Cameron Norrie came back from two sets down for only the third time in his career as the British No 1 squeaked his way into the third round of the Australian Open.
Norrie could only look up to his player box in disbelief when Italian qualifier Guilio Zeppieri raced into a two-set lead.
A medical time-out, plus two lengthy rain delays, did their best to disrupt any hopes of a comeback but Norrie showed the spirit British fans have become accustomed to seeing from Andy Murray through the years, that flat-out refusal to know when you’re beaten.
And after three hours and 36 minutes of match action, Norrie was the only with his hand in the air, letting rip with a fist pump, after sealing a clash with Casper Ruud in round three with a 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win.
It is the third time Norrie has recovered from two sets down to win after his Davis Cup debut against Roberto Bautista Agut in 2018 and a first-round win over Diego Schwartzman at the US Open four years ago.
Cameron Norrie produced one of the most satisfying wins of his career at the Australian Open
Italian qualifier Guilio Zeppieri pushed the British No 1 to the brink, only to narrowly lose out
It was a rainy affair for the British fans in attendance, who had to endure two downpours
Zeppieri is ranked down at 133 but was in form after coming through qualifying and crunched 63 winners in total.
But Norrie did not panic and will be hugely satisfied with the result after a testing period over the second half of last season.
For the best part of two sets, Norrie was unable to cope with the power of Zeppieri, who bullied the British No 1 with his serve and forehand.
Both men were found the gusts of wind tricky to cope with but Norrie began to get a foothold in the match at 5-4 in the second set, when he broke the Italian’s serve for the first time.
He was two points away from levelling the match with Zeppieri serving at 5-6 but the Italian fought back from 0-30 to force a tie-break, where he took an early lead that he did not relinquish.
Norrie, normally a cool customer, cut a deeply frustrated figure, while he was shaking out his troublesome left wrist having previously taken a medical timeout for treatment to his right knee.
Norrie looked out of sorts at the start but once he found his groove he put foot on the throttle
Two rain delays left the court slick but Norrie used the breaks to regain his composure
The 28-year-old came out for the third set with purpose, though, and grabbed an immediate break of the Zeppieri serve before blustery showers began to blow through Melbourne Park, twice delaying the match.
In between, Norrie clinched the third set, and an immediate break at the start of the fourth set him on the way to levelling the match.
Norrie had experience on his side, with Zeppieri playing in only his third grand slam, but the 22-year-old, who had taken a lengthy medical timeout in the fourth set, began to offer more threat again in the decider.
Norrie came through a series of tight service games before a netted Zeppieri forehand gave him the break for 5-4 and the chance to serve out the contest, which he took before leaping across the court in celebration.
