Sinner and Djokovic Storm into Wimbledon Last 16

Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic appear to be in top form, setting the stage for a potential generational clash in the Wimbledon semi-finals. The Italian and Serbian players dispatched Pedro Martínez (6-1, 6-3, 6-1) and Miomir Kecmanovic (6-3, 6-0, 6-4) respectively, securing their spots in the last 16 and moving just two wins away from a historic encounter at the Cathedral of Tennis.

Sinner, who has reached the last 16 for four consecutive years, has only lost 17 games en route to this stage, breaking the record previously held by Roger Federer, who lost 19 games in 2004 when he claimed his second title at the All England Club.

The Italian overcame a commendable Pedro Martínez, who not only faced Sinner's exceptional level but also struggled with shoulder issues that hampered his serving.

"I have a lot of respect for him because it's not easy to compete under such conditions, and he went out there and did it," Sinner stated in his post-match comments, which see him become the third man in the last 16 without dropping a set, alongside Flavio Cobolli and Ben Shelton.

The San Candido native will face Grigor Dimitrov in the next round, a former semi-finalist here, who seems to have overcome the physical problems that plagued him throughout the year.

Djokovic, despite dropping a set in his opener against Alexandre Muller, has significantly raised his level in the last two rounds. Against his compatriot Kecmanovic, he achieved his 100th match win at Wimbledon, a tournament he has won six times. Only Roger Federer, with 105 victories, and Martina Navratilova, with 120, surpass the Serbian's record, who hasn't lost to a fellow countryman in the last fifteen years.

Now, the Belgrade native faces his first real test, Alex de Minaur, always a dangerous opponent eager for revenge after last year's incident, where he injured himself on the final point of his last 16 match and couldn't compete in the quarter-finals against Djokovic.

In addition to Martínez's defeat, Spain is left with only Carlos Alcaraz in the men's draw after Jaume Munar, in his first third round of his career, was overcome by a rejuvenated Marin Cilic (6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4). The Croatian, who not long ago was playing Challengers and outside the top 100, has reached the last 16 at Wimbledon for the first time since losing the final in 2017 to Federer.

He hadn't played this tournament since 2021 and has already won more matches here this year than in his last three appearances combined. His next opponent will be Italian Flavio Cobolli, one of the standout performers in the first week of the tournament.