05/07/2026

theSun on Sunday JULY 5, 2026

SPORTS 10

for a sustained run at Wimbledon, Osaka said: “Obviously the longer I’m in the tournament, the more stories I can tell with my outfits. “Just being able to communicate my style, being able to communicate my brand of ten nis as well, because I feel like for me, my ten nis is a little bit louder than I am also. “I just always have loved stories since I was little, movies, books. Being able to tell that in my own way has been a challenge, but it’s been really fun figuring that out.” – AFP DEFENDING CHAMPION Jannik Sinner powered into the Wimbledon fourth round yesterday with a ruthless 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over American Jenson Brooksby. Sinner had never lost a Grand Slam match to a player ranked as low as world No. 81 Brooksby and he delivered an imperious display on Court One to keep that streak intact. The 24-year-old is into the last 16 for the fifth time, equalling Nicola Pietrangeli’s record for most Wimbledon men’s singles fourth-round appearances by an Italian. He will face Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki for a place in the quarterfinals. “I’ve never played him but whoever is in the fourth round of a Grand Slam deserves to be there,“ Sinner said of world No. 151 Mochizuki. “I’m trying to improve every day. A small step forward today. Trying to get better if I want to go far in this tourna ment. There are a couple of things I still need to do better, but I’m very happy with the result.” Sinner ended Carlos Alcaraz’s two year reign as Wimbledon champion with a brilliant final victory over the Spaniard last year. The four-time Grand Slam champion had been some way from those lofty heights in his opening two matches this week. Sinner had to fight back from two sets to one down to beat Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round and sur vived a pair of tie-breaks during his straight-set victory over Nuno Borges in round two. Having opted not to play a Wimbledon warm-up event for the first time in his career, the world number one looked a little under-prepared. Sinner hasn’t reached a Grand Slam final this year and blew a two-set lead in a shock French Open second-round defeat against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in June. The lowest-ranked player to shock Sinner at a Grand Slam is number 79 Daniel Altmaier in the second round at Roland Garros in 2023. But Sinner ensured there was never any chance of a similar upset on Court One. Showing his steely desire to finish off Brooksby, Sinner broke out of his robotic persona to gesticulate towards the crowd – pointing at his ear to demand more noise from them – after winning a key point in the closing stages. Sinner is the youngest man to reach at least the last 16 in five or more con secutive years in the Wimbledon singles since Pete Sampras in the 1990s. – AFP Ruthless Sinner steamrolls Brooksby

Gauff tames plucky Liu

glad I didn’t let that derail me and was able to come out with a win today. “I felt better today. I think Claire stepped up her level and I definitely had my opportunities with some of those match points, but it’s only experiences that you can learn from.” The double major cham pion’s serve came under pres sure from Liu in the games that followed, but there was no look ing back when she built a 5-2 lead, as she earned a fourth round clash with Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic. – Reuters

SEVENTH SEED Coco Gauff reached the fourth round and matched her best Wimbledon display with a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2 vic tory over fellow American Claire Liu yesterday to keep her bid for a third Grand Slam title alive. The 22-year-old former US Open and French Open cham pion, who crashed in her opener at the All England Club 12 months ago, arrived under pres sure to improve her modest grasscourt record and appeared to be in cruise control early on against Liu. She eased through the open

when I needed to. I definitely feel more confident.” Gauff’s passive approach in the tiebreak allowed qualifier Liu to take control and level the contest at one set apiece, but she quickly regained her rhythm in the decider and broke in the opening game by forcing an error with a deep backhand. “Yeah, I’m just happy to get through,” Gauff added. “I had some opportunities to close it out in the second set, but I’m

ing set with minimum fuss and was on course for a routine vic tory when world No. 146 Liu sprang to life and saved three match points in the second set, before forcing a tiebreak as the evening shadows engulfed Court One. “I think I’m not playing my best tennis,” Gauff admitted in her on-court interview, though she said there were positives. “I think today I served well as I did in my last match, I held

