Blinkova boots Rybakina out with gutsy win

Anna Blinkova of Russia reacts after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

MELBOURNE—Unseeded Russian Anna Blinkova dumped world No.3 Elena Rybakina out of the Australian Open on Thursday, squandering multiple match points in a final-set tiebreak lasting more than 31 minutes before sealing a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (20) victory.

Blinkova, ranked 57, won the first set 6-4 and last year’s finalist Rybakina hit back to win the second by the same scoreