Gael Monfils had to dig deep to get past big serving Taylor Dent in Brisbane.

Monfils needed all his retrieving skills to beat the big serving American 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 in just over an hour.

With Dent rushing the net at every opportunity and banging down aces, Monfils just had to be patient and focus on his own serve. He finally got a chance to break in the fifth game of the third set and that proved to be enough.

With no Hawkeye Monfils found himself boiling over at times at what he considered very dubious line calls. 

“I got a little bit crazy with the linesmen,” he admitted. “I think sometimes they are a little bit sleepy. I knew it would be a tough match but it’s a great win for the first match (of the season). I need to have a match like that. Every time I have to be alert and see what I can do better. I had to fight against myself just to relax because I can get very frustrated playing like that.”

Dent paid tribute to Monfils’ speed around the court afterwards describing him as the fastest player on tour.