Novak Djokovic (Jokko-Vitch) is something of a jester. The fourth seed's abashed karaoke performances on YouTube illustrates a readiness to offer himself as an off-court laughing stock but it belies a seriousness about his game that may this year, earn him his first Grand Slam shot. Yesterday, the young Serb knocked out Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5). The 16th seed saw little to belly laugh about in that four-set run.
Hewitt had beaten Djokovic in three sets in their only previous meeting, the US Open last year, and had reason to believe their meeting on the grass could bring a smile to his face. But the 20-year-old has been a coming player and ranked at five, went into the match less of the celebrity but more a likely winner. He can now pencil his name into the history books as the first male representing Serbia to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. There were other players from the former Yugoslavia.
It took Djokovic four sets to see off the 2002 champion in a match that hinged on tie-breaks for three of the sets. As Hewitt said afterwards, Djokovic played with a confidence that allowed him to play with less restraint when the sets were swinging on narrow margins.
"To his credit he went for his shots a little more when I served for the fourth set," said Hewitt. "Up till then he was beginning to get a little tighter and missing some balls that he hadn't missed, especially in the first two and a half sets. I had my opportunity and I didn't take it."
While Hewitt subsequently backed the 10th seed, Marcos Baghdatis, to beat Djokovic in the quarter-finals, he was taken by certain aspects of his game, particularly the troubling serve. But the Serb is more than a one-trick pony. His fetching and defensive play was again eye-catching and his natural athleticism set a standard.
"This win means a lot to me. It's probably the most valuable win I ever had on this surface," he said, having played in shoes that had appeared to have little grip and having had to call the trainer to treat his back.
Cypriot Baghdatis also followed on against seventh seed, Tomas Berdych as did the tortured Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard, having had wretched luck all week, must have felt the sun was metaphorically shining, after he trailed by two sets before watching his opponent, Mikhail Youzhny, lying on the ground receiving medical attention to his back.
Given Nadal's schedule of having had to turn up every day since last Saturday, his world lit up. From 4-6, 3-6 down, he came back to win 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. But the king of clay had no intention of downplaying all of his good work when the back injury was mentioned. "I can say nothing because I did not speak to him afterwards," said Nadal. "I'm sorry for him if he has any problem. I play good game and don't know it affected him, the back problem."
Roger Federer was shaken from his prolonged rest since last Friday and put on Centre Court against Juan Carlos Ferrero in a quarter-final match. You guessed. The covers were pulled at 5-5 in the first set with the champion showing some signs of ring rust.
Federer went up an early service break against the former French Open champion but quickly handed it back. The boot is now on the other foot. Nadal rests, Federer sweats.