Jannik Sinner mowed down qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki 6-3, 7-6 (0), 6-3 on Sunday to book the Wimbledon quarter-finals for a fifth consecutive year and solidify his title defence.

The top seed, who has had troubles with summer heat, played in the relative cool of the evening against a Japanese opponent who won the junior tournament here in 0219.

Sinner won the opening set and endured a second-set pause while the roof was closed before sweeping the tiebreak ending to love to take a tight grip on the contest.

The Italian began the third set with a break and landed a winner to the corner on match point, 

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I handled some situations better than him,” the seed said. “He was coming from qualifying and should be proud of paying at such a high level for a long time.

“It was a very tricky match, his game suite the grass very well. I tried to stay aggressive, I’m happy with the performance today.

“I’m trying to step it up each day and play a bit better.”

Novak Djokovic continued to roll back the years on Sunday, with the 39-year-old setting another Wimbledon record with his 7-6 (6). 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 defeat of Roman Safiullin sending him into another quarter-final.

But the icon admitted that he did not feel on his game despite earning the win.

“To be honest, I haven’t felt really great on the court, so I was just relieved to get out of it and get a win.

“Satisfaction and enjoyment was not part of today’s win. Of course, I’m relieved and happy to win it, but I haven’t enjoyed.

“Hopefully the next match will be better in that sense.”

The seven-time champion at the All England Club moved into command as the player with the most victories at the event as he won the 106th of his career after more than two decades on court here..

Djokovic now stands three more victories from additional history as he chases an unprecedented 25th singles title at the majors.

He is now into his 17th Wimbledon quarter- final – 9th in succession – and his 66th appearance in the last eight of the Slams.

The seventh seed finished off victory after nearly three and a half hours with a reflex touch volley at the net on the first of three match points.

“It was another hard-fought win,” Djokovic said. “He started very well, very aggressive. I didn’t feel comfortable from the back of the court. It was a challenge to stay in the rallies.

“This was one of those days where I didn’t want the points to last for too long. I mixed things up with some serve-and-volley. My first serve got me out of trouble in the fourth set.”

Djokovic battled back from 5-2 down in the opening set against the 132nd-ranked qualifier., saving two set points before claiming the opener in a tiebreaker on his third opportunity.

He picked up pace in a clean second set but went down a break early in the third set to lose it before making a concluding recovery in the fourth..

“Game-wise, I didn’t enjoy my tennis. It’s also due to him putting a lot of
pressure on me, playing well,” Djokovic said.

“I kind of struggled to find the desired level in the game. But a win is a win, even if you win ugly. Hopefully I can build from this.”

Djokovic will meet in the quarter-finals against Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who booked his spot in the last eight over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-1.

Germany’s Jan Lennard Struff also advanced as Hubert Hurkacz retired in their fifth set to hand over a 3-6, 6-7 (5), 7-6 92), 7-4, 4-2 result after four and a half hours to send the Struff into a match against Sinner.

At age 36, Struff is the oldest man to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in the Open era.

Second seed Alexander Zverev joined celebrated German compatriots Boris Becker and MIchael Stich in the record books as the second seed advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon on Saturday.

Zverev’s 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-4 defeat of Marcos Giron thrusts the 29-year-old into the trio of overachievers who have reached the second week here on four or more occasions.

The June French Open titleholder needed just 90 minutes to polish off the opening stwo sets against his American opposition  

He had to work harder in the third, breaking in the final game to advance on his first match point during his 10th Wimbledon appearance.

“He plays well on grass so I had to be100 percent ready on the first point,” the winner said. “I’m happy to be through in straight sets.

“I’m lying on my serve in the most important moments, especially on the grass. I want to keep going and play a lot more great matches out here.”

Zverev next gets Jiri Lehecka, who beat Jaume Munar of Spain 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

The German is into his 25th round of 16 at a major and has won 13 of his last 14 matches.

Fifth seed Alex de MInaur kept his nearly-clean slate with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Zach Svajda.

The Australian has advanced to the second week here for a third straight time while losing just one set along the way. The third set was littered with six service breaks in eight games.

“I thought it was a high-quality match,” the winner said. “Zach is an immensely talented player, and made my life very, very difficult.

“I’m happy that I was able to stay strong mentally and keep my level throughout the third and fourth sets.

“That was key to the win today.” 

De Minaur will play his 15th fourth-round match at a Grand Slam after achieving his 27th win of the season.

Ninth-seeded Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli needed four hours to defeat Karen Khachanov, with the Italian posting a 0-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2 result.

Arthur Fery hurrying on through a late-match nosebleed to salvage British pride with a four-and-a quarter-hour win over Belgian Zizou Bergs 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-8).

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev beat Marcus Giron in third round – by Roger Parker/ISF Ltd

Grand Slam champions Novak Djokovc and Jannik Sinner wrapped up third-rond wns at exactly the same moment on Friday as the elite pair advanced under pressure into the second week at Wimbledon.

Defending champion Sinner held off American Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 while seven-time All England Club winner Djokovic won his 105th match at the event with a 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) defeat of Arthur Rinderknech, last Frenchman in the field..

The 39-year-old Djokovic completed his win as Rinderknech hit the grass with a diving volley which the Serb calmly tapped into the open court after three and a quarter hours.

Rinderknech fired 67 winners to 40 for Djokovic, who came within two points in the 18-minute third of losing a set to love on grass for the first time in his career.

But the survivor with 24 Grand Slam titles recovered form in the fourth set, winning it in a tiebreaker to reach the fourth round here for the 18th time.

 “It was a close and tiring match, I was happy to win the tiebreaker,” Djokovic said. “Sometimes you have to find a way to win and I’m happy I did that today.

“There was a lot of slipping and sliding, drop shots, cat and mouse play.

“This has always been a dream tournament of mine, but I’m not thinking about records – I’m just trying to win the match on a given day.”

Djokovc admitted he felt the pressure. “I was stressed out with more tension than usual. It was a challenging match for me.”

Sinner’s win was slightly less dramatic as the world No. 1 earned a straight-sets success on a third match point against No. 81 Brooksby.

“For sure I’m happy with the win,” Sinner said. “I’m trying to improve every day and there are some small things to work on.

“I need to get better if I want to go far here. This surface is very unpredictable… one thing goes slightly wrong and it is tough to win.

“I hope to try to be the best that I can in a couple of days (fourth round).”

Two-time semi-finalist Daniil Medvedev, the eighth seed, was ambushed by Jan Leonard Struff 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 7-5.

Medved held an 8-1 lead in their series, with his only defeat to the German coming five years ago on grass in Halle.

Roman Safiullin, a 132nd-ranked qualifier who once cracked the top 40, ended the dream of Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 defeat which no pits him against Djokovic. 

The win in just over two hour was a relief for the winner, whose previous two matches were only decided by fifth set 10-point tiebreakers.

The enormity of the occasion got the best of Safiullin, who had to pause his post-match interview to brush away tears.

“After the US Open I had to stop to treat my injury. That time was super tough,” he said. “Even half a year ago I didn’t know if I’d be able to be back. I didn’t know. I’m super happy to be back here.”

The 19-year-old Fonseca said he missed out on his chances in a “tough match.”

“He was putting a lot of pressure, he’s a guy that likes to control the point. 

“I didn’t play bad. Of course I had some opportunities to let him think a little bit

more and let him play more points. I tried to do my best.

“It was a great run here again I think I’m improving on grass and that motivates me to keep going.”

Another teen hopeful, Spaniard Rafael Jodar, was ousted 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4 by Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki.