A trademark performance of grit and character was not enough to extend the Wimbledon career of Lleyton Hewitt as he suffered a dramatic first-round defeat to Jarkko Nieminen.

Monday's battle of the veterans on No.2 Court brought together two players featuring at Wimbledon for the final time ahead of their impending retirements - with a second-round tie against world number one Novak Djokovic awaiting the winner.

Nieminen ultimately prevailed 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-0 11-9, but the Finn was pushed all the way in a thrilling encounter spanning one minute shy of four hours.

Veteran Australian Hewitt - the last man outside the 'Big Four' of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to lift the Wimbledon men's singles title having triumphed in 2002 - looked set to bow out with a whimper when he lost the fourth set 6-0 and then called for medical treatment on a leg injury.

However, the 34-year-old displayed the tenacity that has been a hallmark of his illustrious career and saved three match points at 4-5 down in the decider before eventually falling short.

Hewitt's vocal band of supporters were given reason to cheer as their man broke on three occasions in the fifth set - only for Nieminen to hit back immediately on each occasion.

Having seen three opportunities to finish off the match go begging in game 10, Nieminen finally got over the line to seal a first career victory for Hewitt, who received a deserved warm ovation as he departed the court.