Djokovic peaking in time for title charge
LONDON: Novak Djokovic believes he is peaking at just the right time as the world number one prepares to step up his bid for a second Wimbledon title.
Djokovic took the express route into the fourth round on Saturday as the world number one thrashed French 28th seed Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
The Serb, who faces German 13th seed Tommy Haas for a place in the quarter-finals, played a flawless first two sets without a single unforced error, and eventually hit 38 winners and served eight aces in one hour and 26 minutes of total dominance on Centre Court.
While several of Djokovic's title rivals, including Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, have fallen foul of the shock defeats and injury withdrawals that have rocked Wimbledon, the 26-year-old has progressed serenely into the last 16 without dropping a set.
While Florian Mayer, Bobby Reynolds and Chardy have been contemptuously swatted aside by Djokovic, he acknowledges Haas is likely to provide far more resistence.
At 35, Haas is the oldest player left in the men's draw, but he has been playing with renewed verve over the last 18 months, climbing back into the top 15 following a series of injuries.
Haas was also a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2009 and Djokovic has no intention of underestimating the German.
Djokovic won their last meeting, in the French Open quarter-finals in straight sets earlier this month, but he admits Haas pushed him hard enough to suggest he could do more damage on grass.
If Djokovic does progress to the latter stages of the tournament, he will be seeing more of former AC Milan and Ukraine footballer Andriy Shevchenko, who has become a good friend of the Serb.
The pair met at the ATP World Tour Finals in London and have remained in contact, with Shevchenko, cheering on Djokovic along with his son in the players' box during the last two rounds at Wimbledon. (AFP)
