Guido Pella rallies from two sets down to stun Marin Cilic
Marin Cilic became the most high-profile casualty in the men's draw, squandering a two-set lead to bow out at the hands of Guido Pella.
Guido Pella pulled off a huge upset by coming from two sets down to beat last year's runner-up Marin Cilic in the second round at Wimbledon. Third seed Cilic was two sets up when rain brought play to a halt on Wednesday, but Pella produced the biggest shock in the men's draw to come storming back and win 3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-5.
Pella claims first scalp
Pella had never been beyond the second round of a grand slam nor won a main draw match at Wimbledon before this week, but the world number 82 from Argentina pulled himself off the ropes to dump out one of the favourites for the title and set up a meeting with Mackenzie McDonald.
Cilic had been dominant before the rain came, but the world number five was totally out of sorts when the match resumed on Thursday, committing 63 unforced errors as he bowed out after showing so much promise when he was crowned champion at Queen's. An inspired Pella capitalised on a flat performance from Cilic, beaten by Roger Federer in the final 12 months ago, raising his first-serve percentage and making just 18 unforced errors as the 2014 US Open champion toiled.
Cilic powerless to respond
Pella resumed with a 4-3 lead in the third set and prolonged the contest with two holds to love, then came from 3-1 down in the fourth to set up a tie-break, which he won despite falling 2-0 behind. Cilic was unable to halt the momentum as he struggled on No.1 Court, but hung in there with a gutsy hold to level at 5-5 after saving two match points.
The 28-year-old Pella was not to be denied, though, a tight Cilic double-faulting and netting a forehand to crash out against an outsider who was knocked out in the first round in his last two tournaments prior to the grass-court major at SW19.