LONDON, June 30: Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori struggled into the Wimbledon third round today while Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic and Spanish veteran David Ferrer exited as the All England Club played catch-up after a rain-lashed two days.
Nishikori saw off France’s world number 547 Julien Benneteau 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Centre Court and goes on to meet Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov.
“I started playing more aggressive and more solid,” said the 26-year-old Nishikori who has never got beyond the Wimbledon fourth round.
“It wasn’t an easy match. He started well so it was a great match for me.”
Nineteen-year-old Bencic became the highest-ranked casualty at Wimbledon when the seventh seed retired from her second round match against American qualifier Julia Boserup.
Bencic was 6-4, 1-0 down on Court Three to the world number 225 who is making her Grand Slam debut.
Bencic, who missed the clay court season with a back injury, had only completed her first round match late Wednesday and struggled Thursday with what appeared to be a wrist problem.
Boserup, 24, goes on to face Andrea Petkovic of Germany or Russia’s Elena Vesnina for a place in the last 16.
Spain’s David Ferrer, the 13th seed, lost to fellow 34-year-old — and grass court specialist — Nicolas Mahut 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.
Canadian sixth seed Milos Raonic, regarded as a dark horse for the title, brushed past Andreas Seppi 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-2.
Raonic, a semi-finalist in 2014, next faces Jack Sock of the United States.
Sock’s compatriot Sam Querrey, the 28th seed, eased past Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 for the dubious honour of facing defending champion Novak Djokovic for a place in the last 16.
Britain’s Dan Evans also booked a date to remember when his 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-1 win over Ukrainian 30th seed Aleksandr Dolgopolov handed him a third round clash with seven-time champion Roger Federer. (Agencies)
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