Kei Nishikori needed two days and five nail-biting sets but eventually defeated Italy's Simone Bolelli 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career on Monday.
Momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the over three-hour-long saga, but Nishikori had just enough in the tank to overcome a valiant effort from 132nd-ranked Bolelli.
The match began on Saturday but was delayed by several hours due to persistent rain at the All England Club. When play finally began on Saturday evening it was Bolelli who started stronger using a potent one-two combination of a big serve and an explosive forehand to take the first set with Nishikori looking somewhat disjointed.