Wimbledon 2010: Roger Federer Barely Escapes First Round

After making an early exit in the quarterfinals of the French Open, Federer claimed he’d rather focus on getting ready for a seventh Wimbledon title anyway. 

The extra practice time didn’t show in his first round match against Alejandro Falla.

The defending Wimbledon champion claimed his goal was to get off the court in time to watch Switzerland play Chile in the World Cup. Federer may have beaten Falla twice in the last month, but after this match Federer needs to show him some respect.

Down after two sets, Federer wasn’t playing with the usual style audiences are used to seeing. However, he came back to defeat Falla 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-0 and became the player we all know and love. After seven double faults, he found his grove and powered through the next three sets.

His sloppy play in the opening round gives him more than enough to improve on, but as Federer admits, there are always “positives and negatives and it’s important to take the right things out of the match.”

Falla played an exceptional match, hitting key shots and making the most of early opportunities. It's surprising he's never broken into the top 50, given the level of play against Federer.

Tennis is a roller coaster ride. You might struggle in one match win the next in straights. It’s the way the game works.

After the first round nail biter, Federer is happy to have the scores set back to zero and will be ready for Wednesday’s match against Ilija Bozoliac.