Wimbledon 2016, Day 6: Murray, Nishikori, Kerber into last 16; Djokovic, Kvitova ousted

Nishikori plays Croatian ninth seed Marin Cilic for a place in the quarter-finals.

New Delhi: Andy Murray remains on course to capitalise on Novak Djokovic`s stunning Wimbledon exit as the world number two eased into the last 16 with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Australia`s John Millman on Saturday.

Murray has found it almost impossible to get the better of Djokovic over the last three years and had lost the Australian and French Open finals to the world number one this year.

But the 29-year-old, beaten in 13 of his last 15 meetings with Djokovic, no longer has to worry about ending that frustrating streak after the Serb was condemned to his earliest Wimbledon defeat for eight years by American 28th seed Sam Querrey.

Murray, who became the first British man to win Wimbledon for 77 years in 2013, will play Australian 15th seed Nick Kyrgios or Spain`s Feliciano Lopez for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Scot has now reached the fourth round in his last 22 consecutive Grand Slams as he aims to become the first British man to win multiple Wimbledon titles since Fred Perry.Given the good-natured banter between Murray and his coach Ivan Lendl, he might take extra satisfaction from a victory that took him past the Czech legend`s total of 48 Wimbledon match wins.

Earlier, Japan`s Kei Nishikori booked his spot in the last 16 at Wimbledon with a straight sets win over Russia`s Andrey Kuznetsov even as intermittent rain interruption continues to spoil day's fixture. The fifth seed won 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 on the Court Three show court. He faces Croatian ninth seed Marin Cilic for a place in the quarter-finals.

In the women's section, two-time champion Petra Kvitova crashed out of the tournament in the last second round match to be completed.

The Czech, who won the title in 2011 and 2014, was left hanging about over six days due to continual rain delays, spending just two hours and 46 minutes on court in that time.

In an error-strewn match, she lost 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) on Saturday to Russia`s Ekaterina Makarova, who will face Barbora Strycova for a place in the last 16.

While Venus Williams and Carla Suarez Navarro secured their places in the fourth round on Friday, Kvitova was left twiddling her thumbs and listening to music.

Earlier today, German fourth seed and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber reached the Wimbledon last-16 on Saturday with a 7-6 (13/11), 6-1 win over compatriot Carian Witthoeft.

Kerber will face Japan`s Misaki Doi for a place in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Viktor Troicki was fined $10,000 (8,900 euros)for his astonishing Wimbledon meltdown while Serena Williams was hit with the same punishment for smashing her racquet.

Fiery Troicki, the 25th seed from Serbia, slumped to a second round 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 defeat to Spain`s Albert Ramos Vinolas after slipping to match point down on a controversial over-rule by umpire Damiano Torella.

"You`re the worst umpire in the world, you`re so bad," screamed Troicki, who received a code violation for his behaviour.

He lost the match on the next point but continued his rant as Torella climbed down from his perch.

"You`re horrible, you know what you did. You are the worst ever, you`re an idiot," he said.

Defending women`s champion Williams was handed a $10,000 fine for smashing her racquet after losing the first set of her third round tie to Christina McHale on Friday and then throwing it behind her, where it landed on the lap of a television cameraman.

Britain`s Heather Watson was handed the heaviest fine of $12,000 after jamming her raquet into the ground during her defeat to Germany`s Annika Beck.

Australian Nick Kyrgios has been fined after both his matches so far and his $4,000 punishment for an audible obscenity during Friday`s second-round win over Dustin Brown took his tally to $6,500.

(With Agency inputs)