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View this email in your browser. WIMBLEDON 4TH ROUND - RESULTS 🎾 Featured Matches:



Federer d Mannarino 6-0, 7-5, 6-4



After an abysmal first set from Mannarino where Federer wrapped up the bagel in just 16(!) minutes, the Frenchman dug in and gave Federer a mild test in the final 2 sets. Roger faced his first break points of the tournament, but saved all 4 with a mixture of impressive serving and poor shot selection from Mannarino. Fed's 1st serve was as lethal as ever, winning 90% (46/51) points, but his 2nd serve came under more scrutiny today than his previous matches, only winning 52%. He looked irritable in the 3rd set, although that's likely down to facing Mannarino's late surge of line-licking, no-spin, groundstrokes. Federer only as good as he had to be, against a tricky opponent.



Nadal d Vesely 6-3, 6-3, 6-4



Solid win for Nadal, who makes it into his first Wimbledon quarterfinal since 2011. Rafa had a solid day on serve and will be particularly happy with his 9 aces and some good pace, reaching 125mph on numerous occasions on the 1st serve. Nadal continued his impressive volleying performance, winning 12/13 points at the net, overtaking Federer for the highest net-points-won % at the tournament so far (83%). Similar to his match vs De Minaur, the biggest factors in this match were Rafa's return of serve, in which he notched a very impressive 43% of return points won, and his 2nd serve points won (74% 😳). Finishing with 37 winners to 12 unforced errors, Nadal will be very happy to have made it to the quarterfinals without dropping a set.



Djokovic d Khachanov 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 💥



Ruthless display from Djokovic. Novak matches up so well vs Khachanov, who hits with good pace but not flat enough, or with enough variation, to trouble the Serb. Novak still looks like he has at least another gear or so to move through but will be pleased with his super-human defence and some brilliant returning. Djokovic finished with solid serving stats (70%+ for both 1st serve in and 1st serve points won) as well as an amazing 51% of receiving points won. Great signs for Novak.



Also:

(‼️ = upset)

(🤕 = injury)

(💥 = demolition)



Anderson d Monfils: 7-6(4),7-6(2), 5-7, 7-6(4)

Big win for Anderson against a Monfils who had been playing good tennis. Kando finished with 20 aces and was mostly unbreakable on serve.



Nishikori d Gulbis: 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(10), 6-1 🤕+🤕

Both players struggling with injures. Glass-man Nishikori treated for a right elbow injury and Gulbis injuring his knee. Decent from Kei but concerning fitness-wise for his next match.



Isner d Tsitsipas: 6-4, 7-6(8), 7-4(4)

Efficient win for Isner against an inspired Tsitsipas. Big John was impeccable on serve with 77% 1st serves in and 88% 1st serve points won. Only faced one break point, saved it.



Raonic d McDonald: 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2

Milos was impenetrable on serve, facing no break points and winning 90% of his 1st serve points. Good fight from McDonald.



To be finished tomorrow:



Del Potro leading Simon: 7-6(1), 7-6(5), 5-7 INTERVIEW/PRESS TL;DR 🗣 Federer after beating Mannarino:



- "I'm more concerned whether the Wimbledon final will cause problems to the World Cup final than viceversa! People cheering every point in Russia... it may be distracting."

Source



- "I think it's a tough matchup for [Mannarino] against me, but a 16-minute 6-0 should not happen. Probably the last 6-0 I'll have this week, so I enjoyed this one."

Source



(Matt): Context = Federer won the 1st set today 6-0, in just 16 minutes for the loss of only 5 points, in which Mannarino looked about as competitive as a Russian election. Thankfully he put up more of a fight in sets 2 & 3.



On the court conditions:



- "The first two matches the courts were firms and balls are bouncing more. But I feel the second week is different. There have been times I couldn't break, 09 final vs Roddick, the 12 Olympics vs Del Potro."

Source

Rafa after beating Vesely: - "It's important for me to be in the quarters, but I've done better before, no?"

Source



- "I try to be honest with myself, in past years I had good opponents here, who played well and deserved to win, but I also didn't play at my best."

