© David Banks / Stringer Getty Images Sport
“Difficult match today for Elena Rybakina. Anna Blinkova played very aggressively and kept calm especially after losing the initial match points. As we have seen many young players already create many upsets. It’s good to see Aryna Sabalenka going strong and Iga Swiatek comeback in the 3rd set to advance to the 3rd round.”
Ana Ivanovic, former Serbian tennis player, winner of the Roland Garros 2008, analyzed through an X post what is happening in these hours in the women’s singles of the Australian Open.
The beautiful former player appreciated the grit and strength shown by WTA No.1 and WTA No.2 respectively. Swiatek suffered in the last match played and won with a crazy comeback in three sets against Danielle Collins. Sabalenka defeated, showing great tennis, Ella Seidel, Brenda Fruhvirtova and Lesia Tsurenko
Elena Rybakina, last year’s finalist, was eliminated by Anna Blinkova in the third set tie-break, in what was the longest women’s singles tie-break in Grand Slam history.
Tough match for #Rybakina today. #Blinkova played very aggressive and really kept her composure specially after missing out on initial match points.
As we saw many young players creating lots of upsets already. It’s great to see @SabalenkaA going strong and @iga_swiatek making a…— Ana Ivanovic (@anaivanovic) January 18, 2024
The incredible match between Rybakina and Blinkova
Anna Blinkova was able to beat Elena Rybakina at the end of a match that lasted over two and a half hours. Beyond the 6-4, 4-6 of the two initial sets, it was the third set that thrilled the crowd. There were 17 match point opportunities in total for the two athletes and a final tie-break of almost half an hour, which ended 22-20 which became the longest in the history of women’s tennis.
The Kazakh had the demerit of being stubborn with her forehand in several important moments of the tie-break, committing a series of trivial errors with that tie-break shot. Blinkova tried to fight the pressure of the last point and with courage she also canceled out match points thanks to some splendid winners.
In a battle that at a certain point neither of the two had the intention of winning, between the general amazement of the crowd and a few smiles from the chair umpire to diffuse the tension, the Russian wrote history and accomplished a feat that will be remembered for some time.
The longest tiebreak in a singles match in Grand Slam history ✨#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/4Il3BH6JCX
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2024
