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Lopez rallied from two sets down to beat
Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 5-7 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 and book a place in
the Australian Open third round for the first time since 2016.
When asked how highly he rates his latest five-set rescue job,
an "exhausted" Lopez said: "Well maybe pole position.
"As you know, to win a match in a Slam for me now is very
special. If I do it the way I did today, even more."
World No. 65 Lopez is playing a record-extending 75th
consecutive Grand Slam event, having not missed any since the
French Open in 2002.
Only Federer, who has skipped this year's Australian Open due to
an injury, has played more Slams overall, with 79 compared to
Lopez's tally of 76.
Lopez fondly remembers his major debut at the French Open in
2001, even if it ended in a straight-sets defeat.
"I think I got killed in the first round by Carlos Moya, if I'm
not wrong," Lopez said. "I qualified and I lost to him. He was
my idol when I was growing up."
Lopez recently became a father and said he was unable to spend
enough time on the court before arriving in Australia.
"I'm exhausted, obviously. I was already tired the first day
when I won my first match, so even more today," he added.
"For me to win today I think it's above any expectations."
Lopez will next face in-form Russian Andrey Rublev, seeded at
seven, for a place in the last 16.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; editing by Richard
Pullin)
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