Gonzalez downs Gasquet in four-hour thriller

Chilean 13th seed Fernando Gonzalez staged a magnificent fightback to beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet in a four-hour thriller 3-6, 3-6, 7-6 (12/10), 6-2, 12-10 at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Looking down and out after the first two sets, the Chilean turned the match around to come home strongly and set up the dubious honour of a fourth round clash with Rafael Nadal, who demolished German Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Gasquet romped through the first two sets, barely raising a sweat and looked certain to wrap up the match in lightning quick time.

However, Gonzalez seemed to wake up at the start of the third and broke Gasquet immediately.

The Frenchman broke back straight away and both players lifted the tempo as the third set went to a tie-break. Gonzalez had set points at 6-4 in the tie-break and wasn't able to close it out, but although Gasquet got back on terms he couldn't get his nose in front and instead of trying to win the set, he was constantly trying to save it.

MELBOURNE, Sunday, AFP