17th-seeded James Blake of US upset by 50th-ranked Andreas Seppi of Italy at Wimbledon

17th-seeded Blake upset by Italy’s Seppi

WIMBLEDON, England — James Blake of the United States has been upset in the first round at Wimbledon.

The 17th-seeded Blake lost to Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Monday, making the American the first seeded player to lose this year at the All England Club.

Blake held one set point in the third, leading 6-5, but he missed a forehand long to end a 23-stroke exchange. Blake then took a 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker, before Seppi won the match’s last seven points.

Blake has lost three Grand Slam matches in a row, including a first-round exit at the French Open last month and a fourth-round defeat at the Australian Open in January.

Seppi is ranked 50th and never has made it past the third round at a Grand Slam tournament.