Rib injury forces Nishikori to withdraw from Wimbledon

One game later, trailing 6-1 5-1, he finally listened to Chang, who could be heard saying “Don’t push it, it’s not worth it”. I was hoping to get better, but it was too much pain. “Every point I played, get worse”.

Nishikori’s troubles were evident during the first set, when he found himself 5-0 down within 10 minutes, having won just two points as Cilic hit 10 aces.

Cilic will not be back on the traditional rest day, though, with his passage to the fourth round booked thanks to a three-set win over Lukas Lacko.

He battled on for a while but with the former US Open champion leading 6-1 5-1, Nishikori decided enough was enough and offered his hand.

He called for the trainer but the medics who arrived on court could not heed his request to strap up his body, and instead he had to make do with swallowing a pill.

Maric Cilic got his work done before the rain came at Wimbledon on Saturday.

Superior court craft proved decisive for Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber on Monday as she motored past Japanese pocket rocket Misaki Doi 6-3 6-1 in a full-blooded fourth-round match on Wimbledon’s Court Two.

Defending champions Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis demolished the challenge of Christina Mchale and Jelena Ostapenko to move into the quarterfinals but Rohan Bopanna lost a marathon third round with partner Florin Mergea to bow out.

Nicolas Mahut was the next to secure victory, winning an all-French clash in the third round with Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 3-6 6-3.

The Japanese player, 26, had problems with his serve and movement, and twice called for a doctor on court who gave him medication before the match was halted at 6-1 5-1 in Cilic’s favour.