Wimbledon on Wednesday, losing her second-round match against Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-3 to the disappointment of the British home crowd.
The 10th seed, who was troubled by a side strain in the run-up to the tournament, was broken five times in the match by her French opponent, ranked 55 in the world.
'Amazing support'
Lesia Tsurenko came out on top in three sets over Ukrainian compatriot Anhelina Kalinina to make the third round for the second time. Tsurenko, ranked at 101, proudly wore a ribbon in the colours of Ukraine on her shirt.
"It was a big court. Two Ukrainian players but a lot of people were watching us. We felt amazing support," said Tsurenko after her 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win. "Today on the way from hotel to the club, we got a driver," she added. "She has taken two people from Ukraine into her house.Â
"I think it's amazing when people help Ukrainians so much."
Novak Djokovic