Oxfordshire's Alexis Canter performed well on his Wimbledon debut, but admitted to mixed emotions after losing in straight sets to Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki on Saturday.

The 17-year-old, from Long Wittenham, gave a good account of himself in the first round of the boys’ singles in front of around 400 people on Court 6 before bowing out 7-6, 7-5.

Canter had an opportunity in the first set, forcing Watanuki to 5-6 and 0-30 before the Japanese teenager, ranked 43 in the world, stepped up a gear on his serve.

Then, at critical stages in the tie-breaker, Canter twice slipped on the dry, dusty baseline as Watanuki won that 7-3 to snatch the opening set.

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After getting to 5-5 in the second set, the Oxfordshire player was suddenly blown away in a flash as Watanuki served out to love and then seized his moment to earn a match point, which he converted when Canter double faulted.

Alexis said: “I thought it was a fine performance – though I was not at my best – but I was disappointed to finish as I did.

“Yes, I was nervous at the start, but I felt he was too.

“There did seem a chance when he was 5-6, 0-30, but then he brought out some good serves.

“I slipped a couple of times at one end and don’t know why because they were brand new shoes.

“I served pretty well, though, I felt.”

Canter, however, will be back at SW19 tomorrow to compete in the boys’ doubles with fellow British wildcard Finn Bass.