World No.4 Rafael Nadal kept his quest for a record 23rd Grand Slam alive by beating world No.102 Ricardas Berankis in four sets to reach the third round at Wimbledon.
It was far from the most convincing Nadal performance and the Spaniard has now had to go four sets in both of his two matches on Centre Court, having overcome Argentine Francisco Cerundolo on Tuesday.
Nadal, who already has two Grand Slams under his belt in 2022, admitted himself that his forehand was far from its best at times and Berankis exploited that, taking the third set off the two-time Wimbledon champion.
Italian Lorenzo Sonego awaits Nadal in Saturday's meeting with the 27-year-old looking to reach the fourth round of the SW19 tournament for only the second time.
The Sporting News was on hand to bring you live updates and highlights throughout the match - check out how it all unfolded below.
Rafael Nadal vs. Ricardas Berankis result
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | - |
| Ricardas Berankis | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | - |
Rafael Nadal vs. Ricardas Berankis live updates, highlights from 2022 Wimbledon
All times BST
*denotes server
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-3 Ricardas Berankis - NADAL WINS FOURTH SET AND THE MATCH
Nadal is caught off guard by a sweet return but then gets his revenge with an ace, 15-15. Another beauty straight down the middle has his opponent on the ropes. He serves wide and Berankis can't return it, two match points. An ace seals it and Nadal is through to the third round.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 5-3 *Ricardas Berankis
Nadal wins the opener but then his return flys out the court, 15-15. Nadal then shows his brilliance to lob his opponent, who makes it, but the Spaniard has already read him and is at the net waiting to hit into empty space. Two massive serves gets Berankis back on track before Nadal rattles off a forehand winner, deuce. Nadal finds the net and then Berankis closes with an ace. Nadal will now serve for a place in the third round.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 5-2 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal gets to 30-0 with Berankis firing two forehands just wide. A short rally on the third point sees Berankis hit a backhand beyond the base line. Nadal is denied a hold to love as Berankis waits for a high ball to come down and smashes the ball down the middle to get on the board. Berankis dominates the next rally from start to finish and ends it with a brilliant forehand winner. The next serve is big though and Berankis can't return. One away for Nadal.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 4-2 *Ricardas Berankis
A couple of aggressive forehand returns puts Berankis on the back foot, 0-30. The Lithuanian levels and then Nadal finds the net. Berankis saves his best serve of the game til the last and holds.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 4-1 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal wins a challenge, 15-15. Berankis' return then goes long and his next goes wide. Strong serving from the Spaniard. He finishes with an ace. He's two games away from the third round.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 3-1 *Ricardas Berankis
No sign of rustiness from Berankis, he smashes a powerful serve that pings off Nadal's racket.
7.30pm: The players are back out! It'll be a very quick warm-up and then we're good to go. A reminder that Berankis is on serve and has advantage as he looks to avoid giving Nadal a double break.
7:18pm: Centre Court is almost full again now and those whose chairs got wet at the front have found whatever tissues they can to try and dry them. Shouldn't be long before the players return now. A few people are desperately trying to get a Mexican Wave going too... so we need them back on more urgently than ever.
7.10pm: ....and the covers are back off.
7pm: The roof is fully shut now. The ground staff are still clearing the water off the court covers though so the players are still in their dressing rooms. Could be a little while before they return.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 3-0 *Ricardas Berankis
Berankis should go to the net more often, another volley from close range gets him to 30-15. Mistakes from Berankis then present Nadal with break point. Berankis hits a forehand winner to save it but Nadal won't let him settle, hitting a forehand of his own to get break point again. Nadal can't capitalise again, losing the next two points through errors of his own doing. Then... wow. An epic rally of powerful shots across court switches to a game of drop shots. Nadal runs the width of the court to make one and gets it over but Berankis is there and wins the point with a volley.
Suddenly, rain starts to fall and the players are rushed off as the covers come on. What a point to end on... but Berankis will now come back out and is one point away from holding serve.
The rain is stopping now... the sun's out again... yet the roof is slowly closing. That's the power a little rain shower can cause.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 3-0 Ricardas Berankis
30-0 and it's looking easy for the 21-time Grand Slam champion in this set so far. Berankis can't deal with the next two serves and Nadal cruises to another game.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 2-0 *Ricardas Berankis
Nadal hits a stunning backhand cross-court winner to go 0-30. He then gets three break points as Berankis' decision to go with a forehand down the line backfires. Nadal breaks as his opponent goes long again. That could be a huge moment in the outcome of this game.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 1-0 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal dropped a set in the first round against Francisco Cerundolo on Centre Court and still went on to win and Berankis will know that. Nadal shouts "vamos!" as Berankis puts a forehand wide, 30-15. Berankis misjudges the height of Nadal's next serve, 40-15 and can't return the next either.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 *Ricardas Berankis - BERANKIS WINS THIRD SET
Berankis gets to 30-0 with two big serves and then Nadal fires a forehand beyond the base line. Three set points. But he needs just one as Nadal hits another long, he challenges, but it was out. We have a match on our hands...
