LONDON – Unseeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil rallied for a five-set victory over Viktor Troicki on Monday to reach the Wimbledon singles quarter-finals for the first time in his career.
Pospisil needed two hours 39 minutes to complete the 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over the No. 22 seed from Serbia.
The 25-year-old from Vancouver will next play either Andy Murray of Britain or Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic.
Pospisil, the world No. 56, had never previously been past the second round in singles play at the All England Club. His previous best singles showing at a Grand Slam event was a third-round appearance at the Australian Open (2014, 2015).
Pospisil had 12 aces and four breaks of serve from eight chances. He had a 58-51 edge in winners in the first career meeting between the pair.
The Canadian earned a break in the third set for a 5-4 lead and appeared to gain confidence after closing out the set and starting the fourth with another break.
He earned the victory on his second of three match points with a backhand flick volley. Pospisil and American partner Jack Sock – the defending men’s doubles champions – were scheduled to play their third-round match later Monday.