'Unbelievable': Tennis world stunned by 'tiebreak city'
A crazy sequence of events in the second round match between Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka has left Australian Open fans gobsmacked.
Canadian 16th seed Raonic – Nick Kyrgios’ conqueror in the first round – eventually prevailed in four sets against the Swiss star but the manner of the victory had viewers in a spin.
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Wawrinka drew first blood in the match when he claimed the opening set in a tiebreaker.
Little did onlookers know at the time, it would the first of four enthralling tiebreakers that left the Melbourne Park crowd on the edge of their seats.
By the fourth set tiebreak the players had been on court four hours and were approaching the longest match so far at this year’s tournament.
In their sights was Andy Murray’s epic five-set defeat in his first round clash against Roberto Bautista Agut that lasted four hours and nine minutes.
However, as he did in the second and third set, Raonic came up trumps in the fourth consecutive tiebreak to claim an epic 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (11), 7-6 (5) win.
The quality of the tennis on display and the drama that unfolded on Rod Laver Arena left fans scrambling for superlatives on social media.
🇨🇦MATCH 🇨🇦
Raonic goes through, incredible fight from both players. #GameSetMatch #AusOpen #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/FM7omgospz
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 17, 2019
Stan Wawrinka – Milos Raonic game just unbelieveable. 4 tiebreaks in 4 sets
— Omar (@omarryhn) January 17, 2019
Raonic v Wawrinka is probably a good argument for the first to 10 tiebreakers. They'd never finish otherwise. #AusOpen
— Trent (@trentslatts) January 17, 2019
Another tie-break Roanic vs Wawrinka 🙈@AustralianOpen
— Anish Khakhar (@AnishKhakhar) January 17, 2019
This Wawrinka v. Raonic match is crazy, 4 sets and 4 tie breakers! Makes you wish they hadn't brought in the 5th set tiebreak rule, see how long they can go! #AusOpen2019
— Catherine Langley (@CathLangley) January 17, 2019
Four consecutive tie breakers😌 it's because of you Stan you could have finished it before #AusOpen #Wawrinka #Raonic
— Pranav Swaroop (@Imp_Swaroop) January 17, 2019
You're not dreaming, 4th tiebreak Raonic-Wawrinka
— Canada's NextGen Fan Club (@TCTennisLover) January 17, 2019
Stan Wawrinka Vs Milos Raonic..What a game! #Ausopen2019
— Richard Dimeji (@DimejiRichard) January 17, 2019
This Raonic v Wawrinka match 🙌. Tiebreak city.
— Aaron T (@tommygun16) January 17, 2019
Raonic vs Wawrinka match has been quality! #AusOpen
— George (@PossiblyGeorge) January 17, 2019
wow this Raonic/Wawrinka match is so GOOD. so many back and forth points, very entertaining #AusOpen
— tay (@taaylorrhunt) January 17, 2019
What an amazing game this Wawrinka v. Raonic. #AusOpen
— Adair Júnior 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@iamadairjr) January 17, 2019
Raonic was either one or two points from dropping each of the sets he eventually grabbed on the way to edging Wawrinka.
The 16th-seeded Raonic hit 39 aces in the marathon thriller that was also delayed by rain.
Wawrinka, the 2014 champion and three-time grand slam winner, was two points away from taking the second set.
That's how you take away a set point. 💪
WATCH LIVE ON @Channel9
FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/d5QpFbIguD #9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lT5qtqWfzJ— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 17, 2019
He also held three set points in the third, and was two points away from forcing a fifth while ahead 5-4 in what would turn out to be the last tiebreaker.
“That is hard to describe – it feels like four hours passed by in 15 minutes,” said Raonic.
“In the heat of the battle, the adrenaline takes over.
“You try to do everything you can each and every point.
“I was very fortunate to stay alive in that fourth set.
2️⃣4️⃣1️⃣ minutes.
The longest match @milosraonic has ever played and won in his career.#AusOpen #AOFiredUp pic.twitter.com/0Kr67fNoqu
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2019
“I am thankful that it was indoors. I do a little bit better indoors than I do outdoors … thank you for raining.”
Raonic’s third-round opponent will be Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who equalled his best grand slam result by upsetting last year’s surprise semi-finalist Hyeon Chung.
Herbert triumphed 6-2 1-6 6-2 6-4 against the No.24 seed from South Korea.
With agencies
