June 22 (Bloomberg) -- Roger Federer, who dropped the first two sets of his opening-round match at Wimbledon to the 60th-ranked player in the world, says he's still playing in the tournament because of one forehand.
A passing shot against Alejandro Falla helped the defending champion and top seed fend off a break point that would have put him down 5-4 in the third set -- leaving him four points from elimination.
Instead of the Colombian serving for the biggest Wimbledon upset since defending champion Lleyton Hewitt lost in the first round in 2003, Federer held his serve to go up 5-4 with a backhand volley and a service winner. He went on to win the match against Falla 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1), 6-0, keeping alive his chance of tying Pete Sampras's Open-era men's record of seven titles at Wimbledon.
"My whole game was sort of in disarray," Federer said in a news conference. "I was just hoping that I got three quick serves to come back. But I had to come up with some passing shots, some scrambling shots."
The last time the Swiss had to overcome a two-sets-to- love deficit in the first round of a major was at the 2000 U.S. Open against Peter Wessels, who retired in the fifth set.
"There was definitely a bit of luck involved there," said Federer, who won the 15th of his record 16 Grand Slam singles crowns at Wimbledon last year. "But that's how it goes sometimes."
Another Forehand
Federer's forehand also came to the rescue in the fourth set, when the left-handed Falla served for the match at 5-4. Federer broke the Colombian's serve to break back for 5-5, and won the set in a tiebreaker.
"I was thinking that I have big opportunity to beat Federer here," Falla said in a news conference. "Was a big chance. And I just doubted myself a little bit in that moment, in the first two points. And then he plays good points."
"When he's down like that, like today, he doesn't give you any point," Falla said. "You have to make it, because he's not going to miss on any of that."
Since losing in the first round of Wimbledon in 2002, Federer has been to every final at the All England Club since 2003. He has lost the championship match once, to Rafael Nadal in 2008.
Nadal, a Spaniard, plays his first-round match today against Kei Nishikori, a wild-card entrant from Japan. Women's defending champion Serena Williams faces Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher De Brito, while Briton's Andy Murray starts his bid for a first Wimbledon title against Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic.
Late-Night Djokovic
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Olivier Rochus of Belgium in a five-set match that ended at 10:59 p.m., the latest in Wimbledon history, under the Centre Court roof that was installed last year.
Three-time runner- up Andy Roddick, seeded fifth, won in straight sets against fellow American Rajeev Ram.
Second-seeded woman Venus Williams defeated Paraguay's Rossana de los Rios, winning 6-3, 6-2. The 30-year-old American is a five-time winner of the tournament and was runner-up to sister Serena, this year's top seed, last year.
Former No. 1 players Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, both of Belgium, advanced to the second round with straight-set victories. Italy's Francesca Schiavone, the women's fifth seed and French Open champion, lost 7-6 (7- 0), 5-7, 1-6 to Russia's Vera Dushevina.
Trailing two sets to love so early in a major was "a bit of a shock," said Federer, whose record run of 23 straight Grand Slam semifinal appearances was ended three weeks ago by Sweden's Robin Soderling at the French Open.
'It's Not Normal'
"For me it's not normal," Federer said. "It's something I'm not quite used to. But still I was able to find a way."
Before the opening round at Wimbledon, Federer had won his four previous matches against Falla without dropping a set, including a 2004 second-round match on the London grass courts. Federer, 28, last lost in the first round of a Grand Slam at the French Open seven years ago.
"I played him three times in one month, in the last three tournaments," the 26-year-old Falla said. "So I was kind of used to playing against him. But I am happy because I played a great match. I have got to keep working because I have to improve still a few things."
The Swiss had 101 winners, 37 more than Falla. Federer produced 21 aces, while the Colombian had 8.
Federer, who won his 16th major title at the Australian Open at the start of the season, said he felt butterflies before the match.
'Always Nerves Involved'
"There's always nerves involved," Federer said. "I kind of want that because it means the world to me to open Centre Court. It's a dream for any player to play opening day on the perfect grass court."
Federer will play 152nd-ranked Ilija Bozoljac from Serbia in the second round.
"The next guy is a righty, big serving guy, nothing to do with the guy I played today," Federer said. "Because you struggle today doesn't mean you're going to struggle in the next match, too. Same thing if you win in straights; it doesn't mean you're going to win the next match in straights. That's just the way tennis is."
--Editor: Rob Gloster.
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