Nadal wins, Cilic loses

London, July 5 

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic battled into the Wimbledon third round but 2017 runner-up Marin Cilic crashed out. Nadal defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 6-4 6-3 6-4 and will next face Australian teenager Alex de Minaur. 

Djokovic needed treatment on his left thigh on Court 2 but still had too many weapons for Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos, winning 6-1 6-2 6-3. Djokovic has now made the third round for 10 consecutive years and will face either British 21st seed Kyle Edmund or US qualifier Bradley Klahn. Nadal was tested by world No. 77 Kukushkin, a player who is coached by his wife. The Kazakhstani was made to pay for converting just two of 13 break points in the match. 

Djokovic’s 60

For Djokovic, meanwhile, victory was his 60th at Wimbledon — making him just the fifth man to claim 60 wins at the All England Club in the Open Era. Djokovic hit 15 aces and 31 winners in a commanding win over 33-year-old Zeballos. — AFP