Henry Searle impresses in senior Wimbledon debut

Henry Searle took the first set before losing 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 to American Marcos Giron on day two of Wimbledon

Last year's junior champion Henry Searle impressed in his senior Wimbledon debut despite a four-set loss to American Marcos Giron.

The 18-year-old from Wolverhampton took the first set on Tuesday before eventually being beaten 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.

Searle became the first Brit to lift the boys' singles trophy in 61 years last July and was given a wildcard into this year's main draw.

Speaking afterwards, Searle said: "I gave what I had and fought as hard as possible but it wasn't enough to get over the line."

Henry Searle reacts during his first round match against Marcus Giron at the All England Club

The left-handed teenager, ranked more than 500 places below Giron, showed he could compete at the men's level by hitting huge serves and more than matching his opponent for power.

While momentum shifted at the start of the second set when he dropped serve, there was little to choose between the pair.

Searle kept battling until the end, saving three match points but Giron took his fourth to move into the second round where he will meet fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

One of four Brits knocked out of the men's singles on day two, Searle said the experience had been a "different scale" to the juniors.

"I played some of my better tennis in the first set, then he kind of settled and started playing better," he said.

He added his experience of being around and practising with some of the games' top players had been "incredible".

"It's more than just a week's progress when you're around these sort of guys," he said. "Hopefully I can take that and push on the rest of the season."

Henry Searle (right) and Marcos Giron shake hands after the latter triumphed in four sets over last year's junior champion

Marc Hughes, manager of Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club was among those who packed out court 10 to watch Searle in action.

The club, where the player started as a two year old, was "immensely proud of him", Mr Hughes said.

"He's a great example of a young man working hard to be a professional tennis player," he added.

Searle said he was now looking to his first-round doubles match with Dan Evans against Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger Vasselin.

"Full focus on that the next few days and hopefully we can put a good performance in on Thursday," he added.