Enlarge image22/06/2009 14:15
LONDON (Reuters) - American James Blake became the first seeded casualty at Wimbledon when he lost 7-5 6-4 7-6 to Italy's Andreas Seppi on Monday.
Blake, the beaten finalist in the grasscourt tune-up at Queen's Club last week, looked all at sea against Seppi's powerful strokes off both wings from the baseline and lost the first round match in 44 minutes.
Seppi, who has never got past the third round in his previous four visits to Wimbledon, showed superior movement again in the second set and needed just 35 minutes more to double his lead.
Blake, seeded 17, stormed to a 5-0 lead in the third set tiebreak but Seppi rattled off seven straight points to book his place in round two when he will play Frenchman Marc Gicquel.
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(Editing by Miles Evans)
