Fernando Verdasco recovered from a set down to beat Marin Cilic 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 6-3 and reach the third round of the Madrid Open this afternoon.
A topsy-turvy opening set saw both players exchange breaks twice to force a tie-break, which Cilic took 7-5 with the second of two set points.
Verdasco raced into a 3-0 lead in the second, but Cilic recovered and clawed a break back to level things up once again.
Another tie-break was needed, but a spell of four lost points in a row cost Cilic the chance to wrap up the match as Verdasco clinched the 7-5 triumph this time.
The Spaniard remained strong on his own serve during the decider, and his breakthrough came in the fifth game as he took control of the match before moving into a 4-2 lead.
He then broke once more to seal the victory at the first time of asking, setting up a meeting with either David Ferrer or Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the next round.
Barney Corkhill
