Federer’s comeback upsets Falla

WIMBLEDON – Six-time champion Roger Federer overcame a two-set deficit to avert a monumental first-round upset at Wimbledon, beating Alejandro Falla 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0 yesterday.Federer has reached the tournament final each of the past seven years, but he barely survived the traditional opening match on Centre Court as defending champion.“I live another day,” Federer said. “This one is one I should have lost. That’s sometimes how grass-court tennis works.”Falla, ranked 60th, had lost all 11 sets in his previous four matches against Federer, but the Colombian played brilliant tennis to take charge of the match early. The turnaround came in the fourth set with Falla serving for the match and three points from victory, when Federer broke for only the second time.He played his best tennis of the day after that. It was the sixth time Federer has won after trailing by two sets.“I definitely got very lucky today out there,” he said.After winning the first two sets, Falla received treatment from a trainer during the next three changeovers for an upper left leg injury. But it was only when he served for the biggest victory of his career at 5-4 in the fourth set that his game unraveled.Falla made shaky errors on the first two points, and a pair of deft forehands by Federer gave him the break. The Swiss ran away with the tiebreaker, taking advantage of four more unforced errors by Falla, and the disconsolate Colombian mustered little resistance in the final set.Fifth seed Andy Roddick, who lost an epic final last year against Federer, also beat the No. 92-ranked fellow American Rajeev Ram 6-3, 6-2, 6-2  in straight sets to advance to the second round. Kim Clijsters won easily in her first Wimbledon match since 2006, beating Maria Elena Camerin 6-0, 6-3. Clijsters, who had been sidelined since late April with a left foot injury, ended a 2 1/2-year retirement last August and won the US Open in September. No. 11 Marin Cilic lost to Florian Mayer 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (1), and No. 17 Ivan Ljubicic was beaten by Michal Przysiezny 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-3. No. 16 Jurgen Melzer and No. 21 Gael Monfils advanced, as did Americans Mardy Fish and Brendan Evans. (AP)