Luca Van Assche beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 3-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-0 after 3 hours and 49 minutes to reach the third round at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Van Assche earned his first break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. The Frenchman earned a double break point in the sixth game, but Musetti saved it. Musetti did not convert two break-back points in the seventh game. Van Assche sealed the first set 6-3 on his first set point in the ninth game.
Musetti broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and held his next service games to win the second set 6-3.
Van Assche broke serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, but Musetti broke straight back in the fifth game. Musetti saved three break points in the sixth game to hold serve for 3-3. Musetti went up a mini-break twice in the tie-break, but Van Assche pulled back on serve both times. Musetti sealed the tie-break 7-5 with his third mini-break.
Van Assche rallied from 2-3 down by winning four consecutive games with two breaks to close out the fourth set 6-3.
Van Assche went up an early break to take a 2-0 lead in the fifth set. Miusetti did not convert four break points in the third game. The Frenchman broke twice in the fourth and sixth games to take a bagel.
