Andrey Rublev saves two match points before beating Holger Rune in five-set thriller to reach Australian Open quarters
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Updated 23/01/2023 at 08:24 GMT
Holger Rune beat Andrey Rublev in straight sets at the Paris Masters in their one and only meeting on the ATP tour last year. But in their last-16 clash on Rod Laver Arena it was the Russian who emerged victorious after a frenetic five-set match. World No. 10 Rune twice levelled the contest to force a fifth set and held two match points, but Rublev’s greater experience prevailed in the end.
Rune attempts trick-shot tweener - but he loses the point against Rublev
Andrey Rublev is through to the Australian Open quarter-finals for the second time in his career after a 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6(9) win over No. 9 seed Holger Rune.
The Russian made hard work of his fourth-round clash against the 19-year-old, saving two match points towards the end of the fifth set, but he managed to book a place in his seventh Grand Slam quarter-final.
The 25-year-old will face either Novak Djokovic or Alex De Minaur in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
“It’s a rollercoaster man,” Rublev said after the remarkable victory.
“I was 5-2 down in the fifth set. 6-5 with two match points and then 5-0 in the super tie-break. I never in my life was able to win matches like this and this is the first ever time that I win something like this.
“Especially in a very special tournament playing the Australian Open. Playing in the quarter-final is something that I will remember for sure all my life.
“I have no words man. I am shaking.”
With the net cord effectively securing Rublev the match point, he said: “That ball was exactly on side. I don’t know how he went over.”
Rublev was almost broken in a fifth game of the opening set when Rune hit an eye-catching forehand winner and a lob shot, but he showed great composure to survive from 0-40 down and held his serve.
In the very next game Rublev broke, leathering an unreturnable forehand down the line to go into a 4-2 lead, before Rune broke back immediately as the Russian clattered a forehand into the net.
Rune’s first double fault of the match restored Rublev’s break advantage and he served the first set out with four points in a row.
Rublev was piling real pressure on Rune in his opening service game of the second set, but he could not convert any of his three break points. Instead Rune took the first break, forcing an error from Rublev to move into a 3-1 lead. Rublev dropped his racquet to the ground in disgust.
Rune was serving and returning far more effectively than before as the set progressed. Fittingly he finished off his service game for the set with an ace to level the match.
In the third set a string of unforced errors from Rune saw Rublev break to love to move into a 4-2 lead after a game which lasted just 89 seconds. The world No. 6 had no issues closing out the set which lasted just 31 minutes.
Rune was losing rhythm on his forehand and asked for a trainer to come on, but Rublev then got carried away with his aggression from the baseline. At 2-3, Rune stole the first break in the fourth set because of an unforced error off Rublev’s backhand.
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Rune takes a time out as he struggles with the heat against Rublev
Rublev broke back when Rune double faulted as he was serving for the set. But Rune clinched the fourth set on Rublev’s serve after showing great defence to convert set point.
Rune was playing in just the second five-set match of his career but his lack of experience did not show in the decider. He recovered from squandering three break points on Rublev’s opening service game in the set by breaking for a 3-1 lead.
Rublev stopped the rot on his own serve after Rune won three games in a row, and with the pressure to close out the match on his serve Rune could not do it. Rublev broke back to level at 5-5.
Rune was then unable to convert two match points on Rublev's serve and an ace from the amped up Russian forced a 10 point tie-break.
The tie-break looked to be going Rune's way. Despite signs he was cramping up, he raced to a 5-0 lead. But Rublev fought back with the help of his first serve and had two match points.
Rune saved Rublev's second match point with a remarkable passing shot to level at 9-9, but the Russian broke away to win the three hour, 39 minute contest with the third match point converted with the aid of the net cord.
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