Wimbledon 2021: Daniil Medvedev recovers to win in five sets but injured Nick Kyrgios goes out
- Published
Daniil Medvedev has reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time
Wimbledon 2021 on the BBC |
|---|
Venue: All England Club Dates: 28 June-11 July |
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full details here |
Second seed Daniil Medvedev fought back to beat Marin Cilic in five sets and reach the fourth round at Wimbledon - but Nick Kyrgios is out after he had to retire through injury.
The Russian, who had never before recovered from two sets down, roared back to win 6-7 (3-7) 3-6 6-3 6-3 6-2.
Medvedev will meet Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in the last 16 on Monday.
However, Kyrgios had to withdraw when tied at one set all against Canadian 16th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Australian, who had taken the first set 6-2, called time on a tournament he later said had given him a "second wind" after Auger-Aliassime claimed the second 6-1.
Kyrgios complained of an injured abdominal muscle towards the end of the first set, and the setback may mean his mixed doubles partnership with Venus Williams is over too.
"I haven't played this level of tennis in a long time, and playing someone as good as Felix, I want my main weapon, my serve, to be firing on all cylinders," said Kyrgios.
"I just felt my ab, I definitely did something to it towards the end of the first set. That's just the way it goes, he's a hell of a player, he's going to do some special things in this sport."
Wimbledon 2021: Medvedev fights back to overcome Cilic for place in last 16
World number two Medvedev had never been beyond the third round at Wimbledon and it looked as though his aspirations might be over for another year as he fell two sets behind against 2017 finalist Cilic.
Medvedev came up short in a first-set tie-break and was broken twice in the second, but he won four games in a row to take control of the third and give himself hope.
He carried that momentum into the fourth set, an early break enough to restore parity in the match, before three successive breaks against a stunned Cilic in the decider handed him a 5-0 advantage. Although Cilic retrieved one break, Medvedev served out at the second attempt.
Australia's Nick Kyrgios retires during third-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime
Kyrgios 'sorry he couldn't give more'
Kyrgios had played little tennis before coming to Wimbledon, opting to stay in Australia throughout the coronavirus pandemic and going 12 months without a competitive match.
Despite being just 26, on Friday he said he is in the "later stage" of his career and has previously spoken of how he lacks motivation to play, but Wimbledon might just have changed that.
"Playing out here, and having this support, has maybe made me have a second wind, I reckon I'm going to come back and play for a bit longer," he said.
"I did all I could to prepare, to get here, I beat a heck of a player in the first round and I played a great second round, I tried to play as long as I could and I'm sorry that I couldn't give you more today."
Kyrgios had caused the start of the match on Court One to be delayed after leaving his shoes in the locker room.
He thrilled the crowd with underarm serves and hot dog shots, before his medical timeout towards the end of the first set put a stop to his usual entertaining antics.
Auger-Aliassime, 20, will face fourth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in the last 16 after his 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win over American Taylor Fritz.
Berrettini through in straight sets
Elsewhere, Italian Matteo Berrettini eased into the fourth round with a straight-set victory over Aljaz Bedene.
The seventh seed, who beat Briton Cameron Norrie in the final at Queen's last month, comfortably outclassed his Slovenian opponent 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Berrettini did not lose a service game as he notched up an impressive 20 aces.
He will play Ilya Ivashka of Belarus after his 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over Australian Jordan Thompson.
The unseeded Ivashka won six of his seven break points to clinch victory, as he reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first in his career.
Poland's Hurkaczalso won in straight sets as he quickly brushed aside Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-3 6-4 6-4 in 84 minutes.
The 14th seed, who has not dropped a set so far in the tournament, was in imperious form as he hit 33 winners.
Italian Lorenzo Sonego sent down 14 aces as he overpowered Australian James Duckworth to complete a straightforward 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory and secure a meeting with Swiss eight-time champion Roger Federer, who beat Cameron Norrie in four sets.
The 23rd seed's win ensured there are two Italians in the last 16 at Wimbledon for first time since 1955, although nobody from the country has ever won the men's tournament.
'It's about doing the best you can each day': Life lessons from tennis legends
The young people being priced out: 'You could work hard for years and never afford anything'
