Novak Djokovic sets up Wimbledon quarter-final with Tomas Berdych
Three-time Wimbledon champion wins delayed fourth-round match in straight sets
Tuesday 11 July 2017 17:33, UK
Novak Djokovic remained on course for his fourth Wimbledon title after dispatching Adrian Mannarino under the Centre Court roof on Tuesday after an overnight delay.
The fourth-round match was due to be played on Court One on Monday, but Gilles Muller's marathon five-set victory over Rafael Nadal concluded late making it impossible for the match to be completed before dark.
Light rain at the All England Club caused a delay to the start of matches on outside courts but the Serb's contest started on time at noon thanks to the roof, which was closed for the first time this year, and he won through 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
"I just think it was a wrong decision not to play us last night, because we could have played," Djokovic said. "I think the last match on the Centre Court was done before 7pm. Having in mind that Centre Court has the roof and lights, we could have played till 11pm.
"We went to the referee's office before eight. (We were told) there were security reasons (for not moving the match). That was the only excuse... that we were getting."
The second seed made a blistering start, despite summoning the doctor after just three games, winning it 6-2 in just over half an hour against the Frenchman.
World No 51 Mannarino came into the tournament in decent form having lost in the final of the Antalya Open and he shrugged off a troublesome hip problem by breaking back in the eighth game of the second set to send the set into a tiebreak.
But Mannarino lost an early 4-2 advantage when he tightened up to allow the 12-time Grand Slam champion to seal it 7-6 (7-5).
Djokovic broke early in the third but the required treatment for a right shoulder problem after the fifth game and a medical timeout at 4-3 to treat the same problem.
And although he looked uncomfortable in the latter stages, he did enough to reach his 39th Grand Slam quarter-final in two hours and 13 minutes.
Djokovic added: "It was frustrating last night. But I quickly just turned the next page and just focused on what I need to do today. I've done it in straight sets. That's all that matters."
He will next take on Tomas Berdych on Wednesday and the Serb will go into the match as firm favourite to reach his eighth Wimbledon semi-final after boasting an impressive 25-2 career record over the 2010 Wimbledon runner-up.
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