After two of the favorites for the Wimbledon women’s singles title, Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova departed on consecutive days, Friday’s contenders seemed in no mood to follow them out of the exit door. Victoria Azarenka showed everyone how progress is achieved with a determined display to come from a set down and beat Britain’s Heather Watson 3-6 6-1 6-4 in the first match on Centre Court.

Azarenka said, “I'm happy to be here. I'm still very ambitious and focused. I'm not on Cloud Nine for making it to the second week, but I do appreciate everything that I have been able to achieve right now, and I don't take anything for granted.” She continued, “I don't like to call it a comeback, because I feel like it's just a new chapter in my life. It's kind of like a second career. I feel like whatever happened in the past is really in the past, and I have those achievements and titles and stuff, but now I feel like a new me and I just want to continue to improve.”

Then No.2 seed Simona Halep set up a fourth-round clash with the Belarussian by beating Shuai Peng 6-4 7-6(9). The Romanian hit 19 winners and only made 13 unforced errors during a focused display which demonstrated her capability to go deep into the tournament. She said, “I'm really happy. I think I’ve played every match better than the last. Today was a very high level of tennis from both of us. I'm really thankful with the way that I played and how I've been on court.”

Halep also explained that her French Open final disappointment has not affected her self-belief. She said, ‘I didn't have doubts. I was sad, of course. But I was realistic after the match. I saw what I didn’t do well and what I've did do well. I think my game is at a very high level in this moment. That upset in the final cannot bring me down. I took only positives from the clay season – it was amazing.’

And the Romanian knows she faces a difficult task against Azarenka in the last 16, but she feels she is ready for it. She said, “She's a tough opponent and a great champion. I'm just going to give my best. Of course, I believe I have a chance to win. But the match is open. I have just to step in and take my chances.” Azarenka is happy to have the opportunity to take on someone as good as Halep. She said, “It is good for me to play against her. I need to raise my level against players like her. So I'm excited for the challenge.”

Halep is not surprised by Azarenka’s quick return to form since her return after becoming a mother. She said, “I didn't have doubts that she would come back after I heard that she's pregnant. She was World No. 1 and a Grand Slam champion. I think she has everything to come back and be again in the last matches of tournaments. She's a strong personality. I feel that she has to be here because she deserves it. She's working hard.”

The Romanian has great memories of her last match against the Belarussian as she beat her 6-3 4-6 6-4 in the 2015 US Open quarter-final. She said, “It's one of my best matches in tennis. I remember that I was running pretty well and hitting the ball very hard. She was doing the same thing. So the level was very high. Also mentally I stayed strong. Every ball matters when I play against her. So I have just to be ready and fit and believe that I have a chance (when I play her again).” Their match has the potential to be one of the highlights on Manic Monday.

Another fourth round match that looks excellent on paper will be between two fourth round debutants – French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and World No.4 Elina Svitolina – who are also two of the youngest players left in the draw, aged 20 and 23 respectively. After winning Roland Garros, Ostapenko played two three-set matches in Eastbourne, then battled through tricky matches against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Francoise Abanda, and Camila Giorgi to get to this stage at SW19, so she has had plenty of practice on grass so far.

The Latvian said, “I think after the French Open I'm more confident, so I'm playing every match better and better. As I've won a lot of matches, I think it helps me. I think I play aggressive and control the matches. I feel pretty consistent.”

Svitolina is delighted to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon for the first time. She said, “I'm very, very proud of myself because a couple weeks before (the tournament), there was some doubts about my Achilles. I didn't even think that I could make it to the fourth round - especially here where I felt very uncomfortable. But now I feel pretty confident. You could see in today's performance that I'm playing well and really enjoying myself and that's very special for me.”

The Ukrainian has raised her level in every round so far, and she explained, “Every round was very different. In the first round, I was really focused because it was a very tough draw (against Ashleigh Barty). It was lots of pressure. Then in the second round (against Francesca Schiavone), I was confident. And this round (against Carina Witthoeft) I was just ready for the fight, ready for everything because you never know. She's an aggressive player and I’ve never played her before.”

Svitolina continued, “In the first set, I was playing amazing today. From the hand of Midas probably (smiling). In the second set, it was normal that she would have a chance to come back into the match. In the fourth round it will be different again. I'm going to be ready for the match and do my best to win.”

Home fans will be hoping Johanna Konta maintains her excellent form after she brushed aside Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-1 to book a fourth-round meeting with Caroline Garcia, who beat Madison Brengle 6-4 6-3. Responding to the news that the bookmakers rate her as the favorite for the title, Konta said, “Everyone in the draw is in with a chance. I'm pretty sure favorites come and go. They change almost daily. I'm just happy to have actually made it into the second week.”

The Brit said she would love to reach the final. “If I'm ever in a position to be playing for a Grand Slam title, I think that's something all tennis players dream of.” However, she is guarded about her chances of getting there. She said, “I think I'm playing some good tennis, but I don't think I'm playing unbelievable tennis. I'm playing with the mindset of trying to get better, like I have done every other match and every other tournament I've played in my career.”

The oldest player left in the women’s draw will play the youngest in the last 16 after Venus Williams, 37, beat Naomi Osaka 7-6 6-4 to set up a clash with Ana Konjuh, 19, who beat 8th Seed Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 3-6 6-4. Venus said, “I've played three matches now, and had zero breathing room in any of them. My opponents played well, served well and competed well in all moments. I've had to step it up. I imagine that's going to continue. All I can do is try to play my best.” As the oldest player in the fourth round, she is doing a remarkable job so far.