Fourth-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian has survived a major scare to defeat Thailand's Danai Udomchoke 6-2 6-2 1-6 6-7 (4/7) 6-1 in their first-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
The qualifier proved a gutsy opponent for the South American fourth seed but experience and skill prevailed at the end of the marathon battle.
For Nalbandian, it was a match that took some time to get started, the world number four amassing eight unforced errors early in the affair and 61 for the match.
However, it was not long before he took control with an important break of Udomchoke's second service game, and then Nalbandian raced through the first set.
The second set followed suit, with Nalbandian breaking early and holding his own serve well.
However, the first test for the South American came in the third set when Udomchoke bounced back into the match.
Both players exchanged service breaks early in the third set before Udomchoke took control with two more consecutive breaks on his way to taking the set.
The fourth set soon shaped up to be a battle as both players struggled to get the edge.
Udomchoke looked to have exacted a killer blow with the score tied up on 5-5, but the Thai could not put away a break point and the match moved to a tiebreaker.
However, the Thai soon forced the match into a deciding set, the world number 121 taking the tiebreaker 7/4 after a spate of uncharacteristic errors from Nalbandian.
But, despite a brave effort from Udomchoke, the match was soon the fourth seed's as he romped home to win the decider with his second match point.
Nalbandian's compatriot Gaston Gaudio earlier breezed into the second round after Romanian Razvan Sabau retired while trailing 6-2 5-0 against the clay-court specialist.
American Robby Ginepri signalled his title aspirations with an easy 6-1 6-4 6-2 victory over Austrian opponent Jurgen Melzer.
Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic also had little trouble dispatching SwedeBjorn Rehnquist 6-1 6-2 6-2, while world number 14 David Ferrer had a tougher task in his clash with Frenchman Florent Serra, the Spaniard dropping the first set before edging his way to victory 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-4.
Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, who won the Heineken Open in Auckland last week, continued his stellar form with a 6-2 6-3 6-1 victory over Australian Marc Kimmich.
Meanwhile, Croatian Davis Cup hero Mario Ancic advanced with a relatively comfortable 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Agustin Calleri from Argentina.
American Taylor Dent could not win a tie-breaker as he folded in his clash with Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, the big-serving 27th seed crumbling 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in a tight match.
Another Spaniard to taste success on the opening day was tournament 31st-seed Feliciano Lopez. The mercurial left-hander took just three sets to dispatch German Tomas Behrend 6-2 7-5 6-3.
However, it was bad news for veteran Carlos Moya as the tournament 32nd seed was beaten by Romanian Andrei Pavel in a five-set epic. Pavel led by two sets but was pushed right to the line before winning 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 3-6 6-4.
Croatian star Ivan Ljubicic proved too good in his encounter with Australian youngster Chris Guccione, the seventh seed winning 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 7-6 (7-3), while 16th-seed Tommy Robredo had an easy win, the Spaniard trouncing Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic 6-4 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.
Tim Henman crashed out of the Australian Open today after a 5-7 6-3 6-4 7-5 defeat to Dmitry Tursunov on the opening day of the tournament in Melbourne.
Russian opponent Tursunov had knocked the British number one out of Wimbledon last year and was a worthy winner this time around as Henman failed to find his rhythm.
Second seed Andy Roddick surged into the second round with a straight sets victory over Swiss qualifier Michael Lammer.
The American powerhouse got off to a flyer with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win in his first official match since November at the Masters Series in Paris.
Roddick, who has never been beyond two semi-final appearances in Melbourne, sealed his victory with an ace and will now take on South African Wesley Moodie in the next round.
