Dan Evans overcame the warmth and Argentinian Facundo Bagnis to battle into the second spherical of the Australian Open.
The British quantity two, who struggled with sickness within the build-up to the event, was scheduled first up on what might be the most well liked day of the fortnight.
He toiled for practically three hours to open up a two-sets-to-one lead earlier than the brink was met for a suspension of play that lasted three hours.
On the resumption, Evans ensured he was not out on court docket for longer than was essential, breaking serve within the seventh sport for a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 victory.
The temperature was already above 30 levels when play started, with Evans seeking to repeat the outcome from the primary spherical in 2017, when he defeated Bagnis in straight units earlier than making it to the fourth spherical.
The 32-year-old Argentinian is ranked 91st and has by no means received a main-draw match in Melbourne so on paper this was a sort draw however Evans made a poor begin, dropping serve in his opening sport.
He fought again effectively with a run of 4 video games in a row however Bagnis was proving a dogged competitor and, though Evans recovered from 1-4 within the second set, a volley dumped into the tramlines allowed the Argentinian to degree.
It was nip and tuck within the third earlier than Evans gained the benefit with a break for 4-3, and he took the set earlier than organisers introduced the warmth stress scale had hit 5, the mark the place persevering with play exterior is deemed harmful.
Play lastly resumed at 5pm, and Evans sealed the win after three hours and 29 minutes to arrange a second-round conflict with veteran Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
