Roger Federer survived a stern examination by American teenager Taylor Fritz in Stuttgart yesterday to win his first match since withdrawing from the French Open with a back injury.

The Swiss 17-times grand slam champion resumed leading 4-3 in the opening set after rain curtailed play at the Mercedes Cup the previous day and he eventually prevailed 6-4 5-7 6-4.

Fritz, 18, levelled the match when he converted his fourth set point but Federer edged home in the decider to set up a quarter-final against Florian Mayer.

His victory was his 1,071st on the ATP Tour, taking him joint-second on the all-time match wins list with Ivan Lendl.

Jimmy Connors is the overall leader with 1,256 wins.

“It wasn’t easy,” Federer told the ATP’s website.

“(Fritz) served well and I was a little bit cautious, unsure of how to move and questioning my defence.

“These are the things I will need to iron out.”

Top seed Federer has been struggling with injuries this season, requiring knee surgery in February and then nursing a back problem throughout the claycourt season.

Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal will not play at Wimbledon because of the wrist injury that forced him out of the French Open.

The 14-time grand slam champion initially felt pain in his left wrist at the Madrid Open last month but it worsened at Roland Garros and he withdrew ahead of his third-round match.

Nadal was initially positive about his chances of playing at Wimbledon but his withdrawal comes as no surprise.

A statement from his agent Benito Perez-Barbadillo read: “Rafa Nadal announces today (yesterday) that he won’t be taking part at this year’s Championships at Wimbledon due to the injury he suffered on his left wrist during this year’s Roland Garros event that forced him to withdraw after his second round match.

“His left wrist will continue (to be) immobilised for a maximum of two weeks.

“After that the player will start an anti-inflammatory rehabilitation and physiotherapy-based treatment once the cast is removed.”