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This article was first published 10 years ago

PHOTOS: Kvitova, Djokovic reach last 16

Last updated on: June 30, 2013 13:36 IST

Image: Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic celebrates match point during the Ladies' Singles third round match against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia
Photographs: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Former champion Petra Kvitova regained her focus overnight to return with a zip in her step and see off Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon on Saturday.

Resuming a break down at 2-1 in the decider after play was suspended in the gloom late on Friday, the eighth-seeded Czech hit her stride immediately to forge 4-2 ahead under sunny skies.

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Kvitova, the 2011 champion and quarter-finalist last year, briefly wobbled as 25th seed Makarova stemmed the tide with a break but the rally fizzled out and the Czech reasserted herself to set up a last 16 match with Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain.

Kvitova is one of just four top 10 seeds left in the women's draw, alongside Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska and Li Na. The latter trio are in third round action later on Saturday.

Russia's Youzhny sets up Murray clash

Image: Mikhail Youzhny of Russia celebrates match point during his Gentlemen's Singles third round match against Viktor Troicki of Serbia on day six of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
Photographs: Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

Experienced Russian Mikhail Youzhny appeared on Andy Murray's radar after the 20th seed beat Viktor Troicki in straights sets to reach the last 16.

Youzhny's clash with the Serb on a sun-drenched Court Two was one of four men's third round matches in the lower half that had been held over from a rain-hit Friday.

The Russian won 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 but inevitably most of the questions in his news conference revolved around his battle with Murray, who is bidding to become Britain's first male winner here since Fred Perry in 1936.

"Don't worry, I will sleep normal," Youzhny said, when asked if he was worried about being public enemy No.1 on Monday.

Briton Robson rallies from brink to reach last 16

Image: Laura Robson of Great Britain celebrates match point during the Ladies' Singles third round match against Marina Erakovic of New Zealand on day six of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
Photographs: Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

British teenager Laura Robson thrilled a sun-drenched Wimbledon crowd by fighting back from the brink of defeat to subdue New Zealand's Marina Erakovic 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and reach the fourth round.

Robson, 19, tipped to be a future top 10 player by world number one Serena Williams, trailed by a set and 5-3 before rallying to reel off eight games in a row and seize control.

British number one Robson is now guaranteed to break into the world's top 30 after equalling her best grand slam showing after reaching the last 16 at last year's U.S. Open.

She next faces Estonian Kaia Kanepi or American wildcard Alison Riske with a potential quarter-final looming against five-times champion Serena.

Sam Smith was the last British woman to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1998.

Berdych hoodoo strikes again for Anderson

Image: Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic hits a return to Kevin Anderson of South Africa during their men's singles tennis match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships
Photographs: Toby Melville/Reuters

South Africa's Kevin Anderson would be forgiven for never wanting to set eyes on Tomas Berdych again after the Czech beat him for a ninth successive time at Wimbledon.

The seventh seed won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to set up a last-16 clash against feisty Australian Bernard Tomic.

Berdych and Anderson had played each other eight times in the last 18 months, and five times this year, with the former Wimbledon finalist winning on every occasion.

The 27th seed Anderson stands 2.03 metres tall and possesses one of the best serves in the game, but he was cut down to size by the heavy-hitting Czech who overcame losing the first set to scrap his way into the lead.

Anderson served for the fourth set leading 5-3, but could not close it out and Berdych, who needed some treatment on his back, finished him off three games later, wrapping up victory with a service winner on his second match point.

Clinical Djokovic in a hurry to crush Chardy

Image: Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand during the Gentlemen's Singles third round match against Jeremy Chardy of France
Photographs: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Like a ruthless emperor dismissing an underling, top seed Novak Djokovic ended a highly satisfactory first week at Wimbledon by brushing aside Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to continue his serene progress.

Chardy, the 28th seed, put up little fight in the evening sunshine on Centre Court with the third round match wrapped up in 86 minutes.

Clinical Djokovic, who eased past the same player in the first round two years ago on his way to a first Wimbledon title, is yet to drop a set in three one-sided contests so far.

His next opponent, evergreen Tommy Haas, should put up more resistance in the last 16.

German Haas surprisingly beat the Serb in straight sets at the Sony Open in Miami in March, although Djokovic took revenge in the quarter-finals of the French Open earlier this month.

Resilient Ferrer outlasts Dolgopolov

Image: David Ferrer of Spain plays a forehand during the Gentlemen's Singles third round match against Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine on day six of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
Photographs: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Fourth seed David Ferrer came through a punishing five-set test against Alexandr Dolgopolov to move into the last 16 in the evening gloom at Wimbledon.

Ferrer eventually ground down the 26th seeded Ukrainian 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in three hours 12 minutes.

"It was a very hard match," this year's French Open finalist Ferrer said. "I tried to fight a lot and to be focused in the right moments and eventually I won."

There were only been 12 five-set matches in the first two rounds of the men's singles at Wimbledon, which was the fewest at the grasscourt grand slam in the Open era.

Ferrer's famed staying power came into its own as he got on top in the fourth set and ended the resistance of Dolgopolov to set up a fourth round match against Croatia's Ivan Dodig.

Del Potro suffers injury fright beating Zemlja

Image: Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina receives assistance during a break in the Gentlemen's Singles third round match against Grega Zemlja of Slovenia on day six of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
Photographs: Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

Eighth seed Juan Martin Del Potro suffered an injury scare after moving into the last 16 at Wimbledon on Saturday with a straight sets win against Slovenia's Grega Zemlja.

Del Potro fell awkwardly chasing down a drop shot in the third set, receiving treatment and taking a medical timeout before wrapping up a 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-0 win.

"I will see the doctor after here, because I was going for the dropshot and I twisted my ankle," he told reporters.

"I hyper-extended my knee, as well. It was really painful. I was a little scared at that moment.

"I finish the match very quickly. Now I start to feel something in my knee and my ankle, as well. I will check with the doctor very soon."

Del Potro, who equalled his best performance by reaching the fourth round, will now face Italian Andreas Seppi.

Source: REUTERS
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