World No.3 Grigor Dimitrov has survived a mighty scare to safely progress to the Australian Open third round at Melbourne Park.
Dimitrov battled past unheralded young American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald 4-6 6-2 6-4 0-6 8-6 in an epic encounter that finished at almost midnight on Wednesday.
McDonald, 22, had never even won a tour match until Monday, but threatened to pull off the upset of the tournament after delivering the Bulgarian third seed a fourth-set bagel.
Dimitrov said his big-match experience proved the difference in the end.
"He was playing absolutely unbelievable," Dimitrov said.
"I just had to fight and I think my experience in the end really helped me.
"I'm happy - not because of the way I played but the way I fought."
Dimitrov said he was aware of McDonald's promise, having practised with him back in California but said he had "improved so much".
The win set up a third-round clash with promising Russian Andrey Rublev.
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