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'Manic Monday' on cards

For the first time since 2011, top four men's players make last-16
Last Updated 09 July 2017, 19:41 IST

For the first time since 2011, the top four men's seeds have reached the Wimbledon last-16 with Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal taking centre-stage on 'Manic Monday'.

The four stars have shared the Wimbledon title since 2003 when Federer won the first of his seven trophies at the All England Club.

Djokovic has claimed three with defending champion Murray and Nadal winning two apiece.
It's the kind of domination that looks unlikely to end on Monday when the fourth round takes place.
Murray, who has battled hip pain, is the only one of the 'Big Four' to have dropped a set in the first week.

He faces unpredictable Frenchman Benoit Paire who is in the last-16 for the first time.

"He has very good hands, moves well, takes a lot of chances, goes for his shots," said Murray who has a 1-0 career lead over Paire.

Murray has not lost at Wimbledon before the quarterfinals since 2006.

Djokovic takes a 1-0 career edge over unseeded Adrian Mannarino of France into his last-16 clash, with that win coming at Wimbledon in straight sets in the second round last year.

Federer bidding for a record eighth Wimbledon title, which would also make him the oldest champion at the All England Club, faces Grigor Dimitrov boasting a 5-0 record over the man once tipped as his natural heir.

"It's a great day to play. I would be happy to be a fan," said Federer of a day when all last-16 matches in the men's and women's events are played.

Federer is playing in the fourth round for the 15th time.

Nadal, fresh from a 10th French Open title, faces fellow left-hander Gilles Muller, who is looking to make the quarterfinals for the first time in seven years.

Nadal has a 5-1 record over Muller although he will be wary that the Luxembourg grass court specialist beat him at Wimbledon in 2005.

Angelique Kerber tackles 2015 runner-up Garbine Muguruza having survived a three-set scare to see off Shelby Rogers in the third round.

In contrast, Muguruza has sailed into the last 16 without dropping a set, a run which has even surprised herself.

Victoria Azarenka, bidding to become the first mother to win Wimbledon in 37 years, faces Romanian second seed Simona Halep.

Former world number one and two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka is playing in her first Grand Slam since giving birth in December.

In all, the women's last-16 features seven Grand Slam winners and seven playing in the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time.

Two of those new faces are the bookmakers' new favourite Johanna Konta and France's 21st seed Caroline Garcia who face each other.

French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and Elina Svitolina face off in another duel of first-timers while another battle of last-16 debutantes sees Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova facing Petra Martic of Croatia.

Five-time champion Venus Williams, at 37 comfortably the sentimental favourite, faces 19-year-old Croatian Ana Konjuh.

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(Published 09 July 2017, 19:41 IST)

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