Juan Martin del Potro is making the most of his second coming at Wimbledon.
Seven years have passed since he scalped Roger Federer at his peak in the US Open final – seven years of injury torment.
The Argentinian is back in SW19 and though not entirely free of the problems caused by a serious wrist injury, playing much like the man who stunned Federer in New York all those years ago.
Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka was his victim yesterday, beaten 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/2) 6-3, and as a word of warning for the rest of the field, Del Potro claims he may not be back to his best until 2017.
“I would like to be 100 per cent for the next season,” said the world number 185.
“As you can see, my backhand is not 100 per cent yet. I know how far I am from my high level. I’ve been working hard to be 100 per cent next season.”
Del Potro was last on Centre Court in the 2013 semi-final against Novak Djokovic – his last outing at Wimbledon full stop.
“It was great to come again,” he said of beating Wawrinka on the main court.
“The crowd was unbelievable with me. The atmosphere on there was amazing. They have a respect for me. It’s very nice just to be on the Centre Court of this magnificent tournament. Is great for all players.”
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was in no mood to hang about on Friday, racing to a one-set lead in just 18 minutes against Argentina’s Juan Monaco some three hours after they first warmed up on another rain-interrupted day at Wimbledon.
The pair were among eight matchups at the bottom of the men’s draw waiting to play their round two matches at the start of day five.
Monaco put the brakes on the Frenchman in the second and third sets and Tsonga’s service level dipped, but the 12th seed won through 6-1 6-4 6-3 in one hour 23 minutes - the third fastest men’s match of the tournament so far.
The rain delays, which had also held up eight women’s second round ties, have prompted organisers to consider playing matches tomorrow, usually a rest day.
Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych also sped through to beat the rain, downing Germany’s Benjamin Becker 6-4 6-1 6-2 and taking just a minute longer than Tsonga to secure his place in round three.
France’s Lucas Pouille, seeded 32, also made it through, defeating American Donald Young.
Serena Williams composed herself after a first-set loss and a burst of anger to vanquish tenacious fellow American Christina McHale 6-7(7) 6-2 6-4.
The defending champion finally ran out a winner against the world no. 65, marching on in her quest to emulate Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 grand slam singles titles.
Williams thought she had won the first set and was walking back to her chair after a McHale forehand was called long with the world number one 5-4 and 40-30 up. To her chagrin, however, a Hawkeye challenge showed the ball brushing the baseline.
McHale went on to win the game and force a tiebreak in which a rattled Williams made a string of errors before burying a forehand into the net to lose the set.
Furious as she sat down, she hammered her racket into the ground in frustration before hurling it behind her.
But the 34-year-old put the disappointment behind her and showed the battling form that has won her six Wimbledon crowns to take the next two sets, closing out the match with three aces.
Battling Venus
Venus Williams, at 36 the oldest woman in the draw, overcame rain interruptions and Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina 7-5 4-6 10-8 to reach the fourth round.
Kasatkina, 19, demonstrated clearly how she has leapt 128 places up the rankings in the last year, saving two match points, one after a lengthy rain stoppage.
The women were forced off court with Williams on match point as the heavens opened for a third time in the match, the scoreboard showing 7-5 4-6 7-6 and 40-30 in the eighth seed's favour. Kasatkina won the next three points using a hefty serve.
Five-times champion Williams finally downed the 29th-seeded Wimbledon debutant on her third match point with a fierce return.
Other results: Federer bt Evans 6-4, 6-2 6-2; Querrey leads Djokovic 7-6 6-1 (match interrupted by rain).