Federer escapes

WIMBLEDON, England (AP):

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.

Dustin Brown, the first Jamaican man to play in a Grand Slam tournament since 1974, lost to No. 16 Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

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 grasscourt 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 on.

"You definitely feel uncomfortable," Federer said. "For me, it's not normal to be down two sets to love. Especially at Wimbledon and early on in Grand Slams, it's something I'm not quite used to."

After winning the first two sets, Falla received treatment from a trainer during the next three changeovers for an upper left leg injury but he said it did not affect the outcome. But it was only when he served for the biggest victory of his career at 5-4 in the fourth set that his game unravelled.

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 tie-breaker, taking advantage of four more unforced errors by Falla and the disconsolate Colombian mustered little resistance in the final set.

Lost opportunity

"I think about the lost opportunity," Falla said. "On the other hand, I played a great match. I had Federer against the ropes."

No. 7-seeded Nikolay Davydenko also overcame a two-set deficit, along with Kevin Anderson's 36 aces, and won 3-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 7-5, 9-7.

No. 5 Andy Roddick, who lost to Federer in last year's epic final, began his title bid by beating fellow American Rajeev Ram 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Roddick never faced a break point and committed only 10 unforced errors.

In women's play, five-time champion Venus Williams beat Rossana de los Rios 6-3, 6-2. Williams hit 31 winners to four for de los Rios.

"It's definitely good to be back," said Williams, seeded second behind her sister Serena, the defending champion. "I love playing on the grass."

Grand Slam champions Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin began Wimbledon comebacks with victories. Clijsters won easily in her first match at the All England Club since 2006, beating Maria Elena Camerin 6-0, 6-3. Henin, playing at Wimbledon for the first time since 2007, defeated Anastasija Sevastova 6-4, 6-3. No. 4 Jelena Jankovic beat 16-year-old British wild card Laura Robson on Centre Court, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

French Open champion Francesca Schiavone lost to Vera Dushevina, 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-1 in nearly three hours. The No. 5-seeded Schiavone committed 38 unforced errors and fell to 0-2 since the improbable run to her first Grand Slam title.

Among the men, 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. French Open semi-finalist Tomas Berdych advanced, as did No. 21 Gael Monfils and Americans Mardy Fish and Brendan Evans.