Record-Breaking Tie-Break and Stunning Upsets Highlight Thrilling Day at Australian Open

The Australian Open women’s draw witnessed a series of captivating moments on Thursday, with a historic tie-break stealing the spotlight. Anna Blinkova secured a remarkable victory against Elena Rybakina, with the last-set tie-break spanning 42 points, establishing a new record for the longest in a singles match in grand slam history, as reported by the Australian Open.

In an epic battle, the Russian displayed exceptional tennis, saving six match points before finally converting her 10th match point to triumph with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(22-20). Blinkova, expressing her mixed emotions, stated, “There were moments I enjoyed and other moments, it was super tough. I just tried to today focus on every point. I had so many match points.”

The tie-break alone lasted 30 minutes, resulting in laughter from the match umpire as the scores leveled at 19-19. Fans were treated to two hours and 46 minutes of intense action, culminating in Blinkova’s triumphant celebration on the court. She described it as the “best day” of her life.

In a surprising upset, world No. 3 Rybakina, considered a top contender for this year’s title, faced defeat.

In another thrilling match on Thursday, world No. 1 Iga Świątek overcame a late scare to secure victory against US star Danielle Collins in the Australian Open second round. Świątek faced a two-break deficit in the deciding set but made a resilient comeback to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Asked about her focus under pressure, the four-time grand slam singles champion revealed an unusual source of inspiration: a repetitive song that helps her maintain energy and focus. Świątek’s comeback dashed Collins’ hopes, who, after the match, announced that this would be her last year on tour, expressing a desire to travel less and prioritize family.

In another notable upset, American Jessica Pegula suffered a straight-sets loss (6-4, 6-2) to France’s Clara Burel. It marked Burel’s first victory over a top-10 player and stood out as one of the significant upsets in the women’s draw at this year’s tournament.

Burel, reflecting on her performance, stated, “I played a very solid performance today. I was really focused. Yeah, I didn’t let her come into this match. Very solid, and I’m really happy about this match today.”

With these surprising outcomes, the Australian Open continues to deliver thrilling and unpredictable moments, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.