Sweet 16 for Roger Federer at Wimbledon

The 12th seed faces Kei Nishikori on Wednesday ahead of a possible semi-final with Nadal and Murray on Tuesday talked up the possibility of Djokovic pulling off what would be a significant upset by taking the crown.

Standing in the way yet could be fourth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro in the quarterfinals – the Argentine’s fourth-round match was suspended with him holding a 2-1 set lead – and then possibly three-time champion Djokovic in the semifinals.

Djokovic has impressed at Wimbledon this year and knocked British hopeful Kyle Edmund out in the third round on Saturday. If you compare tennis to chess even when Nadal is winning it feels like he’s played out a stalemate with his style.

Anderson added that Federer, who won his first Wimbledon title in 2003, is the flawless role model for the sport – and for those players in the chasing pack. His father, Bob, who just failed to win the Democratic nomination for Congress in North Carolina two years ago, might not be thrilled.

But that third-round fixture was a natural, with a three-time champion playing the British No 1.

His form and fitness struggles have been well documented, and in 2017 he was powerless to prevent the Roger and Rafa renaissance, which saw the formidable duo share out the four majors between them. The world number 40 was unable to mount a response this time and evidence fortune was in the Serbian’s favour came on his second of two set points when a Khachanov slip enabled him to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Federer, sublime so far, will be a step up but Anderson is making all the right noises as he prepares for arguably the biggest challenge in tennis. It is the first time in Wimbledon history not one of the top 10 women’s seeds have reached the quarterfinals.

For Kevin Anderson it was a day of firsts on Monday.

Now 36, Federer has since supplanted Sampras as Wimbledon’s greatest male champion and appears poised to extend his record eight singles titles at the All England Club, gliding from one round to the next, yet to lose a set or his serve through four rounds of play.

“Playing with the wind helps a lot”.

The fifth seed lost to Nadal in the Paris semi-finals last month, however.

He has also won both their meetings on grass, including at Wimbledon in 2011.

Federer remains unbroken in the tournament in reaching the last eight and has a very kind draw through to the showpiece final.

And when the “God” has said it himself, Roger Federer might well be lifting his 9th Wimbledon title.

“But if you ask me if I prefer another one, I say yes. It’s about being smart, no?”