Cameron Norrie produced the best win of his season as he outlasted Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 7-5 in four hours to reach the second round.
The British number three halted a comeback from Medvedev to book his place in the second round with a five set victory.
It was an emphatic start from Norrie who went two sets up, squeezing out the opening set after Medvedev had led by a break for most of the set.
However, Norrie had been the better player in the opening set and was rewarded as he broke twice late on to take the opening set.
The momentum from Norrie continued into the second set as he was aggressive and proactive, coming into the net.
Meanwhile the body language from Medvedev was downbeat as he looked disinterested with Norrie going up a double break.
Despite the late comeback from Medvedev, Norrie remained composed as he sealed a two set lead.
There needed to be a big response from Medvedev and that came late on in the third set as he was aggressive and was crucifying Norrie with the forehand.
A break in the tenth game secured the third set from Medvedev as he looked well on his way to coming back.
That was further emphasised in the fourth set as he bulldozed Norrie around the court with the Brit having very little response with Medvedev cruising to a 6-1 set.
In the fifth set, Norrie dug deep but it still wasn’t enough as Medvedev was playing some world class tennis to break in the fifth set and it looked like Medvedev was going to secure the comeback.
However, there would be a late twist in the tale as Norrie rallied with authority producing confident returning from the baseline.
Three games in a row secured victory for Norrie as he moved into the second round and won his first match against Medvedev in five meetings.
After the match Norrie jokingly said that he deserved a diploma for beating Medvedev, “There wasn’t a lot on my mind on match point. It was an incredible atmosphere,” Norrie was quoted by BBC Sport as saying.
“Thank you to everyone for supporting me there. I really felt like I had the momentum at the end, it was kind of similar to the first set. I just felt a lot of energy and I was able to get over the line. I felt that he was a little tentative but honestly it was a crazy match. He is so tough to beat, I think I deserve a diploma for beating Medvedev because he’s beaten me the last four or five times. It was an unreal match.”
Next up for Norrie will be Federico Gomez.
Zverev Triumphs As Dimitrov Retires
In other results Alexander Zverev advanced to the second round after a straight sets win over talented American Learner Tien.
The German had been struggling with illness and results in recent weeks but last year’s finalist was impressive today securing a straight sets win.
Either Jesper De Jong or Francesco Passaro will await Zverev in the second round.
However, there was a contrasting result for 16th seed Grigor Dimitrov as he was two sets to one up on American wildcard Ethan Quinn before he was forced to retire.
As a result Quinn will now play lucky loser Alexander Shevchenko in the second round.
