Berdych, Isner upset by unheralded rivals

Wimbledon, England  — Marathon man John Isner faded at the finish of another five-setter late Monday at Wimbledon.

The highest-ranked American failed to convert a match point in the fourth set and lost in the first round to Alejandro Falla of Colombia, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5.

Isner is best known for winning the longest match in tennis history two years ago in the first round at Wimbledon, when he edged Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set.

Isner also went five sets in the second round at the French Open last month, losing 18-16 to Paul-Henri Mathieu. He has been eliminated in five sets in each of the past three Grand Slams.

In another first-round shocker on Monday, former runner-up Tomas Berdych was upset by Ernests Gulbis of Latvia  after losing three tiebreakers.

The sixth-seeded Czech was looking to reach the second round for the eighth straight year but lost 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) on Centre Court in the biggest surprise in the men’s draw on the opening day at the All England Club.

Both players were broken once in the second set — with Berdych converting the only break point he earned in the match — but Gulbis proved stronger in every tiebreaker.

Federer marches on

Meanwhile,   Roger Federer swatted a stray ball toward a ball girl but misjudged the distance, and his leisurely lob bounced past her and over the backstop into a photo pit, drawing titters from the Wimbledon crowd.

Federer’s first-round match was a laugher. Aside from the errant lob, he had few lapses and drubbed Spaniard Albert Ramos with stylish symmetry Monday, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.

Consigned to Court 1, an unusual setting for a six-time champion, Federer played with his characteristic verve on grass. Ramos has never won a match on the surface, and it showed.

Last night, playing his first match since having a medical procedure on his heart, 10th-seeded Mardy Fish of the United States hit 24 aces and beat Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo of Spain 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-6 (1)  to reach the second round.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova recovered from a shaky start to beat Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4, 6-4 in her opening match./ap