The nuttiest match of the #AusOpen so far, and by far: In a final set tiebreak that took more than 30 minutes, Anna Blinkova prevails 22-20 over #3 Elena Rybakina. Twenty-two to twenty! 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(20). Last year's #AusOpen finalist is out, as is much of the record book.
2023 finalist and World Number Three Elena RYBAKINA dumped out of 2024 Australian Open by Anna BLINKOVA after remarkable 44 point tie-break
WTAThursday, 18 January 2024 at 12:31
Elena Rybakina who many had penciled in as a favourite for the 2024 Australian Open is the latest big name to fall in the craziest game yet of this year's tournament as Anna Blinkova upsets the 2023 finalist and World Number Three 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (22-20) to reach the third round in Melbourne.
A truly astonishing 44 point tie-break saw Blinkova save six match points albeit whilst needing ten match points herself to seal the win in a game which will go down into the history books and sees one of the major players in this year's tournament sent packing in truly astonishing fashion.
The third seed lost the first set narrowly 6-4 and was an early break down in the second but came roaring back to win it 6-4 and level it up from there. But was in trouble in the final set as Blinkova was serving at 4-3 up to go towards the brink.
Rybakina fought back breaking Blinkova to restore parity at 4-4 and she was potentially serving to send Blinkova to the brink herself. But after going 30-0 up, Blinkova came back and pounced on errors as Rybakina dragged a forehand into the net to set up deuce. A double fault gave Blinkova the advantage and after firing wide, Blinkova was set to serve for the match.
But a woeful service game gave Rybakina renewed hope as she swept it for 5-5. Another break saw Blinkova serve again but in a bit of a theme, the Russian could not serve it out. This time though she had two match point and slung the second into the net. Rybakina forced a second break point which she took as Blinkova double faulted.
The tie-break was now set as Rybakina initially went 5-4 and 7-6 up but Blinkova had a slew of match points with four in all before Rybakina turned it around herself to have three of her own heading into 15-14 as the madness continued on Rod Laver Arena as Blinkova kept alive at 15-15 and was serving for another match point. But a mini break sent Rybakina to the brink again at 16-15 and she was serving for the win.
But again it continued as Blinkova again stayed alive and brought up yet another match point at 17-16 only for Rybakina to make it 18-17 and on the brink of 20 bring up another opportunity. Blinkova just wouldn't quit and levelled again albeit with Rybakina having the serve after the mini break which brought up 19-18. The sheer madness saw Blinkova get to 20 and one away again.At that point, Rybakina had saved nine match points and Blinkova six.
But it was Blinkova that finally got over the line for an utterly incredible win sealing the tie-break staggeringly 22-20.
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