It felt like playing a brick wall for the most part, but Australian qualifier Matt Reid says he’ll still take plenty of good memories from his grand slam debut at Wimbledon.

The 22-year-old endured a tough initiation to the highest level in a first-round loss to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek on Monday.

Reid was far from disgraced in the 6-2 6-2 6-4 defeat and picked up a thing or two about grand slam tennis in the process against 34-year-old Stepanek.

“It was like anything I did he just came up with something better,” Reid said.

“Usually my serve is one of my strengths but every time I looked up after one of my serves he was there just blocking it back, putting it back at my feet and I’d have to start the point over and over again.”

With his mother and friends watching on, Reid said he was more excited than nervous during the match.

In reality, just reaching the the main draw was a bonus for the world No.216.

He survived an arduous qualifying campaign that included saving a match point in a first-round win over Somdev Devvarman that finished 18-16 in the final set.

“I was one point away from being out of here, being on the next plane home to Australia,” he said.

“Being around this tournament’s been amazing. The venue, the courts, how professional it is.

“It beats being at the Challengers and Futures tournaments, for sure.

“I really enjoyed it and it’d be great to get back here and have another go.”

AAP lf/