Nadal fights back to beat Gulbis

Rafael Nadal was given a thorough workout by Ernests Gulbis on the way to dispatching the Latvian 5-7 6-2 7-6 (7/2) 6-3 to book his place in the third round of Wimbledon.

Tournament second seed Nadal predicted Gulbis would prove a handful and the little-known 19-year-old lived up to expectations by producing a display full of courage and skill.

Nadal's class and athleticism ultimately enabled him to negotiate a tricky hurdle on Court One and he meets German Nicolas Kiefer in the next round.

Heavy underdog Gulbis declared before the match he would not adopt the attitude of a "loser" and he was true to his word early in the first set.

Nadal's service was being met with tenacious opposition as Gulbis - the youngest player currently in the top 50 - mixed some deft drops shots with precision strokeplay from the baseline.

The Mallorcan was infuriated in the 11th when the umpire claimed the ball had bounced twice before it was returned, and he made his feelings known to the official.

Gulbis manoeuvred Nadal around expertly in the 12th and even the Spaniard's athleticism could not prevent him conceding set point, which he hit long to lose the opener.

The authority that marked Gulbis' play in the first set had deserted him and Nadal clinched the second to take control of the match.

The third set went to a tie-break, where Nadal's class and greater experience told, with Gulbis firing long to nudge the Spaniard further ahead.

The fourth set became a battle of wills and it was Gulbis who cracked first, conceding two break points in the eighth. He returned wide to lose the second and Nadal made no mistake a game later, producing a sublime forehand that landed in the corner.