Wimbledon: Serena survives major scare

Wimbledon delayed Friday's play with a minute of silence to commemorate the victims of the Tunisia beach massacre, with tens of thousands of spectators coming to a standstill. British tourists made up 30 of the 38 victims of last Friday's attack.

As play began, Novak Djokovic showed that his eyes a firmly on the prize at the end of the tournament, as he strolled past Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. He has yet to lose a set at Wimbledon, and was even able to sign a fan's prosthetic leg after the match. "The gentleman gave me his artifical leg... I want to be politically correct about it," Djokovic said. "I gave him his signature and I hope he feels better."

Stan Wawrinka continued his good form, beating Fernando Verdasco in straight sets. The US Open champion will now face Belgium's David Goffin, who beat also won in three on Friday, for a place in the quarterfinals. Richard Gasquet made it to week two for the first time since 2012 after beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Passionate Australian Nick Kyrgios beat Canadian Milos Raonic in four sets. The Aussie double-faulted three times in the same game to give away the first set, but then mounted a comeback with some ambitious shots that he pulled off to seal a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 victory. Kyrgios now faces another rematch in the fourth round against Gasquet after beating the Frenchman in a dramatic five-setter in the second round last year, a match in which he saved nine match points.

Watson inspires despite defeat

The story of the day came with the final game on Centre Court, as home favorite Heather Watson took on world number one Serena Williams in what turned out to be an enthralling match. Williams, in the end, coming out on top with a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win.

The match came alive in the final deciding set, as both players exchanged breaks of serve as the Centre Court crowd erupted with noise on several occasions. After three breaks each and a dramatic turnaround from Williams in the tenth game, the score was at 5-5. Williams made it 6-5, before sealing the win with her fourth match point.

"That was one of the hardest matches I've ever played at Wimbledon," Williams said after the match. She [Heather] really should have won. She showed everyone how good she is." Serena will now face sister Venus in the last 16.

It was the end of the road for Andrea Petkovic at Wimbledon on Friday. The 14th seed was beaten 5-7, 4-6 by Zarina Diyas. She was in tears at the side of the court after the defeat, which has once again ended her chances of a first Grand Slam title.

Maria Sharapova showed no signs of misplacing a stroke, as she progressed throught the third round after a 6-4, 6-4 win over Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu on Friday. The 2004 champion saw off a late challenge to book her place in the last 16. "What everyone at this stage of the tournament expects is to go further and expect more, better things from yourself. As the matches get tougher, you have to raise your level," the fourth seed said.

CoCo Vandeweghe stunned Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-0 to make her first ever Grand Slam fourth round. The 47th-ranked Vandeweghe took just an hour to beat the 2011 US Open champion on Friday.

jh/apc (AFP, AP)