When the men's Wimbledon draw came out, the most anticipated third round matchup was retiring American Andre Agassi projected to face two-time rating French Open winner Spaniard Rafael Nadal. The savvy 36 year-old eight-time slam champion against the 20 year-old rising star.
It almost didn't happen. While the 1992 Wimbledon champ Agassi was taking care of business dismissing Italian Andreas Seppi 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4 on Court One Thursday in London, Nadal was facing an uphill battle against 26 year-old unknown Robert Kendrick.
The 237th ranked American in the world had the heavily favorite world number two on the ropes. But a determined Nadal fought back from two sets down to earn a 6-7 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5, 6-4 second round win at Centre Court to finally setup that third round match against Agassi.
"It was very tough. He [Kendrick] played a very good match, a very complete match," Nadal expressed to the AP. "I play with a very good attitude all the time because it was very tough, so I am very happy with the victory."
It was that attitude which got him past the American qualifier in a very competitive match which lasted three hours and 41 minutes.
"He brings a lot to the court. I knew he wasn't going to give up. He's just got so much fight in him. You know, if I could just close it out here with a few more returns, I think, you know, different story," Kendrick said.
"I'm disappointed....I had such a good time out there. It's my first time on a center court of any Slam, like I said. Just didn't go my way this time."
After the American took the first two sets by dictating points with a serve which produced 28 aces along with some clutch net play, Nadal dug deep to stay alive in the third set. Becoming more aggressive 6-5 up, he setup two set points but Kendrick courageously saved both with an ace and volley winner before holding to force a pivotal tiebreak. In it, Nadal raised his level with a couple of big inside out forehand winners, cruising 7-2 to get back in the match.
Though he dropped the set and was tiring, Kendrick continued to hold serve in the fourth, forcing Nadal to stay in the match at 4-5. In fact, the Californian was two points from victory before the gritty Spaniard battled his way out of trouble to hold for five all. That's when he made his move, breaking Kendrick for 6-5 on a double fault before serving out the set at love to suddenly square the match.
With his weary opponent running out of gas, Nadal secured the only break he needed in the fourth game of the fifth set on another double fault. But in a bizarre finish which saw Kendrick survive two match points thanks to consecutive overrules by the chair umpire including on a Nadal forehand which was actually just on the baseline, the No. 2 seed finally secured victory when a Kendrick backhand sailed wide.
Nadal now can focus on playing Agassi in what should be an exciting match.
"He [Agassi] has a very good level here. But I am in third round, too, no? I am playing good," Nadal said. "This match is gonna be positive maybe. So we gonna see, no? I know I need play my best tennis for win, but I gonna try that, no?"
In his final Wimbledon, Agassi was very appreciative of the overwhelming support he continued to receive.
"This means the world to me," the former world No. 1 said. "I missed three years here early in my career, and when I came back I was overwhelmed by the way the crowd received me. Now I've missed the last two years and come back again, and the crowd hasn't changed. I want to get out there and do something special for them. I want to play well. I want to be my best."
The 21-year veteran was extremely pleased with his improvement in his second round victory over Seppi.
"I felt much better. I was in a better rhythm. The game was a lot slower. It's always a good sign when you're seeing things unfold and playing a tempo where you feel like you're dictating. It's been too long since I just felt good and could at least enjoy what was going on."
Also into Round 3 was 10th seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, who battled back from two sets down to upend two-time slam winner Marat Safin 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile, it was an easier day for two-time runner up Andy Roddick. The 23 year-old third seeded American was a straight set 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 winner over German Florian Mayer, needing just 89 minutes to move into Round 3.
Fifth seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic also moved on with a 6-3, 7-6 (1), 7-5 triumph over American Justin Gimelstob. Czech Tomas Berdych (13) needed five sets to dispose of French magician Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-7 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Also advancing was 15th seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, who posted a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Brit Jamie Delgado.
Other seeds who were into Round 3 included Australian runner up Marcos Baghdatis (18), Finn Jarkko Nieminen (22), Spaniard David Ferrer (23), Belgian Olivier Rochus (26) and Russian Dmitry Tursunov (27).
Serbia and Montenegro's Novak Djokovic moved into the third round by knocking off 11th seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4. Georgian Irakli Labadze ousted 16th seeded Argentine Gaston Gaudio 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
Other Round 2 winners included American Mardy Fish, Swede Jonas Bjorkman, German Philipp Kohlschreiber and Italian Daniele Bracciali.
There were two matches still in progress before darkness. Brit Andy Murray led Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-6 (5), 6-4, 4-6. Meanwhile, 2002 champ Lleyton Hewitt (6) was tied with Korean Hyung-Taik Lee 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (5). Both second round matches will conclude later today.
Third round men's action gets underway Friday featuring top seeded Roger Federer, fourth seeded David Nalbandian, seventh seeded Mario Ancic and eighth seeded American James Blake all vying for spots in the Round of 16.
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