Paris: Fourth-seeded Andy Murray of Britain rallied to beat France's Richard Gasquet 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of the French Open on Monday.
Murray was never in control during the first two sets but Gasquet then ran out of steam and needed massage on his legs after the fourth.
Murray also rallied from two sets down to beat Gasquet at Wimbledon in 2008.
Gasquet missed the French Open last year while serving a 2½ month suspension after testing positive for cocaine.
Gasquet also needed treatment on his legs during the final in Nice on Saturday, where he won his first title since 2007.
Murray will face another tough opponent, clay-court specialist Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina, in the second round.
Backed by a buoyant home crowd, Gasquet got off to a strong start, sending winners all over the court and mixing clever drop shots with powerful groundstrokes.
The Frenchman gained two break points in the 10th game with a blistering backhand winner down the line and clinched the set when Murray buried a forehand volley into the net.
Both players held their serve throughout the second set, although Murray was forced to save a set point in the 12th game with a forehand volley.
Gasquet sent down two aces in the tiebreaker and went up 5-3 before Murray leveled with a passing shot directed right at him that prompted boos in the crowd. Gasquet moved ahead again with a forehand winner and closed out the set with a neat serve and volley.
Murray lost his temper and started to complain to the umpire at the changeover, accusing his opponent of disrupting his focus.
"Every single time I've got to serve in this match, except once, he stopped me," Murray said, referring to Gasquet's refusal to play while spectators were still moving in the stands. "It's amazing."
Gasquet looked poised to wrap up a quick victory when he broke for a 3-2 lead in the third set, but Murray immediately leveled when the Frenchman sent a forehand wide.
Gasquet saved a set point in the 10th game before missing a smash and letting Murray clinch the set with a forehand winner.
Gasquet called for a doctor at the changeover and started to show signs of fatigue. The Frenchman, who had requested the match be delayed until Tuesday so he could recover from his exploits in Nice, squandered a break point in the third game when he sent a smash wide before losing his serve.
Gasquet was broken again when he shanked an easy backhand wide to let Murray pocket the set.
The 23-year-old Gasquet had his left thigh massaged by the tournament doctor at the changeover but the Frenchman could hardly run for the rest of the match.
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