Wimbledon 2014: Rafael Nadal powers through round three after early scare

Rafael Nadal started slowly again but the prospect of a Wimbledon upset was swiftly doused as poor Mikhail Kukushkin felt the full force of the Spaniard at his best.

After dropping the opening sets in his earlier matches against Martin Klizan and Lukas Rosol, Nadal astonishingly did the same again against the world number 63 from Kazakhstan.

But his recovery spelt out Nadal's ambition for the week ahead as he sprinted home 6-7 (4/7) 6-1 6-1 6-1 under the Centre Court roof.

Watched from the Royal Box by sporting stars including former Real Madrid star David Beckham, Spaniard Nadal - a supporter of the Bernabeu giants - finished with his arms aloft, flinging his wristbands and headband into the adoring crowd, and departed with a broad smile across his face.

Three matches in, and it appears Nadal has played himself into peak form, comfortable again on grass after the transition from clay, and unmistakeably in the frame to land what would be his third Wimbledon title.