In the opening round at Wimbledon, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Philipp Kohlschreiber went head to head on court 16. The Frenchman came through 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and booked a spot in round two where he will face Denis Kudla.
Late break seals first set for Herbert
Herbert started the match off with a hold of serve while Kohlschreiber hit three aces as he also got his first game on the board. From that moment on the set got tight and both players continued to play secure, not allowing one another to fashion a chance. In the 11th game, Herbert hit a double fault which then gave Kohlschreiber the chance to break.
However, the 25-year-old hit an unreadable serve and brought the game to deuce. He then won the next two points and put the pressure on the German. At 30-30 in the 12th game, Herbert hit a winner to set up match point. The 21st seed Kohlschreiber hit a forehand into the net and the Frenchman grabbed the opener 7-5.
Early break help gives Herbert a comfortable two set lead
With Herbert winning the opening set, he came out with the intentions of starting fast in the second. The world number 81 started by holding his serve and then going on to break the German after attacking his serve and hitting a return winner crosscourt. Herbert then consolidated the break to go 3-0 up. In the following game, Kohlschreiber got on the board with a hold to love.
In the fifth game, the world number 22 ran away to a love-30 lead before Herbert stopped any momentum in the game and won four straight points for a 4-1 lead. The next three service games flashed by and with less than 25 minutes on the board, Herbert was serving for a two set lead at 5-3. The Frenchman reached set point at 15-40 and despite failing to convert at the first time of asking, he did so with his second match point hitting a delightful drop shot for 6-3.
Kohlschreiber grabs the third set
At the start of the third set, it was Kohlschreiber who got off to a quick start. After holding to get the set underway, the 32-year-old then fashioned a break point opportunity at 30-40, which he took after a poor serve allowed him to return the ball and pick his spot, and he did so with the tables turning from the second set.
After converting his only break point of the match so far, Kohlschreiber then consolidated to love and was looking strong. The Frenchman eventually got on the board with a love service of his own in the next match to take it to 1-3. Kohlschreiber continued to look strong in the set and Herbert's level from the first two set dropped. After 26 minutes the German wrapped up the set 3-6 and was on the road to redemption in this match.
Herbert knocks 21st seed Kohlschreiber out
It was Herbert who got the better start to the fourth set. After holding to love to start the set, he then broke Kohlschreiber at the second time of asking to go 2-0 up. The following game saw the Frenchman hold serve and consolidate. And just like the second set, he was looking confident and had a spring in his step, while the German was looking rather annoyed and frustrated.
The set was unravelling the same as the second and Herbert's serve and volley continued to trouble Kohlschreiber. With no breaks of serve, it was Herbert who would be serving for the match at 5-3. And with less than 25 minutes played, the 25-year-old scored an upset and knocked the 21st seed out of Wimbledon to reach the second round for the second consecutive year running.