Nicolas Almagro has progressed to the second round at Wimbledon after coming through his two-day encounter with Olivier Rochus.

Little Belgian Rochus took the opening set 7-4 in the tie-break after neither men could break serve on Monday evening.

Rochus took the initiative into the second and broke through in the fourth game before going on to take the set 6-3.

Almagro, a specialist on the clay of Europe, came back fighting a broke at the first opportunity in the third.

The Spaniard could not, however, maintain this advantage and Rochus broke back later in the set to force another breaker.

This time it was Almagro who got ahead and took the tie-break to pull a set back.

Rochus couldn't get back on top and was broken straight away before Almagro raced away to a 6-2 success in the fourth to force a decider.

The night was drawing in at SW19 and the game was suspended at two games apiece in the fifth.

Upon resumption this afternoon, Almagro broke straight away but again couldn't back it up and was broken back three games later.

The 12th seed was not to be denied though and broke once more to take a 5-4 advantage before the heavens opened to force another extended break in play.

Almagro came back out and held serve to advance to the second round where he will play Frenchman Guillaume Rufin.