The amazing Thanasi Kokkinakis has roared back from the brink of defeat after a four-hour and 18-minute battle in sweltering Paris heat to launch another trademark fantastical five-set comeback at Roland Garros.
On a manic, mixed Monday for Australia's elite, with Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina also braving "brutal" conditions to prevail, injury-plagued Kokkinakis, who feared at the Australian Open his career could be finally be sunk by chronic shoulder trouble, again defied all odds to outlast French leftie Terence Atmane.
READ: Roland Garros: De Minaur, Kasatkina power home in Paris
Two sets to one down, then 5-3 and 30-0 behind in the decider as the local served for the match, roared on by a fevered home crowd, Adelaide's finest conjured up all his old famed resilience to haul himself back and prevail 6-7(5) 6-2 4-6 6-3 7-5.
"To come back after such little tennis on a grand stage and in these conditions against a good player from France, it's probably my best mental effort," said the Adelaide warrior.
"Even a few days ago there was talks that I wasn't sure if I'd play. I had some people flying in, and I told them to stay home, because I didn't want to play a few games and something go bad.
"To be honest. I was very scared, very nervous to go out there – but when I got going, I just played on energy."
It was classic Kokkinakis, going to a fifth-set decider for the 16th time in his career and eking out a ninth win after four hours 18 minutes. Amid all the baiting by the crowd, he riled them further by furiously disputing a line call with the umpire just as he was serving to take the match into a final set. He won that argument, too.
"I had a guy about 30 centimetres away behind me, screaming in my ear – but it's fun. I give them a smile," he laughed.
For a 30-year-old who reckons the next 12 months will make or break his career as he attempts his latest comeback from a career-saving shoulder op 18 months ago, it felt simply glorious.
The victory sets up a next-round clash with veteran Spanish grinder Pablo Carreno Busta.
Aussies in action at Roland Garros
DAY 2 RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d Terence Atmane (FRA)
[8] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d [Q] Toby Samuel (GBR) 6-4 6-4 6-2
[24] Tommy Paul (USA) d Rinky Hijikata (AUS) 4-6 6-3 7-5 6-4
Raphael Collignon (BEL) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-3 6-3 7-6(3)
Women’s singles, first round
Daria Kasatkina (AUS) d Zeynep Sonmez (TUR) 6-4 6-4
[3] Iga Swiatek (POL) d [WC] Emerson Jones (AUS) 6-1 6-2
[28] Anastasia Potapova (AUT) d Maya Joint (AUS) 6-1 6-2
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) d Talia Gibson (AUS) 4-6 6-4 6-1
COMING UP ON DAY 3
Men’s singles, first round
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Zachary Svajda (USA)
[WC] Adam Walton (AUS) v [6] Daniil Medvedev
Women’s singles, first round
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v [5] Jessica Pegula (USA)
You can watch the Australians in action on the channels of the Nine Network and Stan Sport.