FORMER world number two Casper Ruud almost became the first victim of an upset in the men’s singles at the Australian Open, but delivered when it mattered most to defeat Jaume Munar on the first day of the tournament on Sunday.

On a day that was riddled with rain delays and cancelled matches, the clash between Ruud and Munar went down to the wire. Every time the Norwegian made a charge towards winning the match, the world number 61 had a response, and the game went to five sets, where Ruud managed to win 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

In a bumper match that lasted nearly three and a half hours, Ruud delivered his best showing in the decisive fifth set, winning 93 per cent (13/14) of his first-serve points to edge out the victory and book a spot in the second round.

Speaking after the game, Ruud gave a lot of credit to his father Christian, who was sitting courtside as coach of the Norwegian.

“He has inspired me a lot and I think without him it would be very difficult to get where I am today, so I owe him a lot and I have to thank him a lot because he always helped me along the way,” Ruud said.

“I’m really happy with the work that we’ve done.”

Ruud also described the clash with Munar as “tough”, stating how hard he was pushed by the underdog.

“I know Jaume well because we are both practising a lot in the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca,” Ruud said.

“When you know someone quite well it’s also tricky because he knows my game, I know his game, and we are good friends also, so it can be a bit difficult.

“I told him at the net I got a bit lucky in the end.

“I’m happy I stepped up and played some good points when I had to.”

In the other matches to take place around the courts on day one, Kei Nishikori rallied from two sets down to save match points in his clash against Brazilian Thiago Monteiro. In the clash under the roof that lasted four hours and six minutes, Nishikori survived two match points in the third set, before putting together a near-flawless showing for the remainder of the contest to claim a 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win.

Frenchman Arthur Fils over came a slow start to snag a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Otto Virtanen in another impressive result for the 20-year-old, who has also advanced out of the first round.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN’S RESULTS: JANUARY 12

[6] Casper Ruud (NOR) def. Jaume Munar (ESP) 6-3 1-6 7-5 2-6 6-1
[WC] Lucas Pouille (FRA) def. by [2] Alexander Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-4 6-4
Kei Nishikori (JPN) def. [Q] Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 4-6 6-7(4) 7-5 6-2 6-3
[14] Ugo Humbert (FRA) def. [Q] Matteo Gigante (ITA) 7-6(5) 7-5 6-4
[Q] Gauthier Onclin (BEL) def. by Reilly Opelka (USA) 3-6 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2
Sumit Nagal def. by [26] Tomas Machac (CZE) 6-3 6-1 7-5
Hugo Gaston (FRA) def. [WC] Omar Jasika (AUS) 6-2 3-6 6-2 6-2
Adam Walton (AUS) def. by Quentin Halys (FRA) 4-6 4-6 6-4 7-6(4) 7-5
Pedro Martinez (ESP) def. Luciano Darderi (ITA) 6-3 4-1 ret.
[Q] Hady Habib (LEB) def. Yunchaokete Bu (CHN) 7-6(4) 6-4 7-6(6)