Monday 28 May 2018 17:44, UK
Marco Trungelliti embarked on a marathon road trip from Barcelona to Paris and was rewarded with victory over Bernard Tomic as a lucky loser at the French Open.
The 28-year-old Argentinian, who lost in French Open qualifying last week, got an 11th-hour chance to figure in the main draw as the highest ranked 'lucky loser'.
Trungelliti had already travelled home to Spain but - after a spate of first-round withdrawals - he got the call to replace Nick Kyrgios on Sunday morning.
After a nine-hour drive, he took to the court just 11 hours after arriving at Roland Garros and promptly beat Tomic 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4.
He arrived in Paris just before midnight, registered on Monday morning and walked out on court nine to face the Australian.
"We were at home with my family - actually, my brother and my grandma and my mum came a week ago," Trungelliti said.
"Supposedly they were going to come here but then I lost, so I left. Then my coach told me to ask if I was going to get in. So I asked and then somebody told me that I was the first alternative.
"So actually, my grandma was in the shower and I told her, OK, we go to Paris!
"There are many flights cancelled, and then there is no train now in France so the best option was just to take the car."
Trungelliti, who had earned £26,250 so far this year, will now pocket at least double that after battling to a surprise victory.
Trungelliti, the world No 190, showed no signs of fatigue, as he reached the second round for the third consecutive year and will next face either Italian Marco Cecchinato or Romania's Marius Copil.