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-5 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal falls 0-30 behind before a controlled volley gets the Spaniard on the board. An ace gets him level and Berankis' return has Nadal at 40-30. Nadal finds the net to get to deuce but he then forces his opponent into the mistakes. Another ace and Nadal holds. Berankis will serve for the set.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 3-5 *Ricardas Berankis
Nadal smashes a forehand that Berankis can only return into the net, 15-30. Yet, Berankis somehow wins the following point by sticking his racket out at the net, his volley absorbing all of Nadal's forehand power and dropping perfectly. Back-to-back forehand winners from Berankis come next and he's one game away from taking the third set.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 3-4 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal wins the second point with a nice volley to the back of the court, 30-0. Berankis hits a forehand long and then Nadal rounds off with an ace.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 2-4 *Ricardas Berankis
Forehand errors put Berankis to 40-0 and another sees him hold to love.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 2-3 Ricardas Berankis
Patient play from Berankis is the order of play here before he unleashes a ferocious forehand return to get himself break point. Nadal denies him and then the Spaniard plays the waiting game, insisting his opponent makes the mistake and he does. A backhand winner from Nadal is called out... he challenges and gets it right. That's how you use a challenge correctly!
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 1-3 *Ricardas Berankis
Nadal has Berankis doing a lot of the running in this game but he's equal to it and gets to 40-15 albeit with a few deep breaths between each serve. He still has enough left in the tank to deliver a big serve to hold though.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 1-2 Ricardas Berankis
Berankis has upped his intensity right now. He gets to 30-30 but then drills one into the net and he's frustrated. Nadal serves an ace and is on the board.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 0-2 *Ricardas Berankis
Berankis has been impressive at the net so far, he hits another volley to go 30-0 up. Nadal gets a point back but then hits one wide and Berankis has a two-game lead.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 0-1 Ricardas Berankis
Berankis isn't doing too much wrong in all honestly but silly mistakes at the end of each set now sees him with a huge mountain to climb. The Lithuanian hits a nice volley from a tight angle to go 30-15 up. Nadal makes a couple of errors to set up break point and Bernankis seizes the opportunity a forehand winner gives him the break.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 *Ricardas Berankis - NADAL WINS SECOND SET
Berankis wants to avoid the same outcome as the first set at this stage but loses the first point. A big forehand to the back of the court causes Berankis problems and he's now having to save two break points. The first he uses his athleticism to outwit Nadal with a nice drop shot followed by a volley at the net. The second sees Nadal blast one into the net. Nadal gives himself another opportunity, this time a double-handed backhand winner right to the back corner. Deuce again as Nadal can't return the serve. Nadal then hits a forehand winner, he's hungry for this second set and gets it, Berankis' forehand goes just wide.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 5-4 Ricardas Berankis
Berankis knows he should do better with an easy forehand that would have set up two break points but he rushes the shot and it's wide. A challenge from Berankis is again unsuccessful, 40-30. Nadal has two attempted lobs but Berankis fires one back and then the Spaniard hits the second beyond the base line, deuce. Nadal delivers two big serves to stay on top.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 4-4 *Ricardas Berankis
Berankis attempts a drop shot that has Nadal scrambling to the net but it doesn't make it over, 0-15. He's level when Nadal's backhand also doesn't clear the net. A volley at the net from Berankis goes wide, 15-30. Nadal shows off his ruthlessness with a forehand winner down the line, two break points. Berankis smashes a forehand of his own and then a backhand to save them both. Two Nadal errors later and everyone's even.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 4-3 Ricardas Berankis
A lovely backhand return down the line catches Nadal off guard, 15-15. Nadal is soon back in control though, he deals with a tricky shot at his feet to then smash a forehand winner down the line, 40-15. Berankis gets back to deuce but opts for a ballsy challenge on a Nadal forehand mid-rally. It backfires and then Nadal holds.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 3-3 *Ricardas Berankis
Berankis can't return a strong backhand and falls to 15-30. A longer rally this time again sees Nadal hit hard with his backhand and it's the same outcome. Two break points. Berankis hits a forehand winner to save the first but hits the ball well wide at the next point and screams out in frustration at himself.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 2-3 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal shrugs his shoulders as he sends an easy forehand into the net, 15-30. The world No.4 wins the next three though courtesy of Berankis' errors.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 1-3 *Ricardas Berankis
If anything, that break has motivated Nadal more. He goes on the offensive in the opening two points to take a 30-0 lead. He soon has two break points of his own but Berankis is brave with a drop shot that pays off to save the first. Another sharp volley at the net gets the scores back to deuce. Two backhand errors by Nadal sees Berankis hold though.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 1-2 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal loses a challenge by the width of a finger nail and then hits two wild efforts to fall 0-40 down. Nadal saves one but a sliced backhand can't get over the net and he's broken.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 1-1 *Ricardas Berankis
Anything Nadal can do, Berankis can also do. He holds to love as well.
