Lleyton Hewitt [Images] did not let the reputation of a former champion stand in his way as he scrambled to a 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Gaston Gaudio in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.

The Australian 14th seed recovered from two sets down for only the fourth time in his nine-year professional career as he shoved Gaudio to his earliest exit from Roland Garros since 2001.

Gaudio, who had triumphed in 2004 before Rafael Nadal [Images] began his reign, looked well on his way to stringing together back-to-back victories for only the second time this season.

But Hewitt's famed resilience was back on show as he wore down his 72nd-ranked opponent in three hours 28 minutes and sealed victory with a thundering crosscourt winner.

He will next face 20th-seeded Finn Jarkko Nieminen.

Djokovic drops set to qualifier Recouderc

World number six Novak Djokovic needed four sets to move past French qualifier Laurent Recouderc 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and reach the third round.

Sixth seed Djokovic, a quarter-finalist last year and the revelation of 2007 with three titles, took over two hours to down world number 306 Recouderc, the lowest-ranked player left in the draw.

The rising Serb opened up a 3-0 lead in the first set and stayed in control to wrap it up with Recourderc netting a forehand on set point after 29 minutes.

The 20-year-old Djokovic broke Recouderc straight away in the second set but the Frenchman proved resilient, breaking back to level at 3-3 and taking the next three games to claim the set.

Djokovic threw his racket in disgust but soon bounced back, managing the telling break in the fourth game to take the third set.

The fourth set was a formality for Djokovic, who saw his brave but limited opponent bow out by hitting a backhand into the net on the first match point.

Djokovic next meets Frenchman Olivier Patience or Argentina's Mariano Zabaleta.