Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka clings on in five-setter against Martin Klizan and avoids big shock

Updated 16/01/2017 at 14:20 GMT

Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka held on under extreme pressure to beat Martin Klizan in five sets in the first round of the Australian Open.

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland reacts to a point against Martin Klizan of Slovakia

Image credit: AFP

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Wawrinka, who was the 2014 champion in Melbourne and won the US Open last year, lost the first set 6-4 against Klizan, ranked 34th in the world.

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The Swiss star won the next two sets, 6-4 and 7-5, to take a seemingly commanding lead, but Klizan struck back in the fourth, 6-4, to set up a dramatic denouement.

And Wawrinka was broken to make it 4-3 in the final set, setting up what could have been the biggest shock on day on in Melbourne.

However, the Swiss broke back straight away and took the fifth set 6-4.

"It was a big fight tonight," 2014 champion Wawrinka said on court after the match.

"[The comeback] came from fighting every day, on and off the court. It was a great atmosphere here and I am happy to be back. He was playing well, he was close to winning. It was a tough match."

It took the world number four more than three hours to knock out his opponent to cries of "Allez Stan" from the crowd after he had struggled early on to cope with Klizan's signature delicate dropshots.

Wawrinka, a three-times grand slam champion, gradually found the range on his lethal forehand, however, and he has never lost in the Australian Open first round in 12 visits to Melbourne Park.

He will face American Steve Johnson in the second round after the world number 30 beat Argentina's Frederico Delbonis 6-3 6-4 6-4.