Fans enjoyed a bonus late on Saturday night as the match between Gilles Simon and Gaël Monfils was moved from Court No1 to Centre Court under the roof in an effort to finish it before the 11pm curfew.
Simon was leading by two sets to one but trailing 2-1 with a break in the fourth when they resumed just before 9.30pm with ground pass holders allowed in for free.
In something of a carnival atmosphere, Monfils quickly levelled at two sets all but Simon broke early in the fifth and eased to a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 6-2 victory. He will play the Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych for a place in the last eight.
“Conditions changed a lot so I’m just happy I could win this one,” Simon said. “It was really close. Hopefully I can reach my first quarter-final here.”