Source



- "I personally I see that the favourite players on grass are still here, Roger, Isner, Raonic, del Potro, Djokovic, big servers, I don't see many clay court players."

Source

Novak post-win:



- "Very pleased with my performance."

- "I managed to get a lot of 1st serves back in play."

- "Very windy and very dark at the end."

- "No injures, everything is fine."

(BBC Interview)

Tsitsipas:



- "One of my objectives for the year was to get to 4th Rd of a Slam, and I did it here, one of my favourite Slams. It happened so fast it was difficult to realize it. After my win vs Fabbiano I got emotional realizing I had achieved this objective."

Source



- "When you watch Federer it's the best thing on TV. This year I watched 2-3 times his match vs Sampras, he was close to my age, I got inspired. His game is so great for grass."

Source

Mannarino after losing to Federer:



- "I didn't get used to his game, he was too good, The things is that he started very well. Last time we played I won the first set. He makes you work very hard on every ball, from the first one."

Source SHOTS OF THE DAY 😮 That makes 2 tweeners in 2 matches from Rafa. Gets good power on this one but Vesely has an easy put away.

(BBC) BANANA from Federer.

(BBC) HUGE backhand from Mannarino (slow-mo in 'EXTRAS' section).

(BBC) Incredible backhand over highest part of the net from Nishikori.

(BBC) Great exchange between Novak and Karen.

(BBC) Stefanos "I like to dive more than Neymar" Tsitsipas.

(BBC) Another angle.

(BBC) EXTRAS...🔍🎤📊 Net points won before the 4th Round today:



Federer: 53/63 84%

Nadal: 54/66 82%

Djokovic: 45/65 69%



Most interesting is the fact that Nadal had played and won more net points than Federer so far. Rafa clearly making an effort to be more aggressive this year.



Federer won his first set today vs Mannarino in just 16 minutes, 6-0. Bizarrely, he also faced his first break point of the tournament in the 5th game. He has also held 81 consecutive service games.

After beating McDonald today, Raonic has now made the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 4 out of the last 5 years.

Federer has never lost a match after winning the first set 6-0.

After beating Gulbis today, Nishikori has made it to at least the QF's in each of the 4 slams.

Nadal has made the Wimbledon quarter finals for the first time since 2011. His record from quarter-finals onwards at Wimbledon is:



2006: FINAL

2007: FINAL

2008: TITLE

2010: TITLE

2011: FINAL

2018: ?

Federer (post-Mannarino match) has now won 32 consecutive sets at Wimbledon. His record is 34, which he set in 2005-2006.

Murray will be a BBC commentator for the mens quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Source

Nadal has spent 2 hours more on court than Federer despite them both playing 12 total sets or 110 games (Federer)/ 108 games (Nadal).

Source



(Matt): Pretty obvious why: Rafa's points take longer on avg. than Roger's, and Fed is on the quicker end of the spectrum with regard to time between points, Rafa on slower end. Mannarino backhand as flat as a 🥞. Almost no wrist flick.

(BBC) Arguably the most technically sound backhand in the history of this sport. Nishikori and Nalbandian are the two best ever in my book. Outrageously good movement on a grass court from Novak. He recovers back to the centre of the court faster than anyone, regardless of surface.

(BBC) Again, any other player would, firstly probably not even reach the ball, but also need lots of extra little steps after contact before moving back to middle of the court. Not Novak.

(BBC) LOL 😂 Rafa AIR SHOT.

(BBC)

Solid, left-handed cover drive from Federer 🏏.

(BBC) Delpo nearly going 'full-Youzhny'.

(Eurosport) Doublefault28 How Novak hasn't got injured this last week is beyond me.

(BBC) "They put me on Court 1 at 7pm AGAIN?" (BBC) Share Tweet Forward GAME, SET & MATCH 👋 The Racquet is created, and written, by Matt. You can find me on twitter by tapping/clicking this. You early subscribers (Beta testers) get access to 'The Racquet' Discord. Tap/click the Discord button below to join (we even have Jerzy Janowicz emojis). If you know anyone who would like 'The Racquet' here is the link to send them so they can sign up: https://theracquet.co See you tomorrow for a special issue previewing the Quarterfinals!