Both player seemed a bit worn in the fourth set, and the see-saw began with Baghdatis down a break, then regaining to break back and to go on serve at 5-4 in the tenth game. With a couple of untimely errors, Baghdatis squandered the moment and Clement seized the advantage to break back and win the set.

In the final set, the Cypriot broke Clement in the third game then held his serve to retain the lead at 3-1. With Baghdatis serving at 3-2 – he quickly lost 4 points in a row so that Clement evened up the match. Clement played with heart, soul, speed, and a tenacious expertise, rushing the net and scrambling all over the court. But Baghdatis’ determination and some serious scrambling of his own enabled him to hold on to level the deciding set at 4-all.

The last four games were a battle of wills, but no matter what Baghdatis seemed to hit, the Frenchman was there to retrieve, then punish back. “I was a bit tired mentally, physically… I was really heavy on court, I wasn't feeling very fit and he is playing great tennis," admitted Baghdatis after the nearly three and a half hour match.

“Now it’s just the first round, and only my second win all through summer,” said Clement. “So I want to wait and see what’s going to happen next match, and I hope it’s gonna be good like the fourth and fifth sets.”