Gilles Simon has come out on top with a battling 6-7(4) 6-4 3-6 6-3 16-14 victory over Daniel Brands in the first round of the Australian Open.
It was a tight contest between the pair in the first set, with games going by the way of serve in the early stages. Brands had seven chances to break his opponent, but he wasted six of them.
The set needed to be decided with a tie-break and Brands's earlier efforts paid off as he grabbed it 7-4, giving himself a one-set lead on Court 7.
Simon stepped up his game in the second set by grabbing a break-point opportunity, while Brands yet again struggled to secure that vital break to put pressure on Simon, who eventually saw out the set.
With 19 winners and seven aces, Brands managed to get back on top in the clash, as well as hold all of his service games to take the lead once again in Melbourne.
However, his lead didn't last long as Simon scored six aces and a vital break point to move on top and draw 2-2 on sets, forcing the contest into a fifth and final set.
It continued to be a close affair between the players, with games going by the way of serve, with neither opponent able to push for a break-point opportunity.
Simon and Brands continued to match one another in an exhausting set, despite both coming agonisingly close to nabbing a vital break of serve. However, it took Simon to make the breakthrough to win the set 16-14.
Danielle Joynson
