Daniel Altmaier saved two match points to pull off a stunning upset against No8 seed Jannik Sinner at the French Open on Thursday.
Italian Sinner had been seen by some as a prospect for the overall title at Roland Garros with his clay-court credentials.
But he could not convert two match points in the fourth set, which included one where Altmaier had a fortuitous net cord to win the point.
It proved the fifth longest match in Roland Garros history as the German won 6-7, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 7-5 in a battle which lasted five hours and 26 minutes.
The crowd were heavily in favour of Sinner throughout but afterwards Altmaeir said: “Personally I love clay and I love the crowd. The emotions were crazy.
“Without fans, tennis wouldn’t be the same. I appreciate every single one who puts in the effort… to have a good time.”
Altmaier has not got past the first round of a grand slam outside the French Open, where he previously reached the last 16, in four attempts.
But the world No65 looked totally at ease with the enormity of the occasion and the fact that he was the overwhelming underdog throughout.
