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LONDON -- A nagging wrist injury couldn't stop Canadian Frank Dancevic from pulling off one of the biggest wins of his career.
The 23-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont., upset No. 7 seed David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round at Wimbledon on Monday.
Just two weeks ago, Dancevic wasn't sure he'd even be able to play in the tournament after his ailing wrist forced him to withdraw from a tune-up event at Queen's Club.
"With my wrist and having to pull from Queen's this is just great," said Dancevic. "Honestly, I was happy just to be able to play here. This is a really big win for me and I'm so excited."
Dancevic, ranked 95th in the world, will play 106th-ranked American Bobby Reynolds in the second round.
It's been a disappointing season so far for Dancevic who was sidelined from January to May with a back injury.
Heading into Monday's match, he was 1-5 on the ATP tour in 2008, his only win coming against Italian Simone Bolelli on New Year's Day in Adelaide.
At Queen's two weeks ago, Dancevic retired from his first-round match versus Bolelli because of his bad wrist.
The win over Nalbandian, a Wimbledon finalist in 2002, was especially satisfying for Dancevic after he lost to the Argentine in the second round a year ago.
"When I lost to him here in 2007, he really outplayed me, but I changed that this time," said Dancevic. "He looked a bit shaky from the beginning and I just tried to play strong. This is just a huge win for me."
Dancevic also made headlines last July when he beat American star Andy Roddick in the semifinals at Indianapolis. But he has never advanced past the second round in a Grand Slam.
Nalbandian, on the other hand, had never lost in the first or second round in five previous trips to Wimbledon.
He claimed he was injured, but would not elaborate during a terse news conference after the loss.
"I can't tell you," he said.
"There's no reason to talk. I didn't play well," he added. "I never thought it was going to be like this. You have that kind of day sometimes. I tried.
"I couldn't turn it around. I expected better than this for sure."
Nalbandian said he would not be playing at the Beijing Olympics, with the U.S. hard court season now his focus.
Dancevic had a chance to serve for the match at 5-2 in the third, but Nalbandian broke and then held his own serve.
Dancevic earned triple match point with a drop volley in his next service game and closed with an ace, making the second round for only the third time at a major.
"My level today was great," said Dancevic. "I think I played one of the best matches in my career, if not the best. I felt I played flawless.
"I didn't really make any stupid mistakes during the match. I kept the pressure on him the whole time. I just kept the lead the whole match."
-- With files from The Associated Press
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