Wed. Jul 3rd, 2024
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Russian fifth-seed Andrey Rublev has saved two match points to clinch an Australian Open quarterfinal spot with a tense five-set win over Danish teenager Holger Rune.

Rublev staged a stunning fightback in a super tie-break to secure a a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (11/9) win with a dead net cord winner on his third match point against ninth-seed Rune.

At the end of five gripping sets, Rune raced to a 5-0 lead in the tie-break and was also up 7-3 before suffering a dramatic collapse.

Rublev snatched victory when his backhand return hit the net tape and fell over to send 19-year-old Rune crashing out of the tournament.

The result — after three hours and 37 minutes on court — sets up a blockbuster quarterfinal clash with either nine-time champion Novak Djokovic or Australian hope Alex de Minaur.

“I never was able to win matches like this,” Rublev said in his on-court interview.

“Especially in very special tournament like Australian Open, to be in quarterfinal is something that I will remember, for sure, all my life.

“I have no words, man. I’m shaking.”

Two male tennis player embrace at the net following an Australian Open match.
Andrey Rublev (left) and Holger Rune showed respect for each other after more than three hours on court.(Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

Rublev was twice up a set — only to be pegged back — and was 5-2 down in the fifth set.

He saved two match points to send the fifth set to the super tie-breaker and won eight of the last 10 points to seal victory.

Young American Ben Shelton also advanced to the last eight via a five-set win, having been taken the distance by his countryman JJ Wolf.

Both players were unseeded in Melbourne, with Shelton winning 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 after three hours and 47 minutes at the John Cain Arena.

Shelton — who ended Australian Alexei Popyrin’s tournament in the third round — is contesting just his second major.

The 20-year-old plays either 24th-seeded Spaniard Roberto Agut Bautista or fellow American Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals.

AAP/ABC

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