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Djokovic, Serena target Wimbledon last-16

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AFP London
Top seeds and title favourites Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, having comfortably survived the cull of Wimbledon stars in the first week, aim to move into the fourth round today.

World number one Djokovic takes on French 28th seed Jeremy Chardy who he has defeated six times in six meetings without dropping a set.

The pair's last meeting was in the first round at Wimbledon in 2011 when Djokovic cruised through for the loss of just six games on his way to his first and only title at the tournament.

The Serb has yet to drop his serve at Wimbledon this year, but having seen Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both knocked out in the first three days, he is taking nothing for granted.
 

"I don't think about the final because it's still a very long way. I think the fact that the top players lost in the last few days gives enough reason for all of us to not underestimate any opponent and not look that far," he said.

"It's sport. This is what happens. Everybody, especially lower ranked players in the opening rounds, have nothing to lose really when they go on the centre stage and they come up with their best game."

Defending women's champion Williams and Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm, two players with a combined age of 73, will clash in a battle of Wimbledon senior citizens.

Top seed Williams is on a winning streak of 33 matches and is widely expected to clinch a sixth Wimbledon title next weekend now that major rivals Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are out.

Victory on Saturday will also give the American her 600th tour victory.

Date-Krumm, 42, has reached the Wimbledon third round 17 years after she last did so to become oldest woman to achieve the feat.

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First Published: Jun 29 2013 | 11:00 AM IST

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