World number two Novak Djokovic and home-town hope Andy Murray raced into the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon by registering straight set victory at the Center Court of the All England Club on Monday.
Djokovic defeated Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(5) to book last-eight clash with Marin Cilic of Croatia. The Serbian, who suffered a heavy fall in the third round encounter, showed no shoulder concerns and extended his win-loss record to 13-5 against Tsonga.
The former champion won 71 per cent point on the first serve and broke Tsonga's serve twice. He racked up 14 aces and clinched the encounter in one hour and 51 minutes to book his 21st consecutive major quarterfinals appearance.
"(Tsonga's) a top player and he loves the big stage," Djokovic said. "So to be able to win against him in straight sets on the surface that I feel suits him the most is a great result. I was very happy with [my] consistency today, mental consistency, and variety in my game."
"I played very well from back of the court," he added. All in all, it was a very good match, and hopefully I can continue keeping the same level."
Meanwhile, defending champion Murray advanced to the last-eight, beating Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6). The reigning champion will face Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in a bid to book semifinals berth at The Championships.
The two-time Grand Slam winner was in total control initially in the match, but after the rain-interruption and under closed roof of the Center Court, the third-seed wobbled and handed Anderson a break and survived a set point.
"When it was outdoors, I played well and was in a good position," Murray said. "When we came back indoors, he started to strike the ball better, he was serving better and I was dropping the ball shorter than I had done. I had more running to do at the end and I got a bit tentative. It was a good win for me; he made it tough."
Anderson played much better in the third set and found confidence after the rain-delay to push the former champion to the limit but he failed to win the set in the tiebreaker.
"I definitely felt I played better in the second half of the match after the rain delay," said Anderson. "It was the first time I played Andy on grass, and it is definitely difficult playing him. I feel my biggest strengths he definitely neutralises a lot better than most people who I play."
In women's fourth round match, Canadian Eugenie Bouchard defeated Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 7-6(5), 7-5 to reach her third successive Grand Slam quarterfinals. Bouchard will next face either Maria Sharapova or Angelique Kerber in the last-eight.
"I'm really excited to win and proud of the way I fought out there," Bouchard said. "She's a really good player and got back a lot of balls. I finally got to play under the very famous roof. It was tough and very humid - but it was the same for both of us."
