Defending champion Roger Federer of Switzerland practices in preparation for the 2010 Wimbledon tennis championships, in London June 20, 2010. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

Defending champion Roger Federer survived a scare in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday, fighting back from two sets down to beat Colombia's Alejandro Falla.

The world number 60 nearly made Federer only the third men's title holder to lose in the first round, taking the first two sets and serving for the match at 5-4 up in the fourth.

But the top seed rallied to win 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), 6-0.