Eerie coincidences in Gavrilova's record midnight start

The new Australian Open record for the latest start to a match has come about because of a number of eerie coincidences.

Daria Gavrilova and Elise Mertens entered the record books when they began their second-round meeting at 11.59pm on Wednesday night.

The women were left waiting because No.3 seed Grigor Dimitrov was taken to five sets by American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald.

The first remarkable quirk about Gavrilova's record is that it was previously held by Dimitrov.

SHOCK LOSS: Dasha dudded by 'horrendous' call

HISENSE UNHAPPINESS: Nick Kyrgios calls for move to Rod Laver Arena

At the 2017 tournament, the Bulgarian's third-round match with Richard Gasquet began at 11.58pm.

Remarkably, the twists don't end there.

The Dimitrov-Gasquet match last year followed a women's match that featured none other than Gavrilova.

CHAMPION: Rafael Nadal's brilliant gesture for vanquished rival

SCHEDULE: Barty and Federer spearhead Thursday's action at the Australian Open

Dimitrov had to wait so long was because it took the Australian three sets to defeat Swiss seed Timea Bacsinszky.

Somehow, the coincidences between 2017 and 2018 continue.

Dimitrov's match with McDonald on Wednesday kicked off after 8pm because the final match of the day session -- Rafael Nadal's win over Leonardo Mayer -- did not end until nearly 7.30pm.

You have probably figured out the connection by now, but who kept Gavrilova off the court -- and inadvertently helped Dimitrov set his 11.58pm record -- in 2017?

Yep, a Spanish bull named Rafael Nadal.

The eventual finalist went to five sets with Alexander Zverev in the last match of the day session.

While Gavrilova now holds the record for the latest start, everyone will be chasing the latest finish for some time yet.

In the 2008 tournament, Australia's Lleyton Hewitt defeated Marcos Baghdatis in a five-set match that concluded at the remarkable time of 4.33am.

with AAP