Munar fights his way past Ferrer in French Open 1st round

Spanish qualifier Jaume Munar on Monday beat fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 3-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 in an epic first-round match at the French Open, a Grand Slam event held on clay court.

Making his first appearance at Roland Garros, Munar needed an agonising four hours and 15 minutes to knock out Ferrer, a former top 10 player, who reached the 2013 French Open final but lost to Spain's "King of Clay" Rafael Nadal, REPORTS eFE.

Ferrer, currently World No. 41, was one set away from a routine win as he grabbed a 6-3, 6-3 lead, thanks to a lone break in the first set and three breaks in the second, where he conceded his serve once.

The 21-year-old Munar, who was trained at the Rafael Nadal academy, turned things around, drawing level via two tiebreaks, forcing a decider.

Munar then made the most of all three break points he created to clinch the match, despite conceding his serve twice.

For a place in the third round, Munar is set to take on Serbia's Novak Djokovic, who defeated Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva.

--IANS

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