Feliciano Lopez has avoided a first-round exit at the Australian Open by beating Denis Kudla 3-6 6-2 4-6 6-2 10-8 in an enthralling clash in Melbourne.

After surviving a scare of his own on serve, Kudla made the vital breakthrough in the first set to edge ahead, and he needed just the one break of serve to take the opener.

Lopez's situation quickly worsened as he dropped his serve in the first game of the second set, but he responded in emphatic fashion to get back in the match.

Despite looking calm throughout the early stages, Kudla's serve suddenly appeared vulnerable, and Lopez managed to break three times to level the scores.

Kudla survived a scare midway through the third set by saving three break points, and he seemed to grow in confidence after holding off his rival's challenge.

A break in the ninth game handed control of the set to Kudla, who took full advantage by holding to love to take a 2-1 lead.

However, the signs were positive for fans of Lopez, who produced an impressive service display in the fourth set and broke twice to get back on level terms once again.

The decider continued on serve until the 11th game, when Kudla clinched a break of serve, but Lopez hit back impressively with a break of his own in the next game.

Kudla struggled to recover from the setback of failing to convert three match points, but it was Lopez who delivered when it mattered as the 12th seed broke to love to avoid falling at the first hurdle in Melbourne.