Anderson safely through
SHOCK: THIRD SEED LED BY TWO SETS BEFORE IMPLODING
London
World No 1 Rafael Nadal and twotime champion Novak Djokovic safely reached the third round at Wimbledon yesterday as last year’s runner-up Marin Cilic suffered a shock exit at the hands of unheralded Argentine Guido Pella.
Nadal, a winner in 2008 and 2010, beat world No 77 Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court to set up a meeting with Australia’s Alex de Minaur tomorrow for a place in the last-16.
Djokovic, seeded 12th as he makes his way back from an elbow injury, beat Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 for his 60th win at the tournament. The threetime Wimbledon champion was in the strange position of playing on the 4 000-seater Court Two.
He had treatment on his left thigh in the third but overcame the problem to see out the set.
He faces either British 21st seed Kyle Edmund or US qualifier Bradley Klahn in the third round.
When rain forced a postponement on Wednesday, third seed Cilic led by two sets against an opponent who had never won a match here before this year.
But the Croatian, who lost to Roger Federer in the 2017 final, collapsed once the match resumed and world No 82 Pella took full advantage to set up a clash with Mackenzie McDonald.
Cilic had been expected to mount a strong challenge for the Wimbledon title after winning the grasscourt warm-up at Queen’s Club two weeks ago.
The 28-year-old admitted the overnight rain delay had been a huge boost as it allowed him to change his tactics.
“Yesterday he was playing so good, hitting the ball so hard that I couldn’t do anything,” Pella said.
“The rain helped me a lot. Today I tried to be more aggressive and he started to feel uncomfortable.
“I fought for every ball and I think that’s why I won.” –