Andy Roddick came from a set down to move into the third round at Wimbledon with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) victory over France’s Michael Llodra.
Roddick, the fifth seed, was back in action on Centre Court for the first time since his 16-14 fifth-set defeat to Roger Federer in last year’s final.
And he certainly looked unsettled in the first set as the world number 37 cleverly mixed up his game. A few well-timed charges to the net were backed up by excellent volleying as Llodra took a 3-2 lead with the first break of the match.
Llodra had never made it past the second round at the All England Club but was serving with what felt like laser-guided precision and it was fitting that he closed out the first set with an ace.
Roddick was still on the back foot at the start of the second set and had to save two break points before finally holding serve.
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It proved a crucial moment. Roddick was able to impose himself more as he start to come into the net more. The pressure on Llodra began to increase and he cracked, missing three volleys, as Roddick broke at 5-4 to level the match.
Llodra is a top doubles player and his volleying skill earned another break point early in the third set. But again Roddick held serve and the Frenchman’s resolve seemed to crumble as he made a host of mistakes to gift Roddick the set.
The fourth set was a tense affair as both held serve well. It went to a tie-break and Roddick was able to turn up the heat decisively as a series of booming forehands sealed the win.