WIMBLEDON, England — Things got quite complicated for Rafael Nadal on Saturday.
His right knee was bothering him “a lot,” something he later would say he’s “a little bit scared about.” His left elbow was briefly in pain, too, following one serve.
He got into a dispute with the chair umpire over whether Toni Nadal, Rafael’s uncle, was coaching during the match, which is against the rules.
Oh, and then there was this issue, of most immediate concern Saturday: For the second consecutive round at Wimbledon, Nadal fell behind by two sets to one.
For the second consecutive round, though, the generally indefatigable Nadal came back and came through, this time pulling out a 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 victory over 33rdseeded Philipp Petzschner of Germany to reach the second week.
“This match was very difficult for me,” Nadal said. “Having a five-set match two days ago and one today - that’s tough. I’m happy to be in the fourth round. I’m going to try to be better for Monday.”
That’s when the grasscourt Grand Slam tournament will resume after observing its traditional day of rest on the middle Sunday, and all 32 players still in the event will be on the jam-packed schedule.
Nadal will meet 66thranked Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, who beat Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-7 (8), 6-4. In his previous outing, de Bakker eliminated John Isner, the 6-9 American who won the longest match in tennis history, 70-68 in the fifth set.
Isner was still in town Saturday morning, having breakfast in Wimbledon village with doubles partner and pal Sam Querrey. Hours later, as darkness descended, No. 18 Querrey won his own lengthy match, reaching Wimbledon’s fourth round for the first time by defeating 2002 semifinalist Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 9-7. The final point was played at 9:23 p.m., and Querrey figured the match would have been suspended and continued Monday if hehadn’t won when he did.
Next up for Querrey, a 22-year-old from Santa Monica, Calif., is a Centre Court contest against No. 4 Andy Murray, trying to become Britain’s first Wimbledon men’s champion since Fred Perry in 1936.
“I think it’ll be 99 percent for Murray,” Querrey said, “and, like, my mom and dad and sister cheering for me.”
Murray, who hasn’t dropped a set so far, beat No. 26 Gilles Simon of France 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 Saturday.
Other fourth-round men’s matches Monday will include two-time French Open runnerup Robin Soderling of Sweden vs. No. 9 David Ferrer of Spain, and No. 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. No. 32 Julien Benneteau inan all-French pairing.
Neither of those is nearly as intriguing as the women’s matchup between 12-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and three-time major winner Maria Sharapova. It’s a rematch of the 2004 Wimbledon final, which Sharapova won, but Williams leads their career series 5-2.
“I love going on the court and playing someone that’s obviously the favorite,” Sharapova said.
Sharapova struggled at the start of her 7-5, 6-3 victory over 68th-ranked Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic. Defending champion Williams, in contrast, overwhelmed 46thranked Dominika Cibulkovaof Slovakia at the outset of what would become a 6-0, 7-5 victory. Williams hit 19 aces and afterward declared: “For the most part my serve works when I’m in trouble. At Wimbledon it works the whole match.”Saturday’s results At The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club Wimbledon, England Purse: $20.3 million (Grand Slam) Surface: Grass-Outdoor Singles Men’s Third Round David Ferrer (9), Spain, def. Jeremy Chardy, France, 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 7-5.
Robin Soderling (6), Sweden, def. Thomaz Bellucci (25), Brazil, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.
Paul-Henri Mathieu, France, def. Thiemo de Bakker, Netherlands, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-7 (8), 6-4.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (10), France, def. Tobias Kamke, Germany, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (1).
Julien Benneteau (32), France, def. Fabio Fognini, Italy, 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Rafael Nadal (2), Spain, def. Philipp Petzschner (33), Germany, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3.
Andy Murray (4), Britain, def. Gilles Simon (26), France, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Sam Querrey (18), United States, def. Xavier Malisse, Belgium, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 9-7.
Women’s Third Round Agnieszka Radwanska (7), Poland, def. Sara Errani (32), Italy, 6-3, 6-1.
Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic, def. Victoria Azarenka (14), Belarus, 7-5, 6-0.
Serena Williams (1), United States, def. Dominika Cibulkova, Slovakia, 6-0, 7-5.
Li Na (9), China, def. Anastasia Rodionova, Australia, 6-1, 6-3.
Caroline Wozniacki (3), Denmark, def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (29), Russia, 7-5, 6-4.
Klara Zakopalova, Czech Republic, def. Flavia Pennetta (10), Italy, 6-2, 6-3.
Maria Sharapova (16), Russia, def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-3.
Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, def. Alexandra Dulgheru (31), Romania, 6-1, 6-2.
Sports, Pages 37 on 06/27/2010