Defending champion Serena Williams swept aside Annika Beck to reach round four ©Getty Images

Defending champion Serena Williams of the United States safely progressed to round four and Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came through a marathon contest 19-17 in the fifth set of his men's singles encounter as matches were held on middle Sunday for the first time since 2004.

Williams, the top seed in the women's draw, maintained her pursuit of a seventh title at the All England Club by sweeping aside Germany's Annika Beck 6-3, 6-0 on a packed Centre Court as fans took advantage of rare play on what is traditionally the tournament's rest day.

The formidable American will next face Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, a Wimbledon runner-up in 2005, after she beat Williams' team-mate Sloane Stephens 6-7, 6-2, 8-6.

Tsonga, seeded 12th, knew he was in for a titanic battle when he was drawn against big-serving American John Isner, who led by two sets to one when the match was suspended due to the weather yesterday evening.

The Frenchman levelled the match, which forced a decider, this afternoon and after four hours and 24 minutes, he eventually prevailed 6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 19-17 to reach the fourth round.

Isner, the 18th seed, was involved in the longest-ever match on the grass at Wimbledon six years ago when he overcame Tsonga's fellow Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth.

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came through a marathon contest against American John Isner 19-17 in the fifth set ©Getty Images
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came through a marathon contest against American John Isner 19-17 in the fifth set ©Getty Images

"I was focused on the game but to be honest, once I said, 'Wow! It's going to be long like Nicolas,'" Tsonga said.

"It's good to be alive.

"I will have a good recovery from this one and tomorrow be fit to play again for sure."

Controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios, who withdrew from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following a row with Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller, will go up against Britain's Andy Murray in round four tomorrow after he beat Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

Kyrgios came through with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 triumph and admits world number two Murray is now the favourite for the title following defending champion Novak Djokovic's shock defeat to American Sam Querrey yesterday.

Tomáš Berdych of the Czech Republic, who reached the final of Wimbledon in 2010, ended the run of Germany's 19-year-old Alexander Zverev with a 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 win.

There was a surprise result in the women's draw as sixth seed Roberta Vinci of Italy crashed out of the tournament following a 6-3, 6-4 defeat at the hands of American Coco Vandeweghe.