LONDON, July 6: Alexander Zverev avoided a shock Wimbledon exit as the world number three battled back to beat American youngster Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (0/7), 6-1, 6-2 on Friday.
Zverev had just lost the third set when bad light forced play to be suspended late on Thursday evening.
But the 21-year-old German has plenty of practice at scrambling out of trouble after three times winning from two sets to one down at the recent French Open.
He staged another impressive escape act on Court One, winning the final two sets to move into the third round.
Zverev will face Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis for a place in the last 16.
After enjoying the best Grand Slam run of his career when he made the French Open quarterfinals last month, Zverev is hoping to reach the last eight at Wimbledon for the first time.
He was beaten in the fourth round last year.
Following early exits for Swiss 16th seed Borna Coric and Canadian world number 25 Denis Shapovalov, Zverev�s win was a boost for the group of young prodigies branded the sport�s �NextGen� stars by the ATP.
Like Zverev, the 20-year-old Fritz is a former junior world number one ear-marked for great things but yet to truly arrive at the highest level.
Fritz, ranked 68th, has strong tennis genes as his mother Kathy reached the Wimbledon last 16 in 1977.
But, looking for a first win over a top five player, he let Zverev off the hook with a disappointing collapse.
World No. 44 Gael Monfils defeated 11th seed Sam Querrey to book a place in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
The Frenchman came back from a set down to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 after having a medical timeout for a groin injury.
It is the first time Monfils has gone beyond the third round at Wimbledon.
Monfils, who recovered from his injury scare to comfortably win the final two sets, said �loosened up� after assistance from his physio and was told to �go for it�.
Earlier on Thursday, defending champion Garbine Muguruza was sensationally knocked out of Wimbledon by journeywoman Alison van Uytvanck, leaving just one of the top six seeds left after only two rounds.
Belgian 47th-ranked Van Uytvanck triumphed 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 for her first-ever win over a top 10 opponent.
Muguruza�s defeat leaves just top seed Simona Halep, number seven Karolina Pliskova and 10th seed Madison Keys as the remaining top-ranked contenders after two rounds.
In the men�s event, third seed and last year�s runner-up Marin Cilic was knocked out by Argentina�s Guido Pella.
�I knew that if I let her play, I would lose so I thought, let�s go for it,� said 24-year-old Van Uytvanck, who has made the third round for the first time.
�I may have looked calm but inside I was dying.� Muguruza admitted it had not been her day. � AFP
