MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Experience triumphed over potential as Gael Monfils beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 ( 5), defeated the Australian Open 6:4 on Tuesday.

A packed house in third place was rewarded with three hours and 46 minutes of big serves and winners before the 38-year-old Monfils moved into the second round on his 19th visit to Melbourne Park when his opponent sent a long return.

Monfils grinned, pointed his finger at Australian Open debutant Mpetshi Perricard and punched him in the chest before his compatriots warmly hugged each other at the net.

The high-serving Mpetshi Perricard, who was 18 months old when Monfils made his own Australian Open debut in 2005, played an important role in the competition, winning the Ace Count 19-18 and the Winner Contest 69-68.

The 21-year-old failed to score a single break point throughout the contest, but still recovered from a 2-0 deficit to take the game into a deciding fifth set.

The fourth set tiebreak alone was worth the price of admission as the pair traded tweenies on successive shots – the ever-athletic Monfils scoring while running to the back of the court – before Mpetshi Perricard won the point.

Monfils, who became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title in the professional era in Auckland last weekend, appeared exhausted but two consecutive double faults from Mpetshi Perricard gave him a break point in the first game of the decider.

The former world number six converted when Mpetshi Perricard hit a forehand into the net and the ball flew over the service line.

Half an hour later, Monfils had reached the second round at Melbourne Park for the 17th time, extending his French record for most Grand Slam victories to 126.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, Editing by Peter Rutherford)