UNITED States young gun Sebastian Korda has joined an illustrious group by winning through to the fourth round at both Roland Garros and now Wimbledon prior to his 21st birthday. The 20-year-old defeated Daniel Evans, 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 24 minutes to advance to the Round of 16 and join a group of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych and Lleyton Hewitt as other players to achieve the feat.

“I just stayed calm in the biggest moments as much as I could,” Korda said post-match. “I tried to stay relaxed and keep playing attacking tennis, that’s what I do. I’m really proud of myself for that today.”

“[It’s] a big achievement. A year ago, I was 220 in the world and I’m here in the fourth round at Wimbledon. It’s incredible. I have my family to thank, my coaches and everybody around me.”

Korda produced 13 aces against Evans, also winning 58 per cent of his second serve points, and breaking five times to three despite one less break point opportunity. He smashed 51 winners tp 21 across the four sets, though also hit 43 unforced errors to 18. In winning, Korda advanced through to the fourth round to take on 25th seed Karen Khachanov.

The Russian defeated giant-killer Frances Tiafoe in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 6-4. Khachanov won in an hour and 46 minutes, hitting 29 winners to 26 and only 22 unforced errors to 24, also serving 13 aces and winning 77 per cent of his net points. He joined compatriot fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the Round of 16, following Rublev’s four-set win over 26th seeded Italian Fabio Fognini.

Rublev won 6-3 5-7 6-4 6-2 in just under three hours to earn a spot in the fourth round. The Russian hit 13 aces to the Italian’s eight, and despite having seven less winners (36-43), had 15 less unforced errors (28-43). Rublev also broke five times to Fognini’s twice, and won 73 and 53 per cent of his first and second serve points compared to the Italian’s 66 and 41 per cent.

Top seed Djokovic had no troubles until the third set, saving a set point against American Denis Kudla to win 9-7 in the third for an overall win of 6-4 6-3 7-6 in two hours and 17 minutes. The tournament favourite hit 34 winners to 30 and had 28 unforced errors to 35, only dropping six points off his first serve in a dominant overall effort. In victory, Djokovic became the first ATP Tour player to win at least 75 matches at each of the Grand Slam events.

“I had to slow down the pace in the game because he was really handling the flat ball well from the back of the court. He has really good balance,” Djokovic said post-match. “I think his backhand and forehand as well are pretty flat. He moves around pretty well on the grass-court surface. He’s a really good player.”

The last remaining British hope in wildcard Andy Murray was eliminated in the third round, with the two-time Grand Slam winner bundled out by an impressive Denis Shapovalov. The Canadian 10th seed won 6-4 6-2 6-2 in two hours and 17 minutes to end Murray’s run at his home Grand Slam and roll into the fourth round. He hit 45 winners to Murray’s 16, and served up 13 aces, winning 71 and 57 per cent of his first and second serve points, breaking six times and looking strong off the return and at the net.

“Honestly, I told him at the net that he’s my hero,” Shapovalov said of Murray in his post-match speech. “Achievements aside, what he’s been able to do in the sport to come back with an injury like this, to be playing the tennis that he’s playing, moving the way he’s moving… I said after his second match it was truly like ‘vintage Andy’ and so much fun to see as a fan.

“The first set we played today was super, super intense, I had to really, really give it my all. After that, I was able to maintain the level as he dropped a little bit. But still, it’s incredible what he’s done to reach the third round like this. Obviously he’s just starting back up, so it’s going to be amazing to see what he can do.”

In other results, Hungarian Marton Fucsovics took out ninth seed Diego Schwartzman in fourth sets to join Korda as the only other unseeded player in the top half of the draw. Fucsovics won 6-3 6-3 6-7 6-4 to advance through to the Round of 16. Meanwhile eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut knocked off German Dominik Koepfer in straight sets 7-5 6-1 7-6, whilst 17th seed Cristian Garin set up a Round of 16 head-to-head with Djokovic after getting past Spaniard Pedro Martinez, 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4.

WIMBLEDON ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated Denis Kudla (USA) 6-4 6-3 7-6
[5] Andrey Rublev (RUS) defeated [26] Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3 5-7 6-4 6-2
[8] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) defeated Dominik Koepfer (GER) 7-5 6-1 7-6
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) defeated [9] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 6-3 6-3 6-7 6-4
[10] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) defeated Andy Murray (GBR) 6-4 6-2 6-2
[17] Cristian Garin (CHI) defeated Pedro Martinez (ESP) 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4
Sebastian Korda (USA) defeated [22] Daniel Evans (GBR) 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4
[25] Karen Khachanov (RUS) defeated Frances Tiafoe (USA) 6-3 6-4 6-4

Picture credit: ATP Tour