Del Potro wins as fan collapses in Melbourne heat

Melbourne: Juan Martin del Potro revived himself after a sleepy first set to mow down Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 2-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in the first round as heat claimed its first victim on the opening day of the Australian Open.

Serving on set point at 5-1 in the second set, the towering Argentine was asked to hold fire after a spectator collapsed in the stands as the temperature nudged 30 degrees Celsius. Play resumed a few minutes later after the fan was attended to and helped out of Hisense Arena by first-aid staff, allowing 11th-seeded Del Potro to crack a forehand winner and seal the set. Mannarino, a plucky left-hander ranked 91st in the world, ensured Del Potro would have to work in the heat, but the Argentine served out the match confidently to set up a second-round match against Slovenia`s Blaz Kavcic. Bureau Report