Two-time champion Rafael Nadal eased into the Wimbledon last 16 for the ninth time, and 45th time overall, on Saturday with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tsonga, 34, who made the Wimbledon semifinals in 2011 and 2012, is now ranked at 72 in the world after undergoing knee surgery last year. French Open champion Nadal is chasing a 19th title at the Majors having recently captured a 12th Roland Garros crown.
Victory on Saturday was achieved in just 1 hour and 48 minutes and was a much less raucous affair than his bad-tempered second round duel with Nick Kyrgios.
Nishikori on course
Kei Nishikori equalled Ai Sugiyama’s record of four appearances in the last 16 by a Japanese player as he dismissed American journeyman Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
In a rare occurence, the third round tie between Mikhail Kukushkin and Jan-Lennard Struff was suspended foe some time when a fan fell ill and needed “medical assistance,” a tournament official said
In other match-ups, American Sam Querrey overcame John Millman of Australia 7-6(3), 7-6(8), 6-3 and Tennys Sandgren ousted 12th seed Fabio Fognini of Italy with the American winning 6-3, 7-6(12), 6-3.
Earlier, in the women’s section, World No.1 Ashleigh Barty booked her maiden place in the fourth round while Serena Williams made the second week for the 16th time.
Barty overwhelmed British wild card Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-1 while the 37-year-old, seven-time champion Serena produced her most convincing display in dispensing with German Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-4.
Barty, bidding to become the first Australian Wimbledon women’s champion since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won her second title in 1980, will play unseeded American Alison Riske for a place in the last eight.
She is also the first Australian woman to make the second week since 2010.
“That was really good,” said Barty.
“I served really well and getting out of the love 40 game was massive. Incredible it is a first for me (to be in the last 16), new territory for me.”
Serena goes on to face Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro for a place in the quarterfinals. The 1th seed, who defeated Goerges in last year’s semifinals, is bidding to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles.
“It’s been an arduous year for me, so every match I’m hoping to improve tons,” said Williams, who had a knee problem which affected her season.
“Every time I get out there, I try. I’m getting a really late start but all that matters is that I’m still here.”
Two-time champion Petra Kvitova reached the last 16 for the first time in five years — the last time she did in 2014 she won her second title.
Czech sixth seed Kvitova defeated Poland’s Magda Linette 6-3, 6-2 and will face Johanna Konta for a place in the quarterfinals. Konta, seeded 19th, upset the ninth seed Sloane Stephens of USA 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
