More shocks prevented

The shock of Rafael Nadal's elimination the previous evening, was a major point of discussion but it was nearly overshadowed by the sight of both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer becoming embroiled in similar situations.

Lucas Rosol, the man who has to date inflicted the greatest damage to the men's draw, will have provided fellow journeymen with high hopes of emulating the giant killing deeds which they can usually only dream about.

Radek Stepanek and Julien Benneteau certainly looked as if they had been inspired by the Czech as Djokovic and Federer were respectively treated with the lack of respect their standing in the game deserves.

Firts Djokovic was forced to recover from the loss of the opening set to Stepanek, but he did quickly and soon put his 33 year-old challenger back in his box to run out a 4-6 6-2 6-2 6-2.

Later in the day, Federer found he had his hands full when Julien Benneteau, playing some aggressive tennis having taken his lead from Rosol, took a two sets to love lead.

Drawing on his greater experience, the six-time champion worked his way back into the match to eventually claim his place in the fourth round, 4-6 6-7(3) 6-2 7-6(6) 6-1.

But it was a close run thing and there can be no doubt that the great Swiss came within points of suffering defeat and joining Nadal on a flight home.

Djokovic next match shouldn't cause him any problems as he faces countryman Victor Troicki who put out the 15^th seed from the Argentine, Juan Monaco, 7-5 7-5 6-3, for a place in the quarter finals.

Stepanek must have been fired up when the umpire ruled that his bright red and blue tennis shoes broke the Wimbledon predominantly white rule. Changing into more appropriate white and green footwear he certainly took the defending champion by storm with his attacking game only for his game to tail off Djokovic gained control.

Having briefly sampled the prospect of an upset, the crowd were then handed a real treat as Benneteau came close to providing a second shock at Wimbledon.

It all hinged on the fourth set which Benneteau knew he had to win as his legs were starting to tire. He held off three break points and eventually it all came down to the tie-breaker where Federer was, on five occasions, two points away from defeat. On all those occasions, his serve came to his aid as he held on to take the match into a deciding set.

That was one set too much for the Frenchman who capitulated scoring just a solitary game as the Maestro breathed a sigh of relief.

Bearing in mind Nadals defeat, and the challenges offered the other two major tennis names, it wasn't surprising to hear Djokovic comment: You cannot underestimate any opponent. Tennis is improving."