WIMBLEDON, England (AP)—After some Centre Court dramatics against Marcos Baghdatis, Novak Djokovic’s bid for a first Wimbledon title is still alive.
Already annoyed at dropping his serve in the second set, the second-seeded Serb lost an 11-shot rally in the next game. As Baghdatis smiled and lapped up the ovation, Djokovic angrily thumped his racket into the turf, not just once, not even twice, but three times.
“I like to make sure,” Djokovic joked.
Djokovic, who was warned by the umpire for racket abuse, finally came through 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Saturday after three hours, 15 minutes to reach the fourth round.
“It was frustrating, I cannot lie. I did lose my temper a bit,” he said. “But, you know, I came back. I stayed emotionally stable, believing that I can win, and that’s what matters the most.”
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams—players with a combined 12 Wimbledon titles—all won in straight sets as the third round was completed in time for the traditional rest day Sunday. Monday’s schedule will feature all men’s and women’s fourth-round matches, the busiest day in Grand Slam tennis.
Djokovic and Baghdatis have history. Four years ago in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, Baghdatis came from two sets down to force a decider before Djokovic won in five hours.
On Saturday, the pair kept the crowd entertained with long rallies and flashy winners. In the first game of the third set, Baghdatis sprinted for a drop shot and put his reply wide. The smiling Cypriot kept on running to Djokovic’s end of the court, causing the Serb to break into a grin himself.
“It was an exciting match to be part of,” Djokovic said. “Playing here last couple of years, last five years, there were not many moments when I saw practically all stadium on their feet.
“It was exciting to see the Centre Court of Wimbledon being so enthusiastic about the match. Me, as a player, I have to appreciate that.”
Baghdatis prolonged the excitement by saving two match points. But when he hit an errant forehand on the third, Djokovic threw back his head and let out a roar. The two men embraced warmly and shared a laugh at the net.
Djokovic will face Michael Llodra in the fourth round.
Six-time champion Federer beat David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the 19th career meeting between the two players. Federer now leads 11-8.
“A guy who can beat me eight times knows how to do it nine times, and that’s why I’m really pleased to come through,” said Federer, whose only wobble came when he blew an easy smash on his first match point.
Federer’s next opponent will be 18th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, who downed No. 16 Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Nadal, a two-time winner and the defending champion, committed only three unforced errors as he completed a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-0 victory over Gilles Muller, the last player other than Federer to beat the Spaniard at Wimbledon, in 2005.
Nadal next faces Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who beat Gilles Simon 7-6 (8), 7-6 (5), 7-5, and showed that he is nearing his top form after missing most of 2010 after surgery on his right wrist.
“He’s one of the best players of the world,” Nadal said.
Williams beat 26th-seeded Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-2. It was Williams’ first straight-set win in five matches since she returned this month after being away from the tour for nearly a year because of a series of health scares, including blood clots in her lungs.
Williams next faces 2007 Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli of France, who beat Flavia Pennetta 5-7, 6-4, 9-7.
Maria Sharapova also reached the round of 16, downing Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3. Sharapova, the only champion in the women’s draw other than the Williams sisters, will next meet 20th-seeded Peng Shuai of China.
“Well, there’s no doubt you have to improve with the second week coming. I think that’s always the toughest part,” Sharapova said. “The opponents get tougher, the more matches you play, especially at a Grand Slam stage.”