Rosol bows out with a whimper

Lukas Rosol had lost his giant-killing touch as he bowed out of Wimbledon today in the third round at the hands of Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The previously-unsung Czech caused a sensation when he sent Rafael Nadal packing at the second-round stage on Thursday.

But he was unable to replicate that performance on Court 12, going down to German Kohlschreiber in straight sets.

Whether it was being away from the Centre Court limelight that affected him or the effectiveness of his opponent, the 26-year-old has still yet to reach a grand slam fourth round in his career.

His name will long be remembered, though, and he hopes he can now start to make a more consistent impact on the main tour.

“Why not?” he asked. “I can play with anyone. That’s what I feel and also these players, when they see my name now, are going to see they can lose against me.”

On Court Three, Brian Baker’s fairytale tournament continued as he reached the fourth round with a four-set win over France’s Benoit Paire.

The American, once one of the world’s best juniors, only returned to professional tennis last July after almost six years out with a succession of injuries that looked to have curtailed his career before it had really started.

Baker went to college and took a job as a tennis coach but never gave up hope that he would be able to return to the circuit, and his comeback gets more remarkable with every match. Today he was a 6-4 4-6 6-1 6-3 winner.

“It is crazy, what’s going on,” he said. “But I’m still trying to stay focused on the task at hand and not get too wrapped up in it.

“Because once you do that, I think it’s tough to be able to play your best tennis once you’re happy that you’ve been there.”

The ninth seed Juan Martin del Potro is also through, seeing off Kei Nishikori in straight sets.

He next meets the winner of David Ferrer and Andy Roddick, which was ongoing on Centre.

Marin Cilic was closing in on victory against Sam Querrey on Court One – he took the first two sets – while Mardy Fish was also on the brink of getting the better of David Goffin.

Waiting in the locker room to start their matches were Andy Murray and Marcos Baghdatis and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Lukas Lacko.