Robin Soderling fought back from two sets down to beat Australian Lleyton Hewitt 6-7 3-6 7-5 6-4 6-4 in a dramatic second-round match under the Centre Court roof at Wimbledon Thursday.
The Swedish fifth seed looked to be on his way out of the tournament as a succession of unforced errors gifted the former champion a two-set lead.
Hewitt did not even need to show his trademark feisty qualities, keeping the ball in play and waiting for Soderling to put it in the net or out of court.
The Swede, twice French Open runner-up, found no answer to his problems and Hewitt looked certain to wrap up a straight-sets victory until Soderling conjured a break out of the blue to take the third.
Suddenly Soderling found the range on his booming serve and as the 30-year-old Hewitt began to tire he started making more unforced errors.
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Soderling again managed to break his opponent's serve to take the set and the match headed into a decider.
Hewitt, cheered on by his loyal green-and-gold clad fans, tried to pump himself up and aided by a few cries of "C'mon" he broke Soderling's serve to lead 2-1.
But the Swede broke straight back and Hewitt soon found himself serving at 4-5 to stay in the match.
Soderling upped his game and a brilliant crosscourt forehand helped set up three match points, the first of which he converted when Hewitt lamely netted a forehand.
The victor sunk to his knees and punched his chest before the players left the court to a standing ovation.
"I knew if I could raise my game after the first two sets I had a good chance," Soderling said in a televised interview.
"It was nice to see him (Hewitt) injury-free and it was the best match we have ever played. He is a great fighter and he is playing better than for a while."
(Editing by Mark Meadows)
