The French Open is only one day old and already the men's draw has been turned on its head as fourth seed Dominic Thiem crashed out to Pablo Andujar with the Spaniard rallying for a 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 first round victory.
Andujar, ranked 68th in the world, won a match from two sets down for the first time in his career after four hours, 28 minutes of play against the two-time Roland Garros finalist.
Andujar produces incredible comeback to oust Thiem
Thiem gained the early momentum, winning the first two games of the match. Andujar slowly worked his way into the match, saving six break points in an 11-minute fifth game. Despite that, the Austrian maintained his advantage and he clinched the set after 56 minutes with a forehand winner down the line.
The second set was much different with four breaks of serve. Serving for the set at 5-4, Thiem was broken, but he quickly regained his composure and won the final two games of the set to open up a two-set lead.
Credit to Andujar as he stayed steady and took a 3-2 in the third set. The Spaniard broke Thiem out of nowhere to take a 5-3 lead and serving for the set, he trailed 0-30. Winning four straight points, Andujar claimed the third set.
Suddenly, the world number 68 was working his way back into the match and he was up a break in the fourth set after Thiem missed a forehand long. Another error put the Spaniard up a double break. The Austrian gained one break back, but Andujar held on, winning the set after Thiem slashed a forehand wide.
Andujar raced out to a 0-40 lead in the opening game of the fifth set and a backhand wide by the fourth seed gave the Spaniard the early initiative. Thiem broke back, but the Spaniard again weaved a forehand cross court to regain his advantage at 3-2.
Two easy holds followed and suddenly the world number 68 was a game away from a massive upset. Thiem hung tough and held to cut the deficit to 5-4, but a backhand set up match point for Andujar and he duly took it, blasting one more forehand winner to seal progression into the second round.
