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Novak Djokovic breezed through to the second week after a scintillating Centre Court dismissal of Jeremy Chardy in 86 minutes.
The 26-year-old Serbian world No 1 demolished his French opponent 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 with a masterful serving display, ruthlessly taking apart what miniscule resistance Chardy had to offer.
Djokovic lost just a single point on his serve in each of the first two sets, a jaw-dropping statistic which illustrates how close that part of his game was to perfection. His returning was magnificent, his movement impeccable and his winners brutal.
Ominous: Novak Djokovic cruised into the second week of Wimbledon with a thumping win over Jeremy Chardy
‘I had a fantastic match,’ said Djokovic, 26, seeking a seventh Grand Slam singles title and a second at Wimbledon, where he also won in 2011.
‘I felt great from start to finish. I had that super-focus on every point and I didn’t want to let him win anything.
‘I enjoyed it immensely. I managed to read his serve. I felt great, full of confidence and this couldn’t have come at a better time for me.’
Asked if he felt sorry for Chardy as he took him apart, Djokovic said: ‘You don’t feel sorry for an opponent. I wanted to finish the match as quickly as possible. I expect tough challenges ahead.’
‘I felt great from start to finish. I had that super-focus on every point and I didn’t want to let him win anything.
‘I enjoyed it immensely. I managed to read his serve. I felt great, full of confidence and this couldn’t have come at a better time for me.’
Asked if he felt sorry for Chardy as he took him apart, Djokovic said: ‘You don’t feel sorry for an opponent. I wanted to finish the match as quickly as possible. I expect tough challenges ahead.’
Stunning: Djokovic hit just three unforced errors in a scintillating performance on Centre Court
Ominous: The Serb's march through the draw continued and next up is a fourth-round tie against Tommy Haas
Djokovic’s reward for his pasting of Chardy is a fourth-round meeting with the German veteran Tommy Haas, who, at 35, is having a late career flourish that has seen him rise to world No 13.
Djokovic will be the overwhelming favourite, although there are tiny glimmers of hope for Haas from the pair’s head-to-head record. They have met on eight previous occasions, with Djokovic winning five and Haas three, but that included their only two meetings on grass, both in 2009. The first was in the pre-Wimbledon event at Halle, the second on the lawns here at the All England Club.
Haas also beat Djokovic this year in the Masters event in Miami before Djokovic beat him in the quarter-finals at the French Open.
‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ said Haas last night, after his own third-round win over Feliciano Lopez of Spain.
Djokovic will be the overwhelming favourite, although there are tiny glimmers of hope for Haas from the pair’s head-to-head record. They have met on eight previous occasions, with Djokovic winning five and Haas three, but that included their only two meetings on grass, both in 2009. The first was in the pre-Wimbledon event at Halle, the second on the lawns here at the All England Club.
Haas also beat Djokovic this year in the Masters event in Miami before Djokovic beat him in the quarter-finals at the French Open.
‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ said Haas last night, after his own third-round win over Feliciano Lopez of Spain.
Out of his depth: Frenchman Chardy was completely outclassed on his was to a straight sets drubbing
Asked about the prospects of an upset he added: ‘We’ve seen some already that we’re not used to seeing. That’s tennis. That’s sport. It might be nice for some fans to see some different faces [in the latter stages].’
Djokovic added: ‘It’s going to be a tough challenge for both of us. He likes grass as a surface. He’s 35 but playing close to the best tennis of his life. I don’t think there’s a clear favourite [but] if I play like today I have a great chance.’
Djokovic’s victory was his 50th career win on grass and only five other active players have more: Roger Federer (122), Lleyton Hewitt (116), Andy Murray (69), Haas (52) and Mikhail Youzhny (52). Djokovic is also the only former Wimbledon champion remaining in the event.
Djokovic added: ‘It’s going to be a tough challenge for both of us. He likes grass as a surface. He’s 35 but playing close to the best tennis of his life. I don’t think there’s a clear favourite [but] if I play like today I have a great chance.’
Djokovic’s victory was his 50th career win on grass and only five other active players have more: Roger Federer (122), Lleyton Hewitt (116), Andy Murray (69), Haas (52) and Mikhail Youzhny (52). Djokovic is also the only former Wimbledon champion remaining in the event.
Change of scene: Ukrainian former footballer Andriy Shevchenko was on Centre Court
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