The Spaniard unlike the others started his bid to at least tie his best result at Wimbledon – as the Madrid native is a three-time quarterfinalist at the world’s most famous lawn – with a comfortable straight set win over the Belgian currently ranked 80th in the world.

Feliciano Lopez, a top-15 seed at the All England Club, needed only 31 minutes to take the first frame by a 6/2 scoreline. He was never threatened during his service games, but despite failing to push Darcis even to a deuce situation in Steve Darcis’ first two service games, the Spaniard broke him twice in a row, winning four games in a row to clinch the set.

The second set, despite featuring four games more and a tiebreaker, lasted only 15 minutes longer, as both players held their serves without facing much trouble as there were no break points were forced throughout the frame, leaving the six games apiece equality to be broken. And even during the tiebreak, servers majorly overpowered their opponents, with Lopez’s triumph coming on two unforced errors by his opponent, closing the set with a 7/6 (7-4) line.

The decider had Feliciano Lopez imposing his game early on, as he, after five deuces, finally broke Steve Darcis, then consolidated despite Darcis pushing him to deuce situations as well. From then on, the two exchanged holds, as returners failed to bother the serves, with the advantage going Lopez's way, as he was already a break up. His big, left-handed services are a huge reason his game fits so well on grass as he was untroubled in the the third set.. Not even a double fault match point up could prevent the Spaniard from closing the game the very next point, claiming a 6/2, 7/6, 6/4 win to advance to the second round of Wimbledon.

The 15th seed now faces Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round, with France’s Benoit Paire or fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut as likely third round opponents. 

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About the author
Pete Liguori
Sports writer for the Racing and Tennis sections on VAVEL. Also a huge baseball and football fan. Trying to live the Big City dream. Follow me on Twitter, chaps: @PeteUSSports