Medvedev tested by Cilic; Federer gets past crowd favorite Norrie

London, Jul 3 (EFE).- World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev needed the better part of four hours Saturday to defeat 32nd-ranked Marin Cilic 6-7 (3), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 and advance to the round of 16 at Wimbledon.

Three years after reaching the Wimbledon final, the Croatian threatened to derail Medvedev’s pursuit of a first Grand Slam title, but the Russian bounced back to win 16 of the last 22 games and improve on his best previous performance at the All England Club.

The next hurdle for Medvedev, who lost the 2021 Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic, will be Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 winner Saturday against Alexander Bublik.

Roger Federer, who has lifted the Wimbledon trophy eight times, overcame a hiccup in the third set to prevail 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 Saturday over Briton Cameron Norrie, the clear favorite of the Center Court crowd.

The 39-year-old Swiss great took the first two sets without incidence and was poised to finish off Norrie in the third until he failed to convert two break points at 5-5, going on to concede the next eight points.

But the world No. 8 recovered in the fourth set and is headed to the fourth round at Wimbledon for the 18th time. Federer’s next opponent is Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, who beat James Duckworth 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Saturday to advance.

In Saturday’s other action on the men’s side, sixth-ranked Alexander Zverev of Germany defeated American Taylor Fritz 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6, to set up a fourth-round contest with Felix Auger Aliassime.

Italian emerging star Matteo Berrettini dispatched Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and will face Ilya Ivashka in the fourth round. EFE msg/dr