Andy Murray was forced to dig deep to overcome Robert Kendrick 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-4 in the first round at Wimbledon.
British number one pushed hard in Wimbledon opener
Andy Murray was forced to dig deep before advancing to the second round of Wimbledon with a 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-4 victory over American Robert Kendrick.
The partisan crowd once again experienced the highs and lows of watching their home favourite before the world number three eventually crossed the line to book a second round date with Latvian Ernests Gulbis.
The early signs looked promising for Murray, who came into the match undefeated against Kendrick, when he broke the powerful American in the very first game before opening up a 4-2 lead.
However, with Murray seemingly cruising towards the opening set, Kendrick, ranked number 76 in the world, broke back courtesy of a double fault from the Scot.
The American, undeterred by the occasion, then held comfortably to put the Murray serve under serious pressure at 5-4 down.
However, Murray's response showed just why he is so highly fancied to win at SW19 as he held his serve under intense pressure before breaking back.
Pressure
He then coolly served out the set to the jubilation of the packed-out Centre Court, but Kendrick ensured the spectators would be staying in their seats longer than many expected by hitting back in the second.
Neither player could force the crucial break and it was the American who stepped up his game to take the tie-break 7-3 and level what was turning into a nervy evening for Murray.
There was an air of apprehension until the match took what turned out to be a decisive turn in the sixth game of the third set.
Kendrick fired down two uncharacteristic double faults, one of them courtesy of a foot fault which appeared to rattle him.
That handed the initiative straight to Murray, who quickly seized the vital service break and who went on to save a break point in the ninth game before serving out to clinch the set 6-3.
Murray rediscovered his rhythm and confidence in the fourth set but still squandered two chances to break serve in the third game of the fourth set.
The Kendrick serve was coming under increasing pressure and Murray eventually made his dominance pay when he fizzed a backhand pass to move 3-2 ahead.
Kendrick, who took world number one Rafael Nadal to five sets at the All England Club in 2006, rarely threatened Murray's serve from there on in.
The sole British male hope then held his serve in the 10th game to take his place in the second round.
