Humbert saves four match points to reach the quarter-finals in a two-day thriller

Frenchman Ugo Humbert survived four match points and came from a set down to beat Serb Hamad Medjedovic 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) on Friday, reaching the quarter-finals of the Queen’s after a contest spread across two days.

Medjedovic, the world No 67, had looked the likelier winner for long stretches. He took the opening set comfortably and pushed Humbert to the brink, holding four match points as he closed on the biggest result of his week.

But the Frenchman saved each one– an ace, a Medjedovic drop shot that missed, a crisp backhand volley of his own and a Serb backhand that drifted wide – to stay alive, then forced and won a second-set tie-break to level the match. The decider, too, went to a tie-break, which Humbert edged 7-5 to complete the escape.

Humbert, ranked No 33, had reached the last 16 with a straight-sets win over Croatian Marin Cilic (7-5, 6-3). Medjedovic, for his part, had impressed in the previous round, knocking out French sixth seed Arthur Rinderknech (7-6 (5), 7-6 (4)) before letting his own chances slip against another Frenchman.

Humbert will next face Australian Rinky Hijikata for a place in the semi-finals.