Top seed Novak Djokovic suffered an almighty scare against South African giant Kevin Anderson before bad light halted play with the score tied at two sets all in their fourth round match at Wimbledon.
The men's tennis world number one Novak Djokovic. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The world number one lost the first two sets 7-6(8) 7-6(8) on tiebreaks before roaring back to win the next two 6-1 6-4 and remain on course for a 25th successive grand slam quarter-final.
No respecter of reputations, 14th seed Anderson out-ran and out-reached the shaken Serb over the first two hours to send shudders of anticipation around Court One as a shock upset loomed.
They were the first sets the champion had dropped in this year's tournament and Djokovic looked uncomfortable against his opponent's booming 130mph deliveries and barely slower second serves.
With his back to the wall and staring at the earliest exit by a top seed in 14 years, the Serb then found a sudden burst of energy to raise his game and take the third set in a rattling 24 minutes.
He carried the momentum over into the fourth, racing against the fading of the light, and broke Anderson in the third game before serving out 6-4 as the clock passed the three hours mark.
Boos and shouts from the crowd of "play some more" greeted the umpire's decision to suspend the match until Tuesday as the players packed up to leave the court.
Meanwhile British tennis player Andy Murray is into his 18th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final and his 8th at Wimbledon, while the French Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka and women's number one Serena Williams also advanced.
The 2013 champion Murray beat the 36-year-old 6 foot 11 Croatian Ivo Karlovich - 3 sets to one on Centre Court.
Roger Federer's pursuit of an 18th grand slam title gathered momentum at Wimbledon on Monday as the Swiss reached his 45th major quarter-final with a serene 6-2 6-2 6-3 victory over Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
The world number two has now held strong for eight straight matches, stretching over 106 successive service games -- with Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber the last man to get a look in during last month's first round match at the Halle Open.
The women's tennis world number one Serena Williams is into the quarter-finals at Wimbledon after defeating sister Venus 6-4, 6-3.
Chasing her 21st grand slam, having won the last three, the younger Williams is also seeking to win a calendar grand slam for the first time in her career.
Serena Williams next plays Victoria Azarenka for a place in the semi-finals, while past champion Maria Sharpova is also through to the the quarter-finals after beating Kazakh Zarina Diyas in straight sets and will next play American Coco Vandeweghe.
The New Zealand tennis player Michael Venus has been beaten in the third round of doubles at Wimbledon by the world's top ranked doubles combination, the Bryan brothers, in straights sets this morning.
Venus and Croatian partner Mate Pavic lost to the top seeds, Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6(4) 6-3 6-1 in one hour 30 minutes on court 18.
The first set was game for game until the tiebreak with the New Zealand and Croat team competing on every point.
The second set the vital break came in the sixth game as Venus dropped serve and the Bryans hit some remarkable winners.
The third set was more straightforward as the Bryans became dominant and were able to hit some class shots from all angles.
At the completion of this year's Wimbledon Artem Sitak, Venus and Marcus Daniell will travel to Christchurch to join team mate Rubin Statham to play Davis Cup against India in the Asia/Oceania Group final from July 17th to 19th.
