Rafael Nadal turned in another workmanlike performance on the grass to power into the Wimbledon third round 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 over Ricardas Berankis on Thursday.
The two-time winner was delayed leading 3-0 in the fourth set by rain, which resulted in the Centre Curt roof being closed for the remainder of the evening after the usual delay.
Nadal’s victory in just over three hours on court was his 307th in singles at a Grand Slam, putting him one past Martina Navratilova.
The 36-year-old is into the Wimbledon third round for the 11th time after completing his 16th straight victory at a Slam.
“Every day is a challenge, all opponents are difficult,” Nadal said of the 106th-ranked Berankis. “I haven’t played on grass for three years so I have things to improve.
“But I have a chance to keep going in the tournament so I’m happy for that.
“My serve was better in the fourth set and I could play with more aggression on the forehand.
“It’s important for me to accept that things are not perfect and think positive even when things are not going the best way possible.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the fourth seed, lined up a match against Aussie firebrand Nick Kyrgios with a 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Jordan Thompson.
Tsitsipas, who lost to Kyrgios this month in Halle, has been getting advice from fellow half-Greek Mark Philippoussis, a 2003 finalist here.
Tsitsipas said he is keen to try for revenge against Kyrgios who easily reached the third round over Queen’s Club finalist Filip Karjinovic 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.
“Nick has more matches on me in these courts; he claims to like grass. I’m definitely thrilled to be facing him,” Tsitsipas said.
“Although he has been a little controversial in the past, I think he’s playing
good tennis.
“I’m going to try and concentrate on doing my thing and pay attention to my own game from start to finish and have a great competitive match against him.”
British wild card Liam Broady broke through into the third round for the first time in seven tries with a defeat of Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 4-6, 0-6, 7-6(6), 6-1.
Brandon Nakishima made sure that Denis Shapovalov’s first-round respite from a six-match loss streak was quickly ended, with the American inflicting a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(6) defeat on the Canadian.
Main photo:- Rafa Nadal winning second round match, his 307th in a Grand Slam by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
