Harris converts match point for the ages in Wimbledon win over Michelsen

The outer courts at Wimbledon–or at any Grand Slam, for that matter–always deliver drama during the first few days of the tournament.

Monday at the All-England Club was no exception.

A whole host of five-setters–including a hard-to-believe four comebacks from two sets down–saw Lloyd Harris outlast Alex Michelsen 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(11-9) in three hours and 29 minutes on Court 9. Their marathon not only stood out because of the epic fifth-set tiebreaker but also because of the clinching point.

Harris, who served for the match at 6-5 in the fifth and led 30-0 in that game but failed to close it out, trailed 8-5 in the ‘breaker at one stage. He also saved a match point at 8-9 (on his own serve). With Michelsen serving at 9-10, the South African capitalized on his first chance in legendary fashion. A wild exchange from both the net and the baseline was complete with Harris hitting a diving forehand that left him sprawled on the grass, a backhand overhead, and finally a lunging forehand volley winner that again reduced him to a crumpled heap on the lawns on London–this time in triumph.