Overcoming fear, Nadal advanced to the second round of Wimbledon

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning his first-round match against Argentina's Francisco Serundolo.

Rafael Nadal overcame a fear at his Wimbledon opener on Tuesday, battling to miss the third set and finally losing to Francisco Serundolo of Argentina with a break in the fourth set.

Second-seeded Nadal lost to 41st-ranked Serundlo 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the game, making his debut for the All England club.

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But the 36-year-old Spaniard, who has already won the Australian and French Open to stand in the first half of the men's calendar slam since 1969, did it in a tough way.

After the coast through the first two sets on center court, he surrendered the first break in the third set and then had to fall behind 3-1 and 4-2 in the fourth set.

2008 and 2010 Wimbledon champion Nadal will face Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis for a place in the last 32.

The Spaniard's bid for a third title in the tournament was raised early on Tuesday when 2021 runner-up Matteo Beretini, a potential semifinal opponent, withdrew after a positive test for Covid.