Borna Coric reaches the third round of a major for the first time after edging Tommy Robredo Thursday afternoon.
The young Croat is participating at the French Open for just the first time, prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in a marathon match that finished just under four hours.
Having traded the first four games to start, it was Coric who pulled through to take the opener 7-5. Robredo wouldn't let up, and would take the second set from Coric having only broken once the entire set.
Robredo would carry his momentum into the third set, racing out to a 2-0 lead, but his younger adversary fought back running away with the next 6 games to take a 2 sets to 1 lead. The Spaniard was able to grab another break in the fourth, and held firm to send it to a decider.
The fifth set showed no momentum advantages for either player as they held tight on serve until the seventh game when a seemingly weary Coric dropped serve at love. He cast away any signs of pain and frustration and immediately broke back to love. Robredo served to stay in the match, but Coric converted on his second match point after Robredo gifted him a forehand unforced error.
Coric will meet young American Jack Sock in the third round who knocked out Pablo Carreno Busta in four sets earlier today.