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Federer escapes Falla, avoids biggest upset in Wimbledon history

It would have been the greatest upset in the 133-year history of Wimbledon. Instead, it served as a reminder that Roger Federer is no longer invincible.

The six-time Wimbledon champion stormed back from a two-set deficit against 65th-ranked Alejandro Falla to avoid an unprecedented first-round loss at the All England Club. Falla had Federer on the ropes in both the third and fourth sets, but was unable to close, as the world No. 2 held on for a 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0 victory.

In the first two sets, Falla used his massive backhand to force Federer into uncharacteristic forehand errors. It was a bizarre sight, as the Swiss star was netting shots that he used to make look simple.

Yet even when he was down two sets and facing three break points in the third, it never felt as though Federer would lose. He's been too dominant on grass (Federer is 48-1 in the last seven years at Wimbledon) and too consistent in Grand Slams to lose to a guy who has never won a title on the ATP Tour. When Falla failed to convert three break points, which would have put him up 5-4 in the third set, the match felt finished. After blowing that chance, Falla would surely collapse in the fourth and fifth sets and Federer would cruise to victory. The outcome was inevitable.

And then, for an instant, it wasn't. Falla broke in the first game of the fourth set and held his serve to get to 5-4. Here he was, Alejandro Falla, a 9-9 record in 2010, serving for the match against one of the greatest players ever to set foot on the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon, a chance to beat the defending champion and score the greatest victory of his tennis career, and to forever go down in history as the man who ended the reign of King Roger and rewrite the — but before he had time to let those fantasies play out in his head, Falla had pushed one shot wide and netted another to go down 0-30. Federer stole the game.

On a break point at 5-5 in the fourth, Falla caught Federer leaning the other way and had an open look at a backhand winner. It floated just wide. Federer heaved a huge sigh of relief, having avoided going down 5-6 and needing another break to stay in the match. It will be the point that everyone will look back on and say "what if?"