LONDON: Former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber was put through the wringer early in her third-round clash with unseeded Aliaksandra Sasnovich on Saturday but the German rallied from a set down to win 2-6, 6-0, 6-1 after a rain delay.
Kerber faced a tough test against Sara Sorribes Tormo in the previous round before overcoming the Spaniard in the longest women's match at Wimbledon since 2011 and made a sluggish start on Saturday by twice dropping serve in the opening set to give Sasnovich a 4-0 lead.
World number 100 Sasnovich, taking on a second former All England champion this week after watching Serena Williams limp off injured in their opener, wrapped up the first set in style after rain temporarily halted the action on Court Two.
Kerber had warmed up for Wimbledon with her first title in three years at the inaugural Bad Homburg tournament last week and the 33-year-old showed why she cannot be written off on grass with a blistering response in the second set.
The 2018 champion shot out of the blocks, playing inspired tennis to hand her 27-year-old opponent a bagel and level the contest at one set apiece.
A wayward forehand by Sasnovich gifted Kerber the advantage at 3-1 in the decider and the only remaining Wimbledon champion in the women's singles draw further tightened her grip on the match before finishing with an ace to reach the last 16.
In the fourth round, 25th seed Kerber will face American teenager Coco Gauff.
Seventeen-year-old American Coco Gauff matched her dream Wimbledon debut as she again reached the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Kaja Juvan.
Gauff, the 23rd seed, stormed through the opening games with a barrage of power serves on Centre Court but was asked some awkward questions by 102nd-ranked Juvan.
Ostapenko loses to Tomljanovic
In-form Jelena Ostapenko's Wimbledon hopes were dashed in a stormy defeat by Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round, with the players exchanging angry words at the net.
Latvian Ostapenko, winner of the Eastbourne grasscourt title and a dark horse at Wimbledon, went down 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 against the world number 75.
Things boiled over when Ostapenko asked for a medical timeout when trailing 4-0 in the deciding set - prompting a furious response by Tomljanovic who accused her opponent of feigning injury in an attempt to break her rhythm.
"You know she's lying," Tomljanovic told the umpire, demanding that the supervisor be called to court.
The war of words continued at the end of the match.
Ostapenko: "If you think I'm faking it, you can talk with the physio."
Tomljanovic: "I hope you feel better."
Ostapenko: "Your behaviour is terrible. You have zero respect."
Tomljanovic: "You are the one to talk."
Ostapenko: "What? So bad, so bad. You're the worst player on Tour."
Tomljanovic had already surpassed her best Wimbledon effort by reaching round three and will now take on British teenage wildcard sensation Emma Raducanu in the last 16.
Kyrgios forced out
by injury
It was good while it lasted but Nick Kyrgios's return to action was cut short by injury as the Australian maverick was forced to quit after two sets against Felix Auger-Aliassime at Wimbledon.
Kyrgios looked great in the opening set as he broke the 16th seed's serve three times but needed an injury timeout to have treatment on his stomach muscles at 5-2.
Grimacing in discomfort he managed to finish off the opening set but he was clearly hampered during the second set, especially on his serve which suddenly lost all its venom.
After Auger-Aliassime had levelled the match, Kyrgios walked around the net post and shook hands, much to the disappointment of the Court One crowd who were hoping for a classic.
Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini strengthened his status as a genuine Wimbledon title contender by cruising into the fourth round with a convincing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia.
The 25-year-old Italian put his booming serve and crunching forehand to good use against the 64th-ranked Bedene whom he defeated in four sets on his way to the second week of the grasscourt Grand Slam in 2019.
There was more joy for Italians on Saturday as 23rd seed Lorenzo Sonego defeated Australian James Duckworth 6-3 6-4 6-4, making it just the third time that two Italian men have advanced to the fourth round of the grasscourt major.
He will next meet Belarusian Ilya Ivashka, who also had a easy passage into the round of 16 with an identical 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jordan Thompson of Australia. Agencies
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