The Australian Open started Sunday and will be played over 15 days for the first time, with the first round spread over three days in a bid to cut down on the late-finishing matches.
Still, it was 1.39am this morning by the time Felix Auger-Aliassime closed out a four-hour, 59-minute win over 2020 US Open winner Dominic Thiem that finished 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 5-7, 6-3.
Watch the 2024 Australian Open live and exclusive on Nine, 9Now and ad-free on Stan Sport.
While the finish was late, another point of contention was Thiem's shot selection at a pivotal point of the match.
With Thiem serving for the fourth set to force a decider, the former US Open champion attempted a tweener at 30-all. Thiem could have made a defensive lob but chose to reposition his body to hit it between his legs.
The shot hit the net and Auger-Aliassime won the next point to break back and make it 5-5.
"I cannot believe it, in that moment he had time to get around it or at least put up a defensive lob," former British player Colin Fleming said during the coverage.
It was not an issue for Thiem as he broke again straight away to win the fourth set 7-5 to force a decider.
LIVE UPDATES: All action and scores from Australian Open day three
READ MORE: Star tumbles 'down the pecking order' in Mole's best NRL halves
READ MORE: US Open champ walks back on 'hideous' cartoon criticism
That match was briefly held up in the fourth set by a bird landing on the court at Margaret Court Arena and having to be chased off by a ball kid to laughter from the crowd.
It then flew around the stadium briefly before play could continue.
For Auger-Aliassime, the win ended a run of first-round exits at three consecutive majors.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.