Venus Williams overcame Elise Mertens 7-5 3-6 7-6(4) in a marathon first-round match in Rome that lasted three hours and five minutes.
The American, had not played since March and at times the rustiness showed in her game, but it is a testament to her winning mentality that she came through it despite missing a remarkable eight match points.
It looked like it would be easier for Venus when she took control of the deciding set and stormed into a 5-2 lead.
She then established a 40-15 advantage on serve and it seemed certain that the match would be over seconds later. However, the American faltered and Mertens stepped up and saved both match points.
Unsurprisingly, Venus soon had another chance to finish it. But she could not take that one either, and the game got more extraordinary after that.
Venus earned three more match points (taking her total to six) and Mertens had three break points before she finally took her fourth to keep the match going.
The Belgian kept the pressure on the World No.50 by holding serve to make it 5-4. This meant the American had one more chance to serve for the match.
The drama continued. Venus earned two more match points and Mertens saved them both. Then the World No.20 earned one break point and took it to level the set – incredibly – at 5-5.
Briefly, it appeared as though the American would win the set 7-5 when she broke to lead 6-5. However, the Belgian quickly snuffed out that possibility by breaking to love.
Compared to the chaos of the set up to that point, the tie-break seemed routine as Venus took it 7-4. Understandably, she looked very relieved that she had won.
Venus and Mertens share first two sets
The first set was very tight. Venus made a good start and got an early break. Then her level dipped and Mertens broke straight back to make it 2-2.
That exchange of breaks set the pattern for the rest of a rollercoaster set. The American broke to lead 4-2 and the Belgian dragged it back to 4-4. Then Mertens broke to earn a chance to serve for the set, only for Venus to deny her breaking straight back.
The World No.50 built on that break with a hold to put the pressure on the Belgian at 6-5. Unfortunately for Mertens, she succumbed to that pressure with two double faults and a sloppy error to hand Venus a set-sealing break.
Venus looked confident at the beginning of the second set and she raced through her first three service games.
However, despite carving out four break point opportunities during that time, the American failed to take any of them. It ended up costing her, as Mertens broke her in the seventh game to lead for the first time in the set.
The Belgian consolidated that break with a love hold which opened a 5-3 lead. She then capitalised on an error-strewn ninth game from Venus to break again and seal the set. A remarkable decider followed.
