Wimbledon: Early exit for fifth seed Kei Nishikori at the hands of 18th seed Bautista-Agut

Kei Nishikori suffered fresh Wimbledon misery as the Japanese star crashed to a shock third round exit against Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday.

Former US Open finalist Nishikori had hoped to finally advance past the fourth round at Wimbledon this year.

But the world No 9 didn’t even reach the last-16 as he was over-powered 6-4, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3 by the Spanish 18th seed in three hours and 20 minutes.

The Spaniard hit 40 winners and 29 unforced errors to Nishikori’s 52 winners and 48 unforced errors, and won 75% points on his first serves to the Japanese player converting 70% of his first serves. Both players were poor in their break point conversion. Bautista Agut converted three of the 11 break points he had on Nishikori’s serve, while the latter won two of the 11 break points on his opponent’s serve.

Bautista Agut will play Marin Cilic for a place in the quarter-finals.

Straight-forward does it for Marin Cilic

The seventh seeded Croatian won his third round matchup against American Steve Johnson, seeded 26th in the draw, in straight sets. Cilic won 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4 in two hours and 11 minutes.

Cilic, who had reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year could convert only four of the 15 break points he had on Johnson’s serve. But, while Johnson saved the majority of break points he faced, he was also equally good in converting both break points he held on Cilic’s serve.

Cilic finished the match with 40 winners to Johnson’s 26 and 13 unforced errors to Johnson’s 26. He wrapped up the match with a total of 112 points to Johnson’s 86.