Naomi Osaka began her Wimbledon week wearing a kimono-style walk-on outfit inspired by her favourite character from the Quentin Tarantino movie 'Kill Bill' and ended it by taking out top seed Aryna Sabalenka in brutal fashion. The Japanese 14th seed produced the kind of tennis that took her to four Grand Slam titles as she blazed to a 6-2 7-6(2) win to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, with Sabalenka's demise adding to the carnage in the women's draw.
Top three seeds eliminated
Osaka's victory, following third-round defeats for defending champion Iga Swiatek and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina, means the top three seeds are all out. With Barbora Krejcikova losing to fellow Czech Karolina Muchova in the fourth round on Sunday, a ninth successive first-time Wimbledon winner is guaranteed.
Djokovic advances despite struggles
Novak Djokovic continued his challenge for a men's record-equalling eighth title although the 39-year-old said he did not enjoy his scrappy 7-6(6) 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin even though it earned him yet another milestone. "To be honest, I haven't felt really great on the court, so I was relieved to get out of it and get a win," Djokovic said after moving past Swiss great Roger Federer with a men's record 106th Wimbledon match win. "Satisfaction and enjoyment weren't part of today's win."
Djokovic eyes Sinner showdown
It may have been ugly, but the ageless Djokovic is through to his 17th Wimbledon quarter-final and one step away from a possible semi-final showdown with defending champion and top seed Jannik Sinner who comfortably saw off Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki 6-3 7-6(0) 6-3. For that to happen Djokovic will have to beat Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who outlasted Spain's last survivor Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-7(4) 7-6(6) 6-3 6-7(2) 6-1 -- a four-hour 26 minute battle that ended with an angry exchange of words between the players at the net.
Sinner faces veteran Struff
Sinner has yet to face a seed so far and he will not do so in the quarter-finals where he will play veteran Jan-Lennard Struff. The German reached the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time, at the 47th attempt. The 36-year-old Struff, ranked 74, had battled back from two sets down against Hubert Hurkacz when the distraught Pole quit with a left hip injury.
