World number five Dominic Thiem admitted he was "freaking out" after dropping two sets before regaining composure to beat gutsy home hope Alex Bolt at the Australian Open Thursday.
The Austrian, targeting a maiden Grand Slam crown, looked fragile as the crowd got behind the wildcard but ultimately prevailed 6-2, 5-7, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-2 in 3hrs 22mins.
Thiem is among a clutch of players tipped to win a Major after reaching the last two Roland Garros finals, but he was exposed at times by a player ranked 140 who controlled much of the second and third sets.
"I got crazy today in the third set. I think body language was not the best because it was, of course, in my head that I should be 2-0 up, 6-2 6-4, I should be up. I messed it up," he said.
"Instead of that, he raised really his level. The crowd got it going. "It was all of a sudden a really tight third set that shouldn't happen. That's why I was freaking out inside and also outside today."