Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are just one win away from a fourth meeting at Wimbledon as they joined fellow ‘Big Three’ member Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
It was a routine day for the giants of the game, with all winning in straight sets. In fact, there was very little on the men’s side that was worthy of the title ‘Manic Monday’.
Federer steamrolled Matteo Berrettini in what, on paper at least, looked as if it would be the ATP match of the day, with the Italian perhaps overawed by playing in the first fourth-round Grand Slam match of his career.
The Swiss maestro was in slick form as ever on the All England Club lawns and he downed a man who had won 11 of his previous 12 matches on the grass heading into the tie.
But Berrettini was far from his best – perhaps fatigued by a five-set third-round clash with Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman – and was taught a lesson by the 20-time Grand Slam champion in a 6-1 6-2 6-2 loss after just 74 minutes.
Federer will go on to face either Kei Nishikori or Mikhail Kukushkin in the final eight, but most will be perhaps eagerly looking ahead at his potential opponent beyond that.
The 37-year-old Swiss has not met Nadal at Wimbledon since the 2008 Wimbledon final, with the Spaniard coming out on top that day, but they are agonisingly close to another epic on Centre Court.
Nadal, who thumped Joao Sousa 6-2 6-2 6-2, will be wary of his next opponent Sam Querrey, though.
The big-serving American has previously taken out top seeded Djokovic and Andy Murray in these parts and will relish the opportunity to spring another surprise on Wednesday afternoon.
In truth, though, it’s hard not to see an all-Big Three final, with Serbian world No. 1 Djokovic also looking a cut above the rest.
The trio have won the past 10 majors and entered this event as the heavy favourites. Djokovic looked as relentlessly ruthless as ever as he thumped France’s Ugo Humbert.
Defending champion Djokovic, who boasts a winning head-to-head against Federer and Nadal both at Wimbledon and overall, was the pre-tournament favourite and his 6-3 6-2 6-3 win suggests he is in good shape.
He will take on 21st seed David Goffin in the next round.
