LONDON — Top seed Novak Djokovic on Tuesday completed a dramatic comeback to post a 6-7 (6-8), 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 victory again Kevin Anderson and reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
The match had been interrupted after three hours on Monday night due to poor lighting with the score level at two sets apiece.
After the win, Djokovic called it “one of most difficult matches at Wimbledon and maybe of my career.”
Women’s 2004 champion Maria Sharapova also won a tough match as she overcame first-time quarterfinalist Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2.
“I’ve played five matches already, I’ve faced different challenges, matches, opponents, circumstances,” Sharapova said. “The first four I played quite well and got the job done in two sets. Today serving for the second set, I could have made it easier for myself. We went into the third, but I still got the job done.
“I have to be pleased with that, that I’m in the position of being in a semifinal again after these many years.”
Sharapova will play longtime rival Serena Williams, a winner over Victoria Azarenka 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Williams is aiming for a 21st Grand Slam title and her third major of this season. She stands a formidable 17-2 over Sharapova and has not lost to her in more than a decade.
In other matches, Garbine Muguruza earned a berth to her first semifinal at a major by beating Timea Bacsinszky, the 15th seed, 7-5, 6-3. She is the first Spanish woman to reach the semis at Wimbledon since Arantza Sanchez Vicario in 1997.
Agnieszka Radwanska beat Madison Keys 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-3 and will face Muguruza.
Djokovic, the men’s defending champion, had to struggle to recover after the hard-hitting Anderson put him in a two-sets-to-love hole, from which Djokovic rallied for only the fourth time in his career.
The match was decided by the Tuesday concluding set, which began half an hour late due to a passing rain shower.
Anderson fired 40 aces in a losing effort lasting a total of three hours, 45 minutes.
A sudden late series of errors from Anderson — two double-faults in the penultimate game — gave Djokovic a break for 5-4 as the 14th seed missed on a volley drilled at his feet.
Djokovic then seized his chance and closed out victory a game later as Anderson mishit a forehand to yield a match point and Djokovic moved through after an ensuing long return.
“He served exceptionally well,” said Djokovic after reaching his 25th consecutive quarterfinal at a Grand Slam. “At times I was helpless on return. It was tough to read his serve. He was playing very aggressive, it was high-quality tennis in the fifth set.
“Being down two sets to love and coming back to win it gives me great satisfaction and confidence for the next challenge,” added Djokovic, an eight-time Grand Slam winner who plays US Open champion Marin Cilic on Wednesday. “I had frustration at times, but I managed to go through and that is what matters. Kevin could have easily won this match.”