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Nadal: Fightback
Rafael Nadal fought back from a set down to overcome the challenge of the promising Ernests Gulbis.
Gulbis, from Latvia, broke in the 12th game to take the opening set, but Nadal broke early in the second and again to level the match.
Once the Spanish second seed had dominated a third-set tie-break there was only going to be one winner, but Gulbis fought to the end as Nadal secured a 5-7 6-2 7-6 6-3 victory.
Nadal will face Nicolas Kiefer in the third round after the German 27th seed thrashed Martin Vassallo Arguello for the loss of only four games.
The world number two predicted Gulbis would prove a handful and the little-known 19-year-old lived up to expectations by producing a display full of courage and skill.
Variety
A booming serve and powerful forehand were his choice shots but there was also plenty of variety to the world number 48's game, marking him out as a star of the future.
Nadal's class and athleticism ultimately enabled him to negotiate a tricky hurdle on Court One.
Heavy underdog Gulbis declared before the match he would not adopt the attitude of a "loser" and he was true to his word early in the first set.
Nadal's service was being met with tenacious opposition as Gulbis - the youngest player currently in the top 50 - mixed some deft drops shots with precision strokeplay from the baseline.
The Mallorcan was infuriated in the 11th when the umpire claimed the ball had bounced twice before it was returned, and he made his feelings known to the official.
Gulbis manoeuvred Nadal around expertly in the 12th and even the Spaniard's athleticism could not prevent him conceding set point, which he hit long to lose the opener.
Decisive break
The Latvian raced out the blocks in the second set but began forcing the pace in the third game and was broken as a result, with Nadal ruthlessly taking his chance.
Errors continued to hamper Andy Murray's third-round victim at Queen's two weeks ago and he was broken again in the fifth, hitting the net at the key moment.
The authority that marked Gulbis' play in the first set had deserted him and Nadal clinched the second to take control of the match.
Nadal applied maximum spin on two shots that outfoxed Gulbis, who was providing formidable opposition once again.
But the underdog could only watch in awe as Nadal produced a wristy crosscourt forehand in the seventh game to leave him stranded helplessly.
Nadal's speed around the court and ability to land seemingly-impossible shots was causing problems but Gulbis was responding magnificently to the challenge.
The set went to a tie-break, where Nadal's class and greater experience told, with Gulbis firing long to nudge the Spaniard further ahead.
The fourth set became a battle of wills and it was Gulbis who cracked first, conceding two break points in the eighth.
He returned wide to lose the second and Nadal made no mistake a game later, producing a sublime forehand that landed in the corner.
