Dudi Sela came from a set down to defeat Fernando Verdasco and book his place in the third round in Melbourne for the first time in his career.

Verdasco wins sloppy first set

The match started inauspiciously for Sela, his opening service game eleven points long with Verdasco creating three break points. He wasted the first two break points, but not the third, a cross-court forehand in the corner overpowering the Israeli to seize the early advantage. Both players fell behind on their next service games, Verdasco down 0-30 and Sela 0-15, but both recovered, Verdasco remaining in the lead 2-1.

The Spaniard's lead evaporated in the last game, a forehand down the middle going long. Further trouble ensued as Sela held after a marathon game that featured 11 points and two break points. Sela's run of games continued when Verdasco surrendered his serve after a cross-court forehand went wide, the call challenged and upheld, Sela with the upper hand at 4-2.

Verdasco then stunned Sela by ripping off the next four games. First, a forehand handcuffing Sela, a weak reply from the Israeli getting Verdasco back on serve. A hold to love followed by another break on a ripping forehand winner put Verdasco at the precipice of the set, serving for it at 5-4. He duly closed it out, holding to 30 for a 6-4 set and a one set advantage.

Sela gains early second set edge, lets it slip, regains edge late, evens match up

Stunned by the barrage of games lost late in the first set, Sela opened the second strong, holding to 30 and breaking Verdasco, a chip backhand forcing the Spaniard to dump a forehand into the net, Sela now ahead 2-0. Easy holds exchanged and Sela's lead was 3-1.

After holds at 30 by Sela and at love by Verdasco, Sela was up 4-2. His lead vanished after a forehand was dumped into the bottom of the net. Verdasco's revival didn't last long, broken to love after over hitting a forehand. Now at 5-3, Sela summarily served out the set at love, the match now even at a set all.

Early breaks traded, Sela wins third set late

The third set started with an exchange of holds, Verdasco to 15 and Sela to love. Verdasco then faced three break points in his next service game, fending off the first two, but not the 3rd, Sela ahead 2-1. Verdasco quickly rebounded, converting his second break point opportunity in Sela's next service game, the set level at 2-all.

After both players held, Sela struck the decisive blow, breaking the Spaniard to love when the Spaniard missed a backhand volley to take a 4-3 lead. After a relatively comfortable hold, Sela finished the set off in style, breaking Verdasco on his third chance of the game when the Spaniard's forehand touched down wide, the set his 6-3 and with it a two sets to one lead.

Sela can't close it out when serving for it, wins match in tiebreak

Now in the lead, Sela started the fourth set confidently, holding at 15 and breaking Verdasco on his second chance of the game, now in the lead at 2-0 after Verdasco double faulted. The rest of the set featured routine holds until the ninth game, Sela serving for the match at 5-3. Showing some resolve, Verdasco broke back as Sela dumped a backhand to stay alive.

The set went to a tiebreak, Verdasco forcing it with a gutty hold after Sela got to within two points of victory at deuce. At 3-2 ahead in the tiebreak, Sela finished strong, winning both points on Verdasco's serve and take a 5-2 lead. Although he would give back one of those points, the Israeli grabbed it back on match point as one final Verdasco forehand went into the bottom of the net to take the tiebreaker 7-4.

Kuznetsov next 

Sela will next face Andrey Kuznetsov, who upset 30 the seed Jeremy Chardy in straight sets.