John Isner has defeated Go Soeda in straight sets at Wimbledon to secure a place in the second round.
The number 17 seed was pushed all the way in the opening set, but he made light work of his Japanese opponent in the remainder to record a 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 win on Court 12.
Soeda squandered a glorious chance to break Isner in the seventh game of the contest, and he lived to rue the missed opportunity as the American edged the tie-break to race ahead.
Isner himself almost proved to be his own worst enemy by wasting two set points before eventually getting over the line, yet there was no looking back from that point on.
The first break of serve in the match went Isner's favour in the seventh game of the second set, which gave him the springboard to push on for the remainder of the contest.
A break in the seventh game of the third set proved to be enough for the 30-year-old to get himself over the line unscathed to remain on course to better his third-round exit of last year.
Daniel Lewis
