Fri 07 Jul 2007Djokovic shows serious intent to progressNovak Djokovic (Jokko-Vitch) is something of a jester. The
fourth seed's abashed karaoke performances on YouTube illustrates a
readiness to offer himself as an off-court laughing stock but it
belies a seriousness about his game that may this year, earn him
his first Grand Slam shot. Yesterday, the young Serb knocked out
Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).
The 16th seed saw little to belly laugh about in that four-set
run.Hewitt had beaten Djokovic in three sets in their only previous
meeting, the US Open last year, and had reason to believe their
meeting on the grass could bring a smile to his face. But the
20-year-old has been a coming player and ranked at five, went into
the match less of the celebrity but more a likely winner. He can
now pencil his name into the history books as the first male
representing Serbia to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. There
were other players from the former Yugoslavia.