US Open finalist Kevin Anderson out in Australian Open five-setter

The 49th-ranked Edmund, who lost to Anderson in last year's French Open, toughed out a 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in almost four hours.

South Africa's Kevin Anderson makes a forehand return to Britain's Kyle Edmund during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia on Monday | Photo: AP 

Britain's Kyle Edmund knocked out US Open finalist Kevin Anderson in a five-set thriller at the Australian Open on Monday.

The 49th-ranked Edmund, who lost to 11th seeded Anderson in five sets in the third round at last year's French Open, toughed out a 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in almost four hours. 

It is only the second time he has reached the second round in Melbourne, while South African Anderson, who lost the 2017 Flushing Meadows final to Rafael Nadal, had made the round of 16 in Australia three times.

The victory set Edmund up with a second-round encounter with Uzbek journeyman Denis Istomin.

Edmund is the only British man in the main draw after five-times finalist Andy Murray pulled out with a hip injury.