(Wimbledon) Rafael Nadal, world N.4, lost another round, as in the first round, before qualifying for the 3rd on Thursdaye round of Wimbledon at the expense of Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (106e) discarded 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Posted yesterday at 3:16 p.m.
In the first two rounds, the Spaniard in search of a third coronation on the London turf to bring his record of Grand Slam titles to 23, managed the decisive break while leading 5-4.
Broken from the start in the third heat, he ran after Berankis without managing to catch up with him.
But in the fourth set, Nadal broke to immediately lead 3-0 when a downpour forced the referee to stop the game. Once the tarp was removed and the court restored, the match resumed under the closed roof.
The Lithuanian was never able to come back and Nadal concluded with an ace.
Winner of the first two Grand Slam tournaments of the season, at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, the Spaniard with a record of 22 major titles will face the 3e round the Italian Lorenzo Sonego (54e).
Since the start of the tournament, the double winner (2008 and 2010) has not seemed bothered by his left foot affected by a degenerative and incurable disease (Müller-Weiss syndrome) which threatens the rest of his career.