Even at match point down, qualifier Juan Pablo Brzezicki had a broad grin on his face.

The enigmatic Argentine had already won over the evening crowd with his smiles, laughs and boundless enthusiasm ? and when he saved that point, the roar was deafening.

The standing ovation he received after his 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-1 comeback victory over number four seed Michal Tabara was well deserved and as long as the 23-year-old remains in the XL Capital Bermuda Open, he will be a firm fan favourite.

A photographer?s dream ? every groundstroke he hit he did so with his entire body in motion and every winning point was greeted with a pumping fist ? Brzezicki was a constant blur of emotion and activity.

Both players visited the net more times in this match than the sum of all players competing earlier in the day, making for an entertaining battle of drops, counter-drops and lobs as well as the usual inch-perfect, bullet-like groundstrokes.

?I am very happy, that is the best I have ever played,? said Brzezicki, who claims to have been inspired by home-cooked roast beef and Yorkshire pudding the night before.

?It was hard work, I wasn?t tired, I was feeling good and full of energy ? I really liked that game.

?I think the crowd were very good to me, they helped me win the game.

?I enjoy the game, I like to play with smile on my face, it helps me play better. I win games when I smile.?

Even when Tabara was in control in the first set, Brzezicki kept his head up and battled on. Tabara served for the set at 5-4 but was broken before it went to a tiebreaker which the seed won 7-4.

But it was in the second that the Argentine?s pure guts really came to the fore. Up 5-2, Tabara had a match point but Brzezicki wasn?t prepared for Czech-mate just yet, saving the point before battling back to 5-5.

He even kept up his chirpiness when a controversial call put him 6-5 down and again he bounced back to a tiebreak which he won 7-5.

Tabara was clearly mentally broken by his effervescent opponent but he also began to fall apart physically, requiring help from the physio at 2-0 down in the decider. A back massage later, Tabara was back on his feet but he was already clearly resigned to what turned out to be the most popular defeat of XL?s opening day.

The final game of the night became the third on opening day to go to three sets.

Qualifying number one seed Adam Chadaj, whose first hit in Bermuda was with local wildcard Andy Bray, took former world number six Nicolas Lapentti all the way.

Chadaj, with his Bjorn Borg-style headband and flowing locks, matched the Ecuadorian stroke for stroke in the opener, striking a blow for the underdogs with a 6-4 victory. His game then somewhat unravelled after that, losing nine straight games before eventually succumbing 6-1 in the last.