Wimbledon 2023: Djokovic eases to last 16, Tsitsipas ends Murray hopes, Swiatek through – as it happened

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And here’s Kevin Mitchell’s report on Djokovic’s progress:

OK folks, that’s me done for the night. Thanks as always. Hope you enjoyed that. Ruthless from Novak. Utterly ruthless. A tough day for the Brits unfortunately. There aren’t any men from these isles left in the competition and so Katie Boulter must fly the flag solo.

Do keep an eye out for the report from Djokovovic’s demolition of Wawrinka. Depending on the length it might take you more time to get through than the second set.

G’night. Speak soon.

While we wait for the report on the Djokovic game, here are a couple of reads for you tennis owls:

Djokovic will face Hubert Hurkacz in the next round on Sunday.

Oh, just another record.

He got there with an overhead smash. A fitting way to close out the match after McEnroe on comms said that was the one part of Djokovic’s game that wasn’t perfect. He didn’t say it was a weakness, only that it wasn’t faultless like everything else. Seemed pretty good to me.

Novak Djokovic beats Stan Wawrinka in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, 7-6

That’s his 31st win in a row on Centre Court. He also gets a day off before his last 16 match. Ruthless, especially in the second set where he barely put a foot wrong. He was helped by Wawrinka’s poor service game that only sparked into life by the third set. By then it was too late and the winning machine churns on.

Oh no Stan. A tame effort plops into the net. Three straight points for Djokovic means he’s now serving with a match point.

All square at 5-5. This time it’s the backhand that’s too long from Wawrinka. Still has the serve.

Wawrinka misses his forehand. I thought he was gaining the upper hand in that exchange but he goes searching for one and over cooks an unforced error. He’s still serving at 5-4.

Wawrinka 5-3 up! Wow. What a turnaround. He’s in the zone now. The crowd are fully behind him. Marvellous.

3-3. Now then. Djokovic goes too long on a forehand. He’s trying to finish this off tonight. He doesn’t want to come back tomorrow and those two recent shots are perhaps a sign of his impatience.

20 minutes to go. Can Novak clean this up tonight or will Stan hold firm? A Djokovic backhanded drop shot doesn’t clear the net. Wawrinka to serve at 2-3.

Quiet please. Djokovic bounces the ball until the crowd settles. It takes a while after he eases to a 2-1 and then a 3-1 lead.

A wonder volley from Djokovic. Wawrinka slammed a backhand that looked destined to find open court. But a swift volley and a delicious touch gave Djokovic the point. A booming serve squares it at 1-1.

We go to a tiebreak. Wawrinka forces it thanks to grit and heart. And of course skill. These two have engaged in eight previous tiebreaks. Wawrinka has won just one.

Wawrinka roars to the crowd! That’s genuine fire from the old Swiss champion. He wins another gruelling rally. What fight he’s shown in this third set. Better first serve and forehand stroke play, but most importantly he’s shown belief.

Scratch all that. Second deuce.

Wawrinka looks spent. Or maybe that was just a tired looking shot into the net from a backhand. Djokovic then pulls out a miraculous return and Wawrinka over cooks another backhand. Deuce.

Wawrinka storms to 30-0 lead. Where was this serve earlier in the match, Stan?!

Djokovic inches closer. He takes the game and leads the set 6-5. Can Stan extend this? I don’t think he can win a tiebreaker but I’m sure he’ll take it there. His first serve has come good.

We’ve got 36 minutes of play left. Will we get a winner before they kick us out? Only if Djokovic wins this.

Credit to Wawrinka. This bolder approach is paying off on his own serve. He’s just bagged another love game to take this set to 5-5. “He’s found his game now,” says McEnroe. Is it too late though?

WOW! Djokovic laps up the applause after a sensational rally ends with a shot that stole the show. A couple of drop shots has both players engage at the net. Wawrinka then pulls out a lob but the most decorated male player of all time contorts his body and whips a winner past his opponent. He takes the game as well. Sublime.

Oh. I get it. Because we have to leave at 11. Hmmm. I still think Djokovic will win this set. He’s 30-15 up with things tied at 4-4.

“Wawrinka might not be able to win, but he might be able to not lose” Do you know what McEnroe meant by this? Because I’ve got no clue.

What did Wawrinka drink between sets? He’s almost unrecognisable from the player who capitulated in the second. That’s another service held and this one is locked at 4-4.

Marie Bouzkova [32] beats Caroline Garcia [5] 7-6, 4-6, 7-5

Something of an upset as a gruelling three set battle goes the way of the lower ranked player. It also went the way of the player with the better first serve.

