Tipsarevic ousts Gonzalez

Janko Tipsarevic may not have achieved the levels of success enjoyed by compatriots Novak Djokovic, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic but he announced his arrival with a fine performance on Centre Court.

Gonzalez, seeded five, was second best for much of a magnificent contest as Tipsarevic edged a 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 8-6 victory against a player who beat him at Queen's two weeks ago - a match in which Gonzalez had to save a match-point.

The 23-year-old Serbian, complete with beard, tattoos and piercings in his lower lip and eyebrow, displayed his intent from the outset, breaking Gonzalez in his opening service game. He then served out the set with few alarms to move one up.

Gonzalez also lost the first set in his first two matches here, to Robby Ginepri and Alejandro Falla, but he must have been alarmed with the ease at which Tipsarevic established a total grip on proceedings. He regrouped in the second, however, one break in the sixth game proving enough to level matters.

The South American could not maintain his level of performance in the third set though and quickly found himself 5-3 down. He almost broke back when Tipsarevic wobbled at the prospect of a two-sets-to-one advantage but could not convert any of four opportunities which came his way.

A second rain delay after five games of the fourth set forced the players off again. And it looked as though it would be the key moment of the match as the break seemed to re-energise Gonzalez.

No doubt with the words of experienced coach Larry Stefanki ringing in his ears, the Chilean started to take command of the baseline exchanges and secured the vital break he needed to send the match into a decider.

The players exchanged further breaks at the start of the fifth set but it was Gonzalez who appeared to have the greater spring in his step. He broke again for a 4-2 lead as Tipsarevic's challenge looked to be wilting.

But the plucky Serbian came again, breaking Gonzalez to level at 5-all. The Chilean wasted a match-point at 6-5 but was then broken in the next game. This time there was to be no comeback as Tipsarevic sealed the best win of his career with a booming ace.