Del Potro through in four

2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro has come from behind to see off stubborn Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on the opening day of the Australian Open.

The Argentine No.11 seed dropped his serve twice in the opening set as Mannarino made all the early running but Del Potro gradually wore him down as the match went on to eventually prevail 2-6 6-1 7-5 6-4.

Nicolas Almagro was another who fell behind in his Court 6 battle with Poland's Lukasz Kubot but the Spanish 10th seed also battled back to win in four sets, 1-6 7-5 6-3 7-5 while South African 30th seed Kevin Anderson had a straightforward 6-1 6-2 6-4 win over Dane Frederik Nielsen.

Del Potro, who hasn't been beyond the fourth round at a Grand Slam since his major breakthrough at Flushing Meadows, made a slow start as Mannarino broke in the third and fifth games to take the set.

But the pattern reversed in the second set as Del Potro, who missed much of 2010 with a serious wrist injury, broke twice and then took the set with an ace after a delay of several minutes as a fan collapsed in the stands and then received medical treatment.

Del Potro broke again in the opening game of the third set to continue his momentum and staved off break points in the second and sixth games before Mannarino finally took his opportunity to break back for 4-4.

But his joy at that fightback didn't last long as Del Potro broke again to take the set and then broke twice in the fourth set to set up a second-round duel with Slovenian Blaz Kavcic who dumped British qualifier James Ward 6-4 6-3 6-4.