Nadal passes tricky test, Cilic and Wawrinka bow out

Two-time champion Nadal, 32, never quite got to grips with the unorthodox Kazakh’s low, skidding shots and faced 13 break points in an entertaining Centre Court contest. Had Kukushkin converted a few more of them, it could have got really complicated for Nadal, who is still finding his grass court game after claiming an 11th French Open title.

Nadal took 10 minutes to hold his opening service game and was still being asked questions by the world number 77 in the third when he slipped 1-3 behind in the face of some inspired shot-making by his opponent. The 17-time Grand Slam champion dug in though and managed to avoid being dragged further into the afternoon, claiming victory when Kukushkin’s forehand smacked into the net tape.

Nadal will face Australian teenager Alex De Minaur next. Wimbledon 2017 runner-up Marin Cilic, a favourite to go far in the tournament again this year, suffered a shock 3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6(3) 7-5 defeat by Argentine Guido Pella in the second round.

The Croatian third seed began the day two sets up but 4-3 down on Pella’s serve in the third, following Wednesday evening’s halt for rain and found his opponent very much up for the fight. Pella wrapped up the third set comfortably, then shaded an exciting fourth set that included two breaks of serve for each player with Pella taking command in the tiebreak to clinch it 7-3.

The deciding set went with serve until Pella clinched his first victory over a top-five player on his fourth match point after Cilic had already saved two in the 10th game and another when 30-40 down. Pella, who has very limited experience on grass and had lost to Cilic in three sets at the 2015 US Open in their only previous meeting, was undoubtedly helped by Wednesday’s rain interruptions.

Stan Wawrinka’s woeful run at recent Grand Slams continued when the Swiss lost 6-7(7) 3-6 6-7(6) in the Wimbledon second round against Italian journeyman Thomas Fabbiano. Wawrinka, winner of three Grand Slam tournaments, trailed by two sets overnight, having squandered set points in the opener, but led 6-5 in the third when play resumed in muggy conditions.

He then had two set points in the tiebreak but missed both, spraying one backhand well wide, and the 29-year-old Fabbiano completed the best win of his career.