Roger Federer into Wimbledon second round for 17th successive year

Switzerland’s Roger Federer attends a practice session ahead of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Saturday, June 29, 2019. The Wimbledon Tennis Championships start on Monday, July 1 and run until Sunday, July 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Eight-time champion Roger Federer reached the Wimbledon second round for a 17th successive year on Tuesday, overcoming a first set blip to beat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris.

Federer, 37 and bidding to become the oldest Grand Slam champion, claimed a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over the 86th-ranked Harris who was making his Wimbledon debut.

Harris’s challenge was eventually compromised by needing treatment on a left calf strain.

Second seed Federer, who now has 96 wins at the tournament, will face either British wildcard Jay Clarke or American qualifier Noah Rubin for a place in the last 32.