Big guns through as Federer, Murray win

Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray remain on course for the Wimbledon semi-finals ahead of the last-16 matches on the tournament’s so-called Manic Monday.

Six of the top 10 seeds are safely through to the business end after a first week that included defeats for seventh seed Milos Raonic and 10th-seeded Rafael Nadal.

Fifth seed Kei Nishikori withdrew before the second round with a calf injury, while eighth-seeded David Ferrer pulled out before the first round.

While Nick Kyrgios – who knocked out Nadal in the fourth round last year on his way to a maiden quarter-final – meets Richard Gasquet on court two, defending champion Djokovic will face South African 14th seed Kevin Anderson.

Anderson won their first meeting in 2008 but the world No.1 has won the next four without dropping a set, including at Wimbledon in the second round four years ago.

“I think he is probably playing the tennis of his life,” said Djokovic who hasn’t dropped a set so far at the tournament.

“He’s reached the highest ranking now in his career. He keeps on going forward.

“It will be a match of very small margins that will be decided by a few points.”

Federer, chasing a record eighth Wimbledon and 18th major, has dropped just one set so far, in Saturday’s third-round win over Sam Groth.

The Swiss faces Spanish 20th seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who was voted the most improved player of 2014. He is in the fourth round for the first time but has lost both of his matches against Federer without winning a set.

Murray, the 2013 champion, tackles 36-year-old Ivo Karlovic, who is the oldest man to make the fourth round at the All England Club since compatriot Niki Pilic in 1976.

The 23rd seed is also the oldest to reach the last 16 of any Grand Slam since 39-year-old Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.

“I really like what I do. I’m just having fun. So if I’m able to do this at my age, it is unbelievable still,” said Karlovic, who has rained down 136 aces in three matches.

Murray needed treatment on his right shoulder in his four-set win over Andreas Seppi on Saturday but then reeled off the last six games.

He will takes a 5-0 career lead into Monday’s clash with Karlovic.

Fourth seed and French Open champion Wawrinka faces Belgian 16th seed David Goffin, who has equalled his previous best at a major – when he came out of qualifying to reach the French Open last 16 in 2012.

Wawrinka has a 2-0 lead over Goffin.

Wildcard Denis Kudla is the lowest ranked player left in the tournament. The world No.105 was winning a second-tier Challenger tournament at Ilkley in Yorkshire, northern England on the eve of Wimbledon.

Kudla is also the lone American standing but faces a stiff test against US Open champion Marin Cilic.

The other last 16 matches feature Canada’s Vasek Pospisil against Serbia’s 22nd seed Viktor Troicki and sixth seed Tomas Berdych against Gilles Simon.

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