LONDON: Roger Federer survived a big fear to reach the second round of Wimbledon on Tuesday when France Adrian Mannarino was forced to retire to be injured at the beginning of the fifth set.
Eight times the Federer champion was at the level of 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 3-6, 6-2 when Mannarino called it stop after only one point in the decider.
The French, celebrating his 33rd birthday, suffering from falling badly in the seventh match of the fourth set.
Despite taking care of the coach, he can hardly move and grimace in pain must retire.
Only five shy weeks of his 40th birthday, Federer faced Richard Gasquet or Yuichi Sugita for the last 32.
Roger Federer survived the scare of Wimbledon to reach the second half