Djokovic on a roll

Record-equalling Serb powers into Wimbledon last 16

NOVAK DJOKOVIC equalled Roger Federer’s record for most match wins at Wimbledon as the seven-time champion battled past French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech to reach the fourth round yes terday. The 39-year-old notched his 105th vic tory at the All England Club, winning 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) despite a spirited fight back from Rinderknech on Centre Court. “To be able to make history of this sport is a huge honour and privilege, especially here,” said Djokovic. “It’s always been a dream tourna ment for me here. I’m just trying to win that match on a given day. Today I was quite stressed out, more tension than usual.

The Serb was never in serious danger of falling to a second straight third-round exit at a Grand Slam, despite dropping off mark edly in the third set, following his dramatic loss at the French Open to Joao Fonseca. Djokovic had said he wanted to play an “outdoor” match after winning under the Centre Court roof in his opening two rounds. The change in conditions caused the seventh seed few problems, as he made just 16 unforced errors in another largely polished display. Rinderknech had his moments, particularly dur ing an inspired third-set per formance, but he ultimately came up short in his bid to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in his career. Djokovic enjoyed playing up to the crowd early on, bowing to the spectators after a brilliant diving volley while serving out the first set. mer world No. 1 missed chances for a two-set lead on Rinderknech’s serve, but again made no mistake on his own delivery to close it out with another ace. Rinderknech, the last remaining French player in singles action at Wimbledon, refused to go down without a fight and hit 13 winners as he raced to the third set. Djokovic rediscovered his rhythm on serve in a high-quality fourth set and secured victory in a tie-break by getting the better of a net exchange, which left both players sprawled on the turf, on his first match point. – AFP He carried that momentum into the second, breaking Rinderknech and then holding for a 3-1 lead with an ace. The for

which weren’t as good for me as they were in the second round,” said Djokovic, who thrashed Stefanos Tsitsipas in his previous match on Thursday. “I hope in a few days’ time I’ll come out at my best.”

Djokovic’s semifinal loss to eventual champion Jannik Sinner last year was the first time he had failed to reach the final at Wimbledon since 2017.

“I propose a match-up between Roger and me for 106, let’s stop it here and call Roger to come.” Djokovic also tied Federer for most appear ances in the last 16 at Wimbledon in the Open era, making the fourth round for the 18th time. He will next face Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin today for a place in his 66th Slam quarter final and 17th at Wimbledon. “I think I’ve

done everything I needed to do today under the circum s t a n c e s

Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Arthur Rinderknech (not pictured) during their men’s singles third-round match at Wimbledon yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

Dressed for success Osaka books date with Sabalenka

dent. I hope I’m able to get further and fur ther.” Osaka’s habit of wearing haute couture costumes on to court before removing them to play in her usual tennis attire has been the talk of Wimbledon but her tennis has been as memorable as her cat-walk moments. Having lost to Sabalenka in the fourth round of the French Open in June, Osaka is rounding into form just in time for a potential revenge mission against the Belarusian. Asked if she had more costumes in mind

made it to the last 16 with a dominant display on Court One. She needed just 65 minutes to dispatch Kasatkina, setting up a fourth-round clash against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Latvia’s Ostapenko 6-4, 6-4 in a later match. “I’m really happy. In my career I’d never won on this court. I’m just glad to have made a really good memory here,” Osaka said. “I’ve played a lot of matches on grass over the last few weeks. I’m feeling really confi

NAOMI OSAKA vowed to extend her Wimbledon fashion show after the Japanese star ended her long wait to reach the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-3 win against Australian Daria Kasatkina yesterday. Osaka has caused a stir at Wimbledon with her eye-catching outfits, but the 28 year-old is finally stealing the spotlight with her performances as well. After advancing no further than the third round in her five previous main draw appear ances at the All England Club, Osaka finally