Djokovic advances to Wimbledon quarters after pulling out 5-setter vs. Anderson

No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated No. 14 Kevin Anderson 6-7, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 on Tuesday to advance to the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the seventh consecutive time.

The match was suspended Monday due to a lack of light, and resumed Tuesday.

Following his victory, Djokovic was humble and acknowledged Anderson for his resolve.

"I congratulate Kevin for a great effort. It wouldn't be undeserved if he would win this match," Djokovic said.

The South African opened the fifth set serving powerfully with three aces. Djokovic could not muster a point in the first game, as Anderson held at love.

The top seed responded by acing his first serve of the set before evening things at 1-all.

Later, a double-break point opportunity for Anderson gave Djokovic a scare, but the Serb rallied from 15-40 to hold at 2-2.

Anderson, however, took the next game. Behind a powerful serve and methodical baseline play, he had Djokovic running rampant throughout.

The pressure was on Djokovic, the 2014 Wimbledon winner, trailing 3-4, but he held at love to even the score.

With 15 winners in the match, Anderson, up 5-4, had an opportunity to break Djokovic for the colossal upset, but he failed to do so, and never recovered.

Anderson earned but a lone point on serve, including a crucial double-fault, one of only two in the match, putting Djokovic up 6-5 and in line for the win.

Up 40-30, Djokovic sent a powerful forehand to the deep corner on Anderson, who was unable to make the return, handing the defending champion his ticket to a seventh straight quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon.

Djokovic will play No. 9 Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals.