With middle Sunday to host play each year starting in 2022, this will be the last scheduled Manic Monday, often the best day of the entire tennis year. All round of 16 singles matches will be played across the six show courts at The All England Club. Centre Court alone has 42 Major singles titles represented. They belong to three players, who are also the only previous champions still alive in the singles draws: Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Angelique Kerber.
As so many great matchups will take place throughout the day, this preview will break with normal format, and take a brief look at all 16 fourth round singles matches in chronological order. Outer courts will begin at 11:00am local time, while No.1 Court will start at 1:00pm, and Centre Court at 1:30pm.
Iga Swiatek (7) vs. Ons Jabeur (21) – 11:00am on No.2 Court
This could be one of the best matches of the entire day, between two of the WTA’s best players of the past 12 months, and two players with a ton of variety in their games. Swiatek is yet to drop a set, while Jabeur already took out two Wimbledon champions in Week 1: Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza. Iga claimed their only previous meeting in three sets, which occurred two years ago in Washington on a hard court. Both are vying for their first quarterfinal at The Championships.
Aryna Sabalenka (2) vs. Elena Rybakina (18) – 11:00am on No.3 Court
Rybakina was a quarterfinalist a few weeks ago at Roland Garros, and is another player who didn’t drop a set through three rounds. Sabalenka is the far more accomplished player outside the Majors, though she’s yet to advance beyond this round at Slams. Aryna is 2-0 against Elena, with both hard court matches going three sets, and both not at Majors.
Matteo Berrettini (7) vs. Ilya Ivashka – 11:00am on Court 12
Queen’s Club champion Berrettini has now 8-0 on grass this season, and has won 22 of his last 25 matches overall, with his only losses coming to players ranked 6th or higher. Ivashka is a 27-year-old from Belarus who was 1-6 at Slams prior to this fortnight, and didn’t defeat a player ranked within the top 60 to reach this stage.
Karen Khachanov (25) vs. Sebastian Korda – 11:00am on Court 18
Khachanov defeated two other Americans in the first week: Mackenzie McDonald and Frances Tiafoe. But no American male has been better this year than Korda, who has a record of 26-11. And Sebastian already beat two other top 30 seeds in the last two rounds. Korda turns 21 on Monday, and I would not be surprised to watch him celebrate his birthday by reaching his first Major quarterfinal.
Andrey Rublev (5) vs. Marton Fucsovics – Second on No.2 Court
This is their fifth meeting since last October, all of which have gone to Rublev. As he walked off the court after their match in Dubai, Fucsovics said to Rublev, “I hope I don’t play you anymore this year,” but that wish has not been granted. And considering Marton is 0-3 in the fourth round of Slams, Rublev is a considerable favorite to reach his fourth quarterfinal out of the last five Majors.
Roberto Bautista Agut (8) vs. Denis Shapovalov (10) – Second on No.3 Court
This could be another of the best matches on the day, between two top 10 seeds with clashing styles. Bautista Agut is a righty, flat-hitting veteran, while Shapovalov is a lefty upstart with a lot of RPM’s on his forehand. The Spaniard was a semifinalist here two years ago. By contrast, the Canadian was 1-3 at Wimbledon before this run to the second week.
Karolina Pliskova (8) vs. Ludmilla Samsonova (WC) – Second Court 12
Samsonova is not your typical wild card. The 22-year-old was the champion a few weeks ago in Berlin, where she took out three top 30 players. This is her first year playing on grass, and she’s yet to lose a match. Pliskova has never advanced beyond this round at SW19, stalling on this day in both of the last two Wimbledons. But she’s not dropped a set yet at this year’s event.
Madison Keys (23) vs. Viktorija Golubic – Second on Court 18
Keys was a quarterfinalist here six years ago, yet hasn’t gone that far at the Championships since. She’s split two previous meetings with Golubic, a 28-year-old from Switzerland who was 4-17 in her career at Majors coming into this fortnight.
Ash Barty (1) vs. Barbora Krejcikova (14) – 1:00pm on No.1 Court
It’s the 2019 French Open champion against the 2021 champ. Barty is an impressive 31-6 on the year, but Krejcikova is on a 15-match win streak. Neither has played their best yet this fortnight, but if they both do today, this could be a stellar contest. Krejcikova suffered from an abdominal injury during her third round win.
Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Cristian Garin (17) – 1:30pm on Centre Court
Djokovic hasn’t lost in the fourth round of Wimbledon since 2006, while this is only Garin’s second time this far at a Major, and he was 0-3 lifetime at The All-England Club until last week.
Daniil Medvedev (2) vs. Herbert Hurkacz (14) – Third on No.2 Court
Medvedev came back from two-sets-down on Saturday against 2017 Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic, the first time he’s ever done so in his career. Hurkacz went 0-6 after winning this year’s Miami Open, but as per Chris Oddo, he’s the only player who has not lost his serve thus far.
Karolina Muchova (19) vs. Paula Badosa (30) – Third on Court 12
Muchova is looking to reach the quarterfinals for the second time in what is also her second appearance at The Championships. Badosa survived a grueling battle with Magda Linette on Saturday, and was a quarterfinalist last month in Paris. But before this tournament, Badosa only owned two main-draw victories on this surface.
Sascha Zverev (4) vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (16) – Second on No.1 Court
Zverev has now advanced to the second week at seven consecutive Majors, and has taken 16 of his last 19 matches. Auger-Aliassime benefited from the retirement of Nick Kyrgios on Saturday. Felix is 0-2 in the round of 16 at Slams, and 0-3 against Sascha, having never won a set.
Coco Gauff (20) vs. Angelique Kerber (25) – Second on Centre Court
This is the most anticipated match of the day, between the 2018 champion and the breakout star of the 2019 tournament. Bad Homburg champ Kerber is on an eight-match win streak on grass, and Parma champ Gauff is 17-3 since May. Coco is playing for her second straight Major quarterfinal, while Kerber is looking for her first since she won this title three years ago.
Ajla Tomljanovic vs. Emma Raducanu (WC) – Third on No.1 Court
Tomljanovic ousted French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko is a fiery three-set encounter. Raducanu is the breakout star of this year’s Wimbledon. The 18-year-old, ranked 338th in the world, has thrilled the British crowd with her thrilling run in her first Grand Slam appearance. And Emma is yet to relinquish a set.
Roger Federer (6) vs. Lorenzo Sonego (23) – Third on Centre Court
Federer is 17-0 in the fourth round of this tournament. Sonego is yet to face a player ranked higher than 91st, but the 26-year-old Italian is having a great season. He’s reached two finals, including one on grass, and advanced to the semis of the Rome Masters.
Monday’s full Order of Play is here.