Nadal, Barty, Serena cruise into Wimbledon last 16

July 08, 2019 00:00:00

Serena Williams of US serving to Germany's Julia Goerges during their women's singles third round match on the sixth day of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon on Saturday — AFP

LONDON, July 07 (AFP): Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal had a much more enjoyable experience on Saturday than his previous match as he eased into the last 16 with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 romp over French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The ease with which Nadal made the fourth round for the ninth time was replicated on the women's side by Ashleigh Barty-who will be breaking new ground in appearing in the last 16 for the first time-and Serena Williams.

Nadal, who embraced Tsonga fondly at the end in stark contrast to the chilly handshake he had with fiery Australian Nick Kyrgios in the previous round, said he was delighted with the manner of his victory describing every match as a battle.

"I was very happy," said Nadal. "I played a great match from the beginning to the end.

"Jo is one of those players you don't want to face early but today was my day."

His great rival eight-time champion Roger Federer followed him onto Centre Court to play another Frenchman, Australian Open semi-finalist Lucas Pouille.

Federer and Nadal's one-time fellow member of the big four Andy Murray's hopes of men's doubles glory ended early as he and French partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert went out in the second round.

On the women's side Barty and Williams could meet in a blockbuster quarter-final if they win their last 16 matches on 'Manic Monday'.

Two of the top 10 seeds did bow out, Dutch fourth seed Kiki Bertens and American ninth seed Sloane Stephens losing to Czech Republic's Barbora Strycova and Britain's French Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta respectively.

While Barty will be in new territory playng singles at Wimbledon in the second week for the first time, for Williams it is the 16th time.

Barty overwhelmed British wild card Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-1 while 37-year-old, seven-time champion Williams produced her most convincing display in dispensing with German Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-4.

Barty, bidding to become the first Australian Wimbledon women's champion since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won her second title in 1980, will play unseeded American Alison Riske for a place in the last eight.