*Rafael Nadal 6-4 1-0 Ricardas Berankis
The wind has just picked up a little on Centre Court but that's not caused Nadal any problems. He picks up his first hold to love with an ace sealing it.
Rafael Nadal 6-4 *Ricardas Berankis - NADAL WINS FIRST SET
Not the ideal start as Berankis falls 0-30 behind before Nadal makes an error. The Lithuanian then double faults at the worst moment, two set points. He survives one as Nadal's forehand from way back only just hits the top of the net but Berankis makes the same mistake next time round and he's broken for the first time.
*Rafael Nadal 5-4 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal double faults at 30-0 but then a huge serve prompts Berankis to return wide and his next return can't clear the net.
Rafael Nadal 4-4 *Ricardas Berankis
Berankis' forehand is delivered to perfection as he goes 30-15 up but his backhand effort then hits the net to level. Nadal gets break point as Berankis comes forward and hits a moving forehand long... he does the same at the next point but this one lands in, deuce. Nadal then sends back-to-back forehands long and Berankis holds again.
*Rafael Nadal 4-3 Ricardas Berankis
Berankis is showing no fear as he drills a forehand winner out of Nadal's reach, 15-15. Nadal sends him a warning with an ace and another huge serve, 40-15. Nadal's forehand error allows Berankis back in with a point but the Spaniard holds.
Rafael Nadal 3-3 *Ricardas Berankis
Nadal also hasn't quite mastered returning his opponent's serve as he goes 40-15 down with a couple of wild swings sending the ball beyond the base line. Berankis then sends a forehand wide and at the next point lures Nadal in with a drop shot but the Spaniard makes it and is back in position to smash a volley at the net, deuce. A brilliant backhand gives Nadal no chance before a tidy drop shot has the same outcome. Two brilliant points to hold.
*Rafael Nadal 3-2 Ricardas Berankis
Berankis is getting frustrated he's not returning Nadal's serves as he'd like as he falls 30-15 behind. More of the same follows but at deuce Nadal hits a forehand long and suddenly Berankis has break point but his return from the serve finds the net. The following return goes long and an ace puts that break point a few points ago to bed completely.
Rafael Nadal 2-2 *Ricardas Berankis
Berankis also has an ace up his sleeve as he starts the fourth game. We're yet to see a rally last more than 10 shots but this one comes close and goes Berankis' way, 30-30. The world No.102 then hits a lovely backhand winner down the line. Nadal's return then goes wide and it remains level.
*Rafael Nadal 2-1 Ricardas Berankis
A couple of big serves put Nadal 30-0 up and he then drills an ace out wide to extend his lead. Gasps from the crowd as he follows with a double fault. But it's back to business as usual as he gets another ace to hold.
Rafael Nadal 1-1 *Ricardas Berankis
Some early nerves from Berankis as he double faults on his second serve. A wild forehand from Nadal eases the pressure though as he moves to 40-15. Nadal gets a point back but then Berankis has a challenge go his way and he holds.
*Rafael Nadal 1-0 Ricardas Berankis
Nadal gets the first point of the match as Berankis hits a return into the net but the Lithuanian hits a return winner at the next opportunity, 15-15. Nadal has his first ace on the third serve before two errors from his opponent gift him the first game.
4pm: Berankis has never reached the third round of Wimbledon - he's exited at this stage on four previous occasions - and it's going to need something special to change that today. The players are just going through their final warm-up routines and we'll be getting going.
3.55pm: Both players enter the court and Nadal salutes the crowd. He's no stranger to playing on Centre Court and as a two-time champion of the grass-court tournament it's no surprise he's popular with the spectators.
3.35pm: Boulter has done it! She takes the final set 6-4 to come from a set down and reach the third round. British No.1 Emma Raducanu suffered a disappointing second round defeat yesterday but that's given the home crowd something to cheer about. Nadal and Berankis are up next.
3pm: Yep, those waiting to see Nadal in action will have to wait a little longer as Boulter has just won the second set via a tiebreaker.
2:35pm: Nadal and Berankis will take to Centre Court following the conclusion of British hopeful Katie Boulter's match with former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova. The Czech won the first set 6-3 but there's the chance of going to a decider with Boulter currently leading 4-2 in the second.
2.20pm: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the second-round clash between Rafael Nadal and Ricardas Berankis. The No.2 seed is the hot favourite to win this one but his opponent should not be overlooked after he beat Sam Querry in the opening round. Nadal himself dropped a set in his first-round victory over Francisco Cerundolo and will look to build on Tuesday's win with a convincing performance this afternoon.
We're live on Centre Court and will be bringing you all the action as Nadal continues his quest for a third Grand Slam of the year.