Top seed and reigning champion Novak Djokovic pulled off a great escape at Wimbledon in beating South African Kevin Anderson yesterday after five tense sets to reach his 25th successive grand slam quarter-final.

In a match spanning two days, with the top seed fighting back to two sets all in fading light on Monday before play was stopped and carried over, Djokovic walked away a mightily relieved man with a 6-7(6) 6-7(6) 6-1 6-4 7-5 win.

“I think he served exceptionally well. This was one of the most difficult matches I have played here and maybe in my career,” he said.

He now faces Marin Cilic of Croatia in the last eight.

The players had walked out to cheers for the final set but the entry proved premature, with umbrellas going up and the rain covers hurriedly pulled across Court One as the pair returned to the locker room.

When the match started, Anderson blasted down two aces, followed by a backhand volley and another bullet that fizzed past Djokovic, to hold serve.

The games went with serve to 5-4, with Djokovic needing all his focus as he served to stay in the match.

He then broke Anderson to go 6-5 up as the South African suddenly lost his aim and doubled-faulted twice to 15-40 before scooping a Djokovic return into the net.