Croatian giant Mario Ancic advanced into the second round of The Championships with a hard-fought win over little-known Spanish player Nicolas Almagro.
The No.7 seed, who famously is the last person to beat Roger Federer on the grass courts of SW19, sent down 21 aces as he triumphed 7-6 (6-2), 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) in 2 hours 37 minutes.
Hundreds of fans decked out in Croat national football shirts and flags had squeezed into Court 13 to cheer their most famous tennis player since 2001 Champion Goran Ivanisevic. And they weren't disappointed.
Despite a slight dip in concentration mid-way through the second-set, the 22-year-old Croat produced a refreshing display of traditional serve-and-volley play that would have made his hero Goran proud.
Almagro, who at 6ft stood almost seven inches shorter than his opponent, played his part in a thoroughly enjoyable and fiercely-contested first round match.
Maybe, just maybe, if the Spaniard had capitalised on one of his break point opportunities in the first set, the story could have been different.
Instead, after 12 consecutive breakless service games, a tie-break finally had to separate the pair.
Like a true pro, a pumped-up Ancic raised his game at the right moment, strolling through the tie-break 7-2.
After a tense and tight first set, many might have expected Almagro to run out of steam in the second.
Instead the 20-year-old came out looking the stronger and more aggressive player, breaking Ancic’s serve with a backhand drive in the eighth game to force a 5-3 advantage.
However his efforts were in vain. Cheered on by the crowd, Ancic, who is very much the image of Ivanisevic with his massive serve and gangly body, had the ability to raise his game once more, winning the next four games to complete a 7-5 second set victory.
Ever the fighter, Almagro was not prepared to let his head drop.
Another twelve fiercely-contested service games went by without a break of serve, leaving another tie-break needed to finalise proceedings.
Unfortunately for the Spaniard, nerves crept in once more and a controlled Ancic went on to win the tie-break 7-4.
Ancic will face experienced Italian David Sanguinetti in Round Two.
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