Fernando Verdasco Comes Through Scare

Fernando Verdasco didn't have the best start to his Wimbledon campaign as he had to fight of match points against Radek Stepanek.

It has been a tough year for the Spaniard - falling at the French Open in the third round only a few weeks ago - and it looked like another early exit for the former top tenner.

He struggled with his serve and couldn't compete with the fast and aggressive play of the very experienced Stepanek.

Llodra dropped just six games in the opening two sets as he took them 6-2 6-4 and it looked like a win was all but certain.

But into the third set and Verdasco looked to be finding his range and started to play with much more confidence.

Just the single break of serve was enough to see Verdasco take the set and 6-3 and keep his hopes alive.

Neither man could make the breakthrough in the fourth and a tie break was needed - and it was Stepanek with the mini break as he served for the match at 6-5.

Verdasco dug deep to hit back save the break points and force a fifth and deciding set. The final set took an hour but Verdasco finally sealed a hard fought win 2-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 9-7.

He will now face Robin Hasse in the second round.

Marcos Baghdatis also needed five sets to book his place in the second round as he threw away a two set lead over James Blake.

The American battled back to level the match and force a decider. Baghdatis finally came through  6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-4.

Qualifier Bernard Tomic provided one of the big stories of the day as he beat twenty ninth seed Nikolay Davydenko in straight sets.

The Russian has been struggling to return to top form after being sidelined last year with injury. And his trouble continue as Tomic, a big hope for Australian tennis, notched up a 7-5 6-3 7-5 win.

He will face Igor Andreev, who saw off Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 4-6 6-3, and he could face either Robin Soderling or compatriot Lleyton Hewitt in the third round.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw