Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina booked their places in this year’s Wimbledon quarter-finals while Novak Djokovic’s match was interrupted by a curfew.
Swiatek, the world’s leading women’s player, beat Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 to book a place in the quarter-finals for the first time.
Ukraine’s Svitolina defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (11/9). Svitolina refused to shake Azarenka’s hand in protest at Belarus’ support for Russia in the war against Ukraine. However, Azarenka was booed off the court by spectators.
“It wasn’t fair. What can I do?” Azarenka later said. “I didn’t do anything wrong, but I can’t control the crowd. I’m not sure if many people understood what was happening.”
Despite the controversy, Svitolina described the victory as one of her greatest moments.
“I think next to the birth of our little girl, this is the second happiest moment in my life,” said Svitolina, who is married to French tennis star Gael Monfils.
Meanwhile, Djokovic was leading 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6) against Hubert Hurkacz when play was stopped at 23:00 due to an agreed curfew.
The two’s match will resume on Monday with the winner taking on Andrey Rublev for a place in the semi-finals. Rublev beat 23rd seed Alexander Bublik 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4.
Meanwhile, Mirra Andreeva’s fairytale season continued as the 16-year-old Russian reached the fourth round by defeating compatriot Anastasia Potapova, seeded 22nd, 6-2, 7-5.
Matches to watch today
The world’s leading player, Carlos Alcaraz, plays against Matteo Berrettini in an attempt to reach the last eight at the All England club for the first time in his short career.
Petra Kvitova faces Ons Jabeur, while Andreeva takes on 25th seed American Madison Keys.
