MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Third seed Elena Rybakina was knocked out in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday after succumbing to Russian Anna Blinkova in the longest women's tiebreak in Grand Slam history.
In the most remarkable match on a dramatic day five at Melbourne Park, unseeded Blinkova finally clinched victory on her 10th match point to prevail 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (20) in two hours and 46 minutes.
Blinkova had to save six match points in an epic 42-point tiebreak that lasted 31 minutes. The nerve-jangling back and forth had spectators jumping out of their seats and left the chair umpire laughing in disbelief.
But gutsy No. 57 Blinkova finally outlasted the 2022 Wimbledon champion as she slumped to the ground with tears streaming down her face.
"It was super tough. I just tried to stay focused," Blinkova said. "I tried to be aggressive but my hands and legs were shaking. I tried to be calm... super happy to win."
It was a bitter disappointment for Rybakina of Kazakhstan, who fell well short of her barnstorming run to the final at Melbourne Park last year. The 24-year-old played aggressively, but ultimately rued 46 unforced errors.
"I had never played so long in a tiebreak, that's for sure. I was a bit unlucky. We both had so many opportunities, but didn't go in my way. And of course, it was not my best tennis, but it is what it is. You cannot always play good," Rybakina said at the post-match conference. ■
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