Canadian Press
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 Vernon native will play Britain’s Andy Murray in the next round. Murray needed just over three hours to defeat Croatia giant Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7), 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Quarterfinalists pocket US$374,000 apiece.
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. He appeared to gain confidence after closing out the set and then started the fourth set with another service break.
Pospisil earned the victory on his second of three match points with a backhand flick volley.
He’s hoping to become just the third Canadian to reach the men’s singles semifinals at Wimbledon. The others are Robert Powell (1908) and Milos Raonic (2014).
Pospisil, who reached a career-high No. 25 in the singles rankings last year, turned pro in 2007 and is still looking for his first ATP title. He made it to the final at last year’s Citi Open in Washington before falling to Raonic.
Pospisil and American partner Jack Sock — the defending men’s doubles champions — lost their third-round match against Australia’s John Peers and Britain’s Jamie Murray later Monday. Pospisil and Sock were seeded third while their opponents were the No. 13 seed.
Pospisil has earned aprpoximately $235,000 in singles play on tour this season.
