Three to See, Wimbledon Day 9:  Djokovic vs. Sinner; Norrie vs. Goffin; Jabeur vs. Bouzkova

WATCH: Novak Djokovic speaks to press after his Wimbledon fourth-round win

Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner

“I have only superlatives and positives to talk about Sinner’s game,” Djokovic says. “He's very solid. Every shot, he has every shot in his game: serve, return, forehand, backhand. He’s constantly putting pressure on opponents.

“I kind of see a little bit of myself in his game, as well…”

That’s high praise indeed from Djokovic, who first hit with Sinner when the Italian was 16, and who has been waiting for him to arrive on stages like this ever since. Djokovic won their only previous meeting, 6-4, 6-2, in Monte Carlo last spring.

Based on his four-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, Sinner will offer more resistance to Djokovic in this quarterfinal. The 20-year-old was, somewhat surprisingly, a stronger player and more spectacular shotmaker than his 19-year-old Spanish opponent, and could easily have won in straight sets. Djokovic says Sinner is “solid” with every shot, and that’s true; against Alcaraz, though, he was also dominant with every shot, and he should be able to take the offensive in this match as well.

But if Sinner has the edge in raw firepower, Djokovic will have the edge in everything else. He’ll have more experience, the ability to manage his way through the ups and downs that come with best-of-five, and the never-flagging confidence that comes with being a three-time defending Wimbledon champion. Winner: Djokovic

Cameron Norrie vs. David Goffin

If you’re looking for the antidote, behavior-wise, to Kyrgios-Tsitsipas, this matchup is for you. Goffin is a placid, poker-faced competitor, while Norrie is all about focusing on the next point, and the next quiet little fist-pump.

Neither is big on bulletin-board material, either.

“He’s a very experienced player. He really likes the grass. He’s played a lot of big matches. It’s going to be tough,” Norrie says of Goffin.

“He played well from the start of the tournament. He played really well. He’s very consistent. He’s a tough opponent to play,” Goffin says of Norrie.

In reality, neither the Belgian nor the Brit know a whole lot about each other first-hand. They’ve met once, in Barcelona in 2021, and Goffin retired in the second set. At this stage of a Slam, there probably won’t be much to separate them as far as their playing levels go. Goffin is the purer ball-striker, Norrie is more tactically varied. Both can keep the ball in play for about as long as they want.

Two things should help Norrie: (1) He’s coming off a straight-set win over Tommy Paul, while Goffin had to play five sets and more than four hours to subdue Frances Tiafoe; and (2) Norrie will have the home crowd, likely in Centre Court, cheering on the last Brit standing. Winner: Norrie

Ons Jabeur vs. Marie Bouzkova

Bouzkova has quietly become one of the better stories at Wimbledon this year. Unseeded, ranked 66th, knocked out of the French Open by COVID-19, the 23-year-old Czech upset No. 7 seed Danielle Collins 6-4 in the third in the first round, and hasn’t lost a set since. Her last opponent, Caroline Garcia, appeared to be in top form, but Bouzkova defused her with her high energy style.

All of this has made a fan out of Bouzkova’s next opponent.

“I know that I love how she plays, Marie, really amazing to see her winning,” says Jabeur, who has never played Bouzkova. “It’s going to be a tough battle because I know she’s such a fighter. She’s everywhere, brings every ball. It’s going to be tricky.”

“But I think my game could really bother her,” Jabeur added. “It has to really click for me that match, for sure.”

Jabeur’s game has been clicking for most of 2022, to the point where she is up to No. 2 in the world, the highest ranking ever for a player from Africa. In the fourth round, she took Elise Mertens’ best efforts and topped them in a first-rate contest. But when it comes to Jabeur and Grand Slam quarterfinals, a note of caution: She has been there twice before, and both times she fell to earth and lost in straight sets. Let’s see if she can keep clicking this time. Winner: Jabeur