Quito, Ecuador, 8 February 2017 | AP

Matthew Ebden displayed plenty of grit before beating Agustin Velotti to reach the second round of the Ecuador Open on Tuesday.

Ebden lost the opening set but recovered to beat the Argentine qualifier 2-6 6-4 6-3 to set up a second round match with third-seeded Italian Paolo Lorenzi, who received a bye.

The Australian was made to fight all the way and showed his tough mental side by saving seven out of nine break points. He served 12 aces to Velotti’s eight, but also registered seven double faults.

The Perth professional is ranked world No.564 after an injury-marred 2016 and faces a tough ask against the 46th-ranked Lorenzo.

In other matches, eighth-seeded Renzo Olivo of Argentina beat local Emilio Gomez 5-7 6-2 7-6(5) while Spanish qualifier Roberto Carballes Baena beat Brazil’s Rogerio Durta Silva 6-3 6-1.

Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic and Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas are the top two seeds in the tournament.