Djokovic stares at defeat, smooth sailing for Federer

Djokovic was 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 down against Querrey and was facing Wimbledon humiliation when rain sent the pair running for cover off Court One, giving 12-time major winner a welcome sanctuary before play was called off for the day.

Published : Jun 30, 2016 20:14 IST , London

Djokovic, who has an 8-1 record over Querrey, was two sets down when rain halted day's play.
Djokovic, who has an 8-1 record over Querrey, was two sets down when rain halted day's play.
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Djokovic, who has an 8-1 record over Querrey, was two sets down when rain halted day's play.

World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic was facing Wimbledon humiliation on Friday before rain saved him from his worst defeat at the tournament since 2008.

Three-time winner Djokovic, who is halfway to the first calendar Grand Slam in 47 years, dropped the first two sets of his third round clash against American 28th seed Sam Querrey 7-6 (8/6), 6-1.

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But after just 73 minutes of action, rain sent the pair running for cover off Court One, giving 12-time major winner Djokovic welcome sanctuary before play was called off for the day.

By the end of Friday, which had seen just three hours of action on outside courts, only 15 of the scheduled 32 ties had been completed.

That led organisers to decide that for the first time since 2004, and only the third time in history, play will take place on the middle Sunday

Djokovic, who has an 8-1 record over Querrey, has made at least the quarter-finals on his last seven visits to Wimbledon since losing to Marat Safin in the second round eight years ago.

Federer gets his 150th grass court win

In contrast, seven-time champion Roger Federer had the advantage of playing under the Centre Court roof and became the first man in the fourth round thanks to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Britain's Daniel Evans

Federer, beaten in the last two finals by Djokovic, has been aided by a generous draw that pitted him against two lowly Brits in world number 772 Marcus Willis and then world number 91 Evans.

"I didn't make the draw but it's been fun playing against Marcus and now Dan," said Federer who now has 305 Grand Slam singles match victories, which moves him within touching distance of Martina Navratilova's record of 306.

Del Potro stuns Wawrinka

Juan Martin del Potro admitted he felt "alive again" after the injury-plagued former US Open champion sent Swiss fourth seed Stan Wawrinka crashing out.

Playing in his first Grand Slam tournament since the 2014 Australian Open, his 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 second round victory over Wawrinka brought back memories of his stunning 2009 US Open win before a series of wrist injuries pushed him to the brink of retirement.

The world number 165 from Argentina, who was a semi-finalist in 2013 in what was his last appearance at Wimbledon, next faces French 32nd seed Lucas Pouille.

"It feels amazing, I feel alive again," said the 27-year-old who has undergone three wrist surgeries in the last two years.

Ranting Kyrgios advances

Nick Kyrgios survived a warning for bad language and a third set sulk to clinch a 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Dustin Brown in an explosive Wimbledon second round clash on Friday.

Kyrgios, seeded 15th, has earned a reputation as one of the most volatile players on the men's tour after a series of distasteful antics, including briefly appearing to stop trying during his Wimbledon defeat against Richard Gasquet last year.

The temperamental Australian has been equally petulant on his return to the All England Club.

Kyrgios was warned for bad language following a foul-mouthed rant during his first round win over Radek Stepanek and he was at it again as he fought back to defeat German wildcard Brown.

The 21-year-old, who famously shocked Rafael Nadal en route to the Wimbledon quarter-finals two years ago, spent most of the match ranting, drawing a code violation for an audible obscenity and appearing to give minimal effort in protest as he sulked his way through the third set.

Despite his stroppy antics, Kyrgios advanced to play Spanish 22nd seed Feliciano Lopez or Italy's Fabio Fognini for a place in the last 16.

In a match that would have been better played under a big top, Kyrgios quickly lived up to his reputation as the tour's problem child.

"That's just horrendous from you guys once again," Kyrgios lamented in the second set after he was called for hitting the ball after it bounced twice.

Continuing his complaints by grumbling "it's all I can think of" and "I'm so pissed off", Kyrgios's tantrum prompted one of the line-judges to walk up to umpire Jake Garner to report his language and the Australian received a code violation.

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