Local hope Tim Henman overcame Spaniard Carlos Moya in five sets to advance to the second round.

Local hope Tim Henman rolled back the years to emerge triumphant from an epic battle with Carlos Moya in the pick of the second day's action at Wimbledon overnight.

On a day when the only real surprise was the unexpected appearance of the sun, French Open champion Rafael Nadal tamed big-serving American Mardy Fish while 2004 winner Maria Sharapova and defending champion Amelie Mauresmo eased into the second round of the women's singles.

But even Sharapova's eye-catching outfit - a layered dress inspired by the ballet Swan Lake - could not deprive Henman of the limelight after he finally overcame former world number one Moya in a 24-game fifth set after more than four hours of high-quality tennis.
The two veterans had been interrupted by nightfall on the opening day with the scores tied at 5-5 in the decisive set.

Henman had failed to take four match points then and he was to put the legions of fans watching on "Henman hill" through another hour of nail-biting action before a double fault by Moya finally brought the match to a close.
That offered the former British number one the opportunity to reflect with typically modest satisfaction on a 6-3, 1-6, 5-7, 6-2, 13-11 win that was the perfect riposte to those who had suggested it was time to hang up his racket.

"Having played at that level, it is a fantastic start, but it is only a start and I want to build on that," Henman said.

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