Fabio Fognini of Italy has dropped his racket and still won the set point in the first round of the Rio Open tennis tournement.

Fognini, seeded fifth, was serving for the second set against Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci on Monday when the racket slipped from his hand after serving.

However, it bounced back up off the clay, he snatched it, rallied with Bellucci and hit an overhead winner at the net to level at one set apiece at a crucial time in the match.

Fognini, who had been down a set and 4-0, went on to win 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-2.

World No.3 and top seed Marin Cilic of Croatia enjoyed less drama in his Rio Open debut beating Argentine qualifier Carlos Berlocq 6-3 6-2.

This was Cilic’s first match since reaching the Australian Open final. He faces Gael Monfils or Horacio Zeballos next.

Spanish fourth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas overcame Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil, 6-3 3-6 6-4, after trailing 4-2 in the last set.

Eighth-seeded Fernando Verdasco also progressed.

Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem of Austria opens on Tuesday against Serbian Dusan Lajovic.