Wimbledon, Day 3 men’s roundup: Djokovic, Anderson advance; Verdasco beats Edmund, Wawrinka out

Veteran Fernando Verdasco staged the comeback of the day when he recovered from two sets down to defeat British No 1 Kyle Edmund 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4.

Scroll Staff

Jul 04, 2019 · 12:51 am Updated Jul 04, 2019 · 01:26 am

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Four-time champion Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon third round for the 11th successive year on Wednesday while 15-year-old Cori Gauff aimed to write another episode in her history-making All England Club debut.

Top seed Djokovic hit 13 aces and 37 winners as he eased past Denis Kudla of the United States, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

“I’m pleased with my game overall. There were some moments in the match where maybe I could have done better,” said the defending champion.

“But overall, a solid performance. I was returning well, I was serving mostly well. I’m really glad to overcome the challenge.”

Djokovic goes on to face Hubert Hurkacz for a place in the last 16 having defeated the Pole in straight sets in the first round at Roland Garros in May.

Victory in that match could see him face 18-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the youngest man in the draw. The 19th seed saw off French qualifier Corentin Moutet 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to make the third round of a Slam for the first time.

Last year’s beaten finalist Kevin Anderson, the South African fourth seed, also progressed with a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-4 victory over Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia.

Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco staged the comeback of the day when he recovered from two sets and 3-0 down to defeat British number one Kyle Edmund 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4.

Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka fell in five sets to 6ft 11in (2.1m) Reilly Opelka.

Two-time quarter-finalist Wawrinka, 34, was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 by his American opponent, the tallest man in the sport and 13 years his junior.

Opelka fired 23 aces and 59 winners and goes on to face 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic of Canada.

Opelka will be appearing in the third round at a Slam for the first time having never won a grass court match in his career prior to coming to Wimbledon.

Wawrinka won heartfelt applause for giving a line judge a warm embrace after accidentally colliding with her as he sprinted to hit a backhand.

“I was a bit too far to return a serve. I think I went against her, so I was sure she had some pain and was not happy, so I gave her a little hug,” said the genial Swiss