Audio By Carbonatix
Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime came back from two sets down against qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas in his French Open first-round match.
The 21-year-old survived a huge scare on Philippe Chatrier after Peruvian world number 122 Varillas made a dream start on his Grand Slam debut.
Auger-Aliassime eventually prevailed 2-6 2-6 6-1 6-3 6-3 to end his wait for a main-draw victory at Roland Garros.
He will meet Russian Aslan Karatsev or qualifier Camilo Ugo Carabelli next.
Having reached his first major quarter-final at Wimbledon last summer, the Canadian made the US Open semi-finals before a run to the last eight at the Australian Open in January.
But he was a clear second best early on against Varillas, 26, and appeared on course for a shock early exit in Paris as the Peruvian broke serve twice in both of the opening two sets.
A junior finalist at Roland Garros, Auger-Aliassime rallied in the third set as the momentum shifted emphatically in his favour, and he also dominated the fourth set to level the match.
In a much closer deciding set, it was the world number nine who was able to make the decisive breakthrough in the eighth game, before serving out the match to complete a fine comeback and secure his first French Open main draw win at the third attempt.
Elsewhere in the men's draw, 2018 and 2019 French Open runner-up Dominic Thiem lost an 11th successive match as the Austrian fell in straight sets to Bolivia's Hugo Dellien.
Argentine 15th seed Diego Schwartzman beat Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-2, while Bulgarian 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov prevailed 6-1 6-1 6-1 against American Marcos Giron.
American 23rd seed John Isner beat Frenchman Quentin Halys 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (8-6), while Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, seeded 26th, won 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2 against Russian Pavel Kotov.
Meanwhile, American 31st seed Jenson Brooksby was beaten 6-1 6-2 6-1 by Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas.
Latest Stories
-
Nearly 400 sentenced in Nigeria for links to militant Islamists
5 minutes -
Ghana’s recovery supported by gold strength despite global oil price pressures – Standard Bank Research
11 minutes -
Kwaku Azar writes: A-G vs OSP
44 minutes -
Mfantsipim–Adisadel rivalry built excellence, not division – Sam Jonah
1 hour -
Vice President launches Mfantsipim’s 150 years of shaping Ghana’s greatest mind
1 hour -
I assure Otumfuo, Mahama will join him to commission KNUST Teaching Hospital by end of this year – Haruna Iddrisu
2 hours -
Barcelona dominate derby to extend La Liga lead
2 hours -
Gov’t to roll out free special education for persons with disabilities from July 1 – Education Minister
2 hours -
Importers and Exporters Association declares full support for Publican AI port system
3 hours -
“We used it to test our officiating officials’ readiness” – Bawah Fuseini after CAA Athletics event
3 hours -
Volleyball emerges as Ghana’s fastest rising sport
3 hours -
National Sports Fund needs strong leadership from the top – Administrator David Wuaku
3 hours -
JoySports Exclusive: Steve McLaren in talks with GFA after expressing interest in Black Stars job
3 hours -
Fire guts auto parts warehouse at Bubuashie, one fire officer injured
4 hours -
I owe my victory to coach Ofori Asare – Allotey after winning WBA Africa Gold Super Flyweight belt
4 hours