Anything you can do, I can do better. Djokovic responds to a rising Wawrinka by slamming through to take a 4-3 lead.

3-3. Stan the man is finding his groove. A love game. Makes a huge difference when you land your first serve.

Bang! That’s another ace for Wawrinka. He’s got his first serve up to 45% and it’s no wonder he’s a much improved player in this third set. 40-0 up.

As this one’s hurtling to a close, have a read of Simon Cambers’ report as the world’s top player, Iga Swiatek, marched into the next round:

Another big rally win for Stan. That’s the second lengthy exchange that goes his way. He had Djokovic reaching – unsuccessfully – for one in the corner. But as I finished that sentence Novak holds his serve and takes the game. 3-2 up.

This is better. Wawrinka’s strategy to take on Djokovic’s stroke play is playing off. He’s definitely making a game of this. I guess he has to chase it now being two sets down. Still, commendable work.

Stan the Man! A clinical winner down the line secures the game. 2-2. That was tasty stuff from the Swiss.

Wawrinka holds his knee. Oh, it’s because he slipped after unfurling a meaty serve. He’s had surgery on that knee. He seems OK. Will keep on eye on it.

Djokovic keeps trucking. Better though from Wawrinka. He’s decided to meet Novak’s serve on the front foot and attack the ball. But class is class and the Serb has it in abundance. 2-1.

Wawrinka improves his first serve. In fact he lands three in a row and takes a 40-0 lead. Then a probing rally goes his way as he claims a love game. 1-1 in the third. The crowd appreciate that and cheer Stan’s name.

10 points in a row for Djokovic as he starts this third set on a tear. He then loses a point with a wayward forehand followed by a heavy touch that goes too deep. He makes the game safe with a screaming first serve that almost takes Wawrinka’s head off after kicking off a tricky length.

Murray wondering what might have been. He’s hurting, no doubt about it. He was so good last night. If the match continued last night he might have won it. Oh Andy. Please come back.

Tumaini Carayol reports:

Ruthless. Djokovic in imperious form. He blitzes through this second set in no time, taking it 6-1 without breaking a sweat. Too good. This highly anticipated match could be over very soon.

There’s another game on the go. To be honest, I’d completely forgotten. But good thing I’ve become aware as it’s a belter.

Caroline Garcia [5] is locked in a tussle with Marie Bouzkova [32]. They’re tied 4-4 in the third set.

An ace to clean it up. Djokovic lands an inch perfect serve to take the game. He leads the second set 5-1.

Oh Stan. A soft shot at the net hands Djokovic the initiative. Then Novak produces a worldie cross-court forehand. Seriously, how good is this guy? “The complete player” says McEnroe. Who am I to argue?

Wawrinka on the board. He endures. he holds on. He clings to the rock. He has a game under his belt in this second set. 1-4. A mountain still to climb.

Stan Wawrinka plays a forehand return. He’s just hanging on.
Stan Wawrinka plays a forehand return. He’s just hanging on. Photograph: Hugo Philpott/UPI/Shutterstock

We go to deuce. Sloppy from Wawrinka, he set the open court up for himself with some handy baseline work, moving Djokovic left and then right. With the forehand winner on he sent it too long.

Wawrinka misses another first serve! You don’t beat Novak Djokovic with a 38% hit rate. He does show some fight and claims a victory from a slightly prolonged rally and then goes 30-0 ahead.

Seriously, how do you beat this guy? He goes 40-15 up with a serve down the middle that produces a puff of smoke from the line. He quickly wins the next point to take a 4-0 lead in the second set after just 19 minutes.

Djokovic is disappearing over the hill. He’s 3-0 after breaking Wawrinka again. It’s wrapped up with a long rally that goes to the Serb. I don’t think Stan has won a single rally that’s gone beyond four shots each.

CTL-C. Wawrinka misses another first serve. He gets away with it and levels the game at 30-30 thanks to an error from Djokovic.

“it’s like a highlight reel” McEnroe is having as good a game as Djokovic. The Serb chases down a lost cause, stretches out his right leg then his right arm and whips a cross-court forehand winner from what felt like a different area code. He proceeds to breeze through his service game. 2-0 up in the second set and with the scent of blood in his nostrils.

Djokovic breaks in the second set. Wawrinka has landed 1/11 first serves. Against the “best return player in history,” as McEnroe says, that’s not going to fly. Djokovic taking firm control of this.

Novak breaks again.
Novak breaks again. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters

Wawrinka takes it to deuce but again misses his first serve. He’s at 38% with it. His backhand isn’t faring much better. Another one goes awry and it’s break point.

Wawrinka misses another cross-court backhand. He’s facing a break point in the first game of this second set.

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