Federer: finally, luck turns my way
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Roger Federer said he felt his luck was finally in this season after he scraped into the second round as he bids to win a record-equalling seventh men's Wimbledon title.
Federer made it through to a clash with Serbia's Ilija Bozoljac - but only after being given a real fright by Colombia's Alejandro Falla.
The world No 60 won the first two sets and served for the match in the fourth in what was shaping up to be one of the biggest shocks in Wimbledon history.
But top seed Federer, who has not won a tournament since claiming the Australian Open title in January, said maybe lady luck was smiling on him at last this season.
"It came as a bit of a shock and it's not something I was that prepared for but you have to draw from experience and physical strength. I live to fight another day," the world No 2 said.
"I've lost many matches this season I should have won and today I won a match I should have lost.
"I think I've been unlucky enough already this season, so I needed one lucky match. We'll see how important it is, depending on the run I go on now.
"I've lost a few matches this season with match points, 7-5 or 7-6 in the third. This is definitely some kind of a match I kind of needed. You can't win them all when they're that close because they're being played on a couple of points here or there.
"One thing for sure, you can do is push the luck on your side. That's not something I have been doing maybe enough the past few months. I'm happy I gave myself a chance. Maybe some think I should have never put myself in that position."
In a key game at 4-4 in the third set, the Colombian had three break points but Federer pulled it back to deuce and served an ace for a 5-4 lead.
Federer had a break for set point when Falla hit a shot long but the Colombian took it to deuce.
Federer had the advantage when Falla hit the net and won the set with a cross-court forehand winner to start his comeback.
In the fourth set, Federer had a break point at 4-3 down but wasted it. The Swiss held serve to leave the Colombian serving for the match at 5-4 up.
"He played really well and I struggled early on but came through, which is most important," Federer said.
"You definitely feel uncomfortable because if you're used to being down the whole time your whole life, it's something that's kind of normal.
"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."
Next up for Federer is 153rd-ranked Bozoljac, whom he meets for the first time, after the Serb battled past Chile's Nicolas Massu 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9) in their first-round tie.
"The next guy is a righty, big-serving guy," said the Swiss.
"Because you struggle today doesn't mean you're going to struggle in the next match, too. Same thing if you win in straights; it doesn't mean you're going to win the next match in straights. That's just the way tennis is."
