London, July 1 (AFP\/APP):Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz closed in on a Wimbledon generational clash on Friday as the women’s draw was left with just four top-10 seeds standing.<\/p>\n
Three-time defending champion Djokovic demolished Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round to stay on course to equal Pete Sampras as a seven-time champion, one behind Roger Federer’s men’s record.<\/p>\n
Friday’s win was the 330th of Djokovic’s Grand Slam career.
\n“So far, so good,” said the 35-year-old top seed.<\/p>\n
“I expect high standards from myself. You always want to raise the level and things are shaping up well.”<\/p>\n
Djokovic has now won 22 successive matches on grass and is in the last 16 at Wimbledon for the 14th time.<\/p>\n
He has not lost a grass-court match since falling to Marin Cilic in the final at Queen’s four years ago.<\/p>\n
“I started very well, very strong with a lot of intensity and focus,” added Djokovic, whose only blip was being broken when he served for the match at 5-2 in the third set.<\/p>\n
In the last 16, he will face Dutch wild card Tim van Rijthoven.<\/p>\n
Playing in his debut Grand Slam main draw, the world number 104 defeated 22nd seed Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Van Rijthoven proved his prowess on grass by winning the ‘s-Hertogenbosch title last month, defeating world number one Daniil Medvedev in the final.<\/p>\n
“Before the tournament started, it was a dream for me to play Djokovic,” said Van Rijthoven, only the seventh man since 2000 to reach the round of 16 on his Grand Slam debut.<\/p>\n
“So to be able to have that chance and to maybe even play on Centre Court or Court 1 is beautiful and magical.”<\/p>\n
After needing four sets to get past Kwon Soon-woo in the first round, Djokovic has dropped just 14 games since.<\/p>\n
If he beats Van Rijthoven, he could meet Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
\nThe 19-year-old Spaniard swept past Germany’s Oscar Otte 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 to make the fourth round for the first time.<\/p>\n
Alcaraz, who hit 37 winners in total, goes on to face Italian 10th seed Jannik Sinner, who put out John Isner in straight sets.<\/p>\n
The only consolation for Isner was passing Ivo Karlovic as the sport’s greatest hitter of aces, taking his career total to 13,748.<\/p>\n
British ninth seed Cameron Norrie also qualified for the last 16 with a thumping 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 win over Steve Johnson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London, July 1 (AFP\/APP):Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz closed in on a Wimbledon generational clash on Friday as the women’s draw was left with just four top-10 seeds standing. Three-time defending champion Djokovic demolished Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round […]<\/p>\n
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