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.

Naomi Osaka credited Japanese food prepared by her mother with helping her to her first career victory on the Centre Court of Wimbledon, a 6-2, 7-6 (2) upset of top seed Aryna Sabaenka on Sunday.

“Home cooking is powering me here,” the four-time Grand Slam winner on hardcourt said after reaching the London quarter-finals for the first time

“My mom is here and cooking Japanese food: Could I please have some more tonight?,” she queried to her parent in the player box.

“It’s been a long time since I had so much fun on a tennis court. To do it here really means a lot.”

Sabalenka took a rare defeat to the Japanese player, a former world No. 1, after defeating her  three times already this season. 

The tiebreak loss for the top seed was her first here since her 2017 debut. 

“I didn’t play my best, and she played probably her best, sometimes that happens,” Sabalenka said.

“You can do everything you can and still lose the match. Obviously I’m not really happy

“Well done for Naomi. Wishing her the best. With every game  I would feel worse, she would feel better. She would just go for her shots freely. I wouldn’t.”

The tournament is now without the top three women’s seeds, with exits already from No. 2 Elena Rybakina and defending champion Iga Swiatek, seeded third.

The showing is the best for Osaka in six Wimbledon appearances.

Fourth seed Jessica Pegula showed she’s the picture of consistency – and now a contender – as the American earned a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 comeback win over Iva Jovic.

The 32-year-old has reached the quarter-finals 10 times at the Grand Slams dating to 2021 and is now being tipped as a title contender after the exit of holder Iga Swiatek on Saturday.

Pegula was helped by a serving collapse from Jovic, who from 1-1 in the second set was broken five times on the way to the loss .

The winner improved to 7-1 on grass this season as she prepares for her second Wimbledon quarter-final appearance..

“You are always are trying to learn and push yourself,” she said in victory.

“I think I do a good job of keeping my emotions in check, and trying to not waste too much energy on being overly negative or even overly positive.”

Pegula revealed that in seven Wimbledon appearances, she has never played a match on Centre Court.

“It would be really cool, an honour, obviously. If I get there, it will be even better. If I’ve earned my spot: making a semi, knowing I can get there, that would
be awesome. 

“(Playing on Centre) you really get the true Wimbledon experience. You really get the feeling that you’re playing Wimbledon.”

Karolina Muchova outlasted 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova7-5, 5-7, 6-3, in an all-Czech fourth-round showdown.

Krejcikova won the last five games of the second set to square the match and broke her compatriot as Muchova served for victory the first time after gaining a 4-1 lead.

The winner – who eliminated the last Wimbledon winner remainingin the women’s draw – duplicated her quarter-finals here from 2019 and 2021.

“It was a very tough battle out there today,” the winner said. “Happy I managed to still produce a quality game in the third set after the second (where I had a big
lead.)”

Muchova said that even with a swoon in the second set  “I still felt good. I knew that.

“She started to hit really freely when I was 5-2 up. She played some good points. She just really went for it; she deserved the second set.”

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