London: India's Somdev Devvarman failed to qualify for the Wimbledon as he lost the opening match of the qualifier against Australia's Matt Reid 6-7 (4), 6-4, 16-18 here on Monday.
Though ranked higher than his opponent, Somdev made a mess of the good start. Despite taking a healthy lead in the first set and having a match point in the ninth game of the third set, Somdev allowed Reid to make a comeback and went on to lose the match.
It was a thrilling encounter, though, as the thrid set extended to 34 games in which Reid came of triumphant in the battle of nerves as he broke Somdev in the 34th game to move to second round.
Somdev's defeat means that there won't be any Indian in the men's singles draw of the Wimbledon this year.