Cameron Norrie came back from the brink on Tuesday to eliminate the 11th seed Daniil Medvedev and advance to the second round of the French Open in Paris.
The 29-year-old Briton won 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 in just under four hours on Court Simonne Matthieu to register his first victory over the Russian in five encounters.
In their previous meetings, Norrie had failed to win a set, averaging three games a set.
And it appeared to be business as usual when Medvedev stepped up to serve for the opener at 5-3.
But the 29-year-old imploded. He lost eight consecutive games to give Norrie the first set 7-5 and a 4-0 lead in the second.
Though he reeled him in, Norrie held on to seize control of the match.
After edging the third set 6-4, Medvedev romped through the fourth 6-1 in 22 minutes to level proceedings.
He served for the match at 5-4 in the decider but failed to exploit his advantage.
"My main regret is that I didn't manage to serve it out," Medvedev lamented.
"I mean, kind of close match. Great fight and I'm disappointed to lose. He played well. I didn't play good enough. So that's why I lost."
Spirit
Norrie reached number eight in the ATP world rankings in September 2022 but has since slipped to 81 on the back of injuries and a loss of form. But he reached the last four at the Geneva Open in the week before the French Open.
"I've been getting better week by week on clay," said Norrie.
"It was a great atmosphere on the court. I felt a lot of energy. It was a crazy match. I deserve a diploma for beating him since he beat me the last four times."
Elsewhere in the men's draw, last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev cruised past the rising American Learner Tien.
The German booked a berth in the second round with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over the 19-year-old in one hour and 53 minutes.
Three-time champion Novak Djokovic opened his campaign for a record 25th singles title at a Grand Slam tournament with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 stroll past the American Mackenzie McDonald.
Djokovic, 38, claimed his 100th ATP title last Saturday at the Geneva Open and was too wily for the world number 98.
"I don't know how many Grand Slam tournaments I have left in me," Djokovic told on-court interviewer Lucas Pouille.
"But I am trying to make the most of them. I played a solid match – one break per set. I know I can play at a higher level but I am happy with what I have done."
Ninth seed Alex de Minaur moved into the second round following a straight sets victory over Laslo Djere.
