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Rafael Nadal returns a ball during the third round match against Mikhail Kukushkin at Wimbledon.[/caption]
London, July 5 (PTI/AFP): World number one Rafael Nadal made it to the third round at Wimbledon with a straight sets victory over Mikhail Kukushkin on Thursday.
The Spanish second seed won 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court against the world number 77.
Nadal, a two-time Wimbledon champion, faces Australia's Alex De Minaur on Saturday for a place in the last 16.
Cilic suffers shock defeat
Marin Cilic suffered a shock Wimbledon second round exit as last year's runner-up blew a two-set lead in his 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 loss to Argentina's Guido Pella on Thursday.
When rain forced the tie to be postponed on Wednesday evening, third seed Cilic was leading by two sets against an unheralded opponent who had never won a match at Wimbledon before this year.
But the Croatian, who lost to Roger Federer in the 2017 final, collapsed once the match resumed on Court One and world number 82 Pella took full advantage to set up a third round clash with Mackenzie McDonald.
Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, had been expected to mount a strong challenge for the Wimbledon title after winning the grass-court warm-up at Queen's Club two weeks ago.
The big-serving 29-year-old had only once before lost to a player ranked as low as Pella at Wimbledon, when he was beaten by world number 145 Arnaud Clement 10 years ago.
But after reaching the Australian Open final and French Open quarter-finals earlier this year, Cilic suffered one of the worst results of his career.
Pella is into the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time.The 28-year-old admitted the over-night rain delay had been a huge boost as it allowed him to change his tactics and pull off a sensational fightback.
Djokovic through to last 32
Novak Djokovic made it through to the third round at Wimbledon with a straight sets win over Horacio Zeballos of Argentina.
The former world number one, seeded 12th at the All England Club as he makes his way back from an elbow injury, won 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 for his 60th win at the tournament.
The three-time Wimbledon champion, more used to playing on the main Centre Court or Court One arenas, was in the strange position of playing on the 4,000-seater Court Two.
Djokovic had treatment on his left thigh in the third set but overcame the problem to see out the set.
He faces either British 21st seed Kyle Edmund or US qualifier Bradley Klahn in Saturday's third round.
