Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov reacts after beating Mackenzie McDonald of the US in their men's singles second round match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 17, 2018. Pic/AFP

Grigor Dimitrov says he's relieved he won "ugly" after surviving a huge second round fright at the Australian Open, a match he admits may been lost in years gone by. The Bulgarian world No.3 had to pull out all stops to beat off world No.186 MacKenzie McDonald in five sets on Rod Laver Arena late Wednesday and stay in the tournament. Dimitrov, who has never been beyond the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, looked headed for an early exit before he fought off the American qualifier 8-6 in the fifth set. "It was just a hard day.