Alex Bogdanovic missed a golden opportunity to unexpectedly put Britain ahead in the world group qualifying tie against Austria when he failed to capitalise on a set and points for a 5-1 lead in the second set with Jurgen Melzer struggling to find consistency, going down 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2 6-1.

The British No.2 was simply exemplary for a set and a half, holding off five break points in his opening service game and then breaking Melzer in the seventh game with a brilliant backhand pass down the line that the Austrian was powerless to cut off.

Bogdanovic, belying his inferior ranking of 162 against Melzer's 41, clinched the set with a second break and with a run of seven games from 2-3 in the opening set, raced to 3-0 in the second set as the Austrian's forehand continued to spray losers at an alarming rate.

At 1-4 down with Melzer all at sea, Bogdanovic had the Austrian No.1 at his mercy with two break points, but somehow those chances went begging and when he lost his serve in the next game, the nagging doubts began to ebb confidence away from his play.

Melzer's body language improved with every game and when he managed to level at a set all by winning the set on a tie-break 7-3, the writing was all but on the wall for a strong Austrian recovery.

Bogdanovic relinquished his serve at the start of the third set by dumping a low forehand into the bottom of the net to bolster the Austrian's confidence further,and from there Melzer romped to victory for the loss of just three games over the next two sets. He clinched victory on serve with a wrong-footing backhand winner that had the discouraged Brit flailing in vain on the forehand wing.

Melzer served 13 aces and converted 6/19 break point opportunities while saving 8/12.

Following the match Melzer admitted to feeling the pressure when he stepped out onto Court No.1. "All the talk this week has been of pressure, and I really felt the pressure on my shoulders today," said the world No.41. "I knew that if I lost this rubber the tie was pretty much over this weekend so it was a must-win situation for me.

"I lifted my game in the second set and I knew I was the fitter of the two of us so that was a good feeling as well."

Bogdanovic reflecting on losing his opportunity to secure a two sets lead having led 4-1 in the second set said: "I think that was a little bit of a turning point, but I think I played pretty solid to get to that situation. When I had the two break points (for 5-1) he played two good points. Once he got through that set he stepped up a level and started to serve a lot better and was dictating most of the points from the back."

Looking ahead to a possible deciding fifth rubber against Alex Peya who is ranked just two places below him at 164, the British No.2 knows he can ill afford any lapses should they meet.

"Obviously it's going to be a tough match", Bogdanovic said. "You are playing for your country and it's a decider to get into a world group. I'm going to be nervous, but I feel like if I can go out there like I did today, play aggressive and fight as much as I can, then that's all I can do. If I play as well as I did today then I think I have a good chance on sunday."

Andre Jones

Wimbledon