Wimbledon: Marin Cilic beats Querrey in second-longest match

It went to a final set that Cilic eventually won after he broke serve in the 31st game and then held on his own delivery.

Cilic, who won the Aegon Championship at Queen’s two weeks ago, slumped in his chair with relief after five hours and 30 minutes of play that ended with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-7 (3/7) 17-15 win for the 16th seed.

Cilic broke through in the 11th game when Querrey punched a forehand long after a tense rally. But, serving for the match, the Croatian buckled under pressure, handing Querrey two break points and the American grabbed the first opportunity when his opponent cleared the baseline with a forehand.

Both players held firm until that 31st game when Querrey netted at 30-40.

Cilic held his nerve to win a 29-stroke rally at 30-30 in the next game and the 6ft 6in player punched the air after his American opponent hit a woeful backhand long.

Andy Roddick made a third-round exit for the second year in a row as his challenge petered out at the hands of Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer, who sealed a 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Ninth seed Juan Martin del Potro also went through, seeing off Kei Nishikori in straight sets, and he now meets Ferrer, while Mardy Fish and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will meet in a tasty-looking encounter.

Fish was a routine winner over David Goffin 6-3, 7-6 (8/6,) 7-6 (8/6) while Tsonga was largely untroubled in getting past Lukas Lacko 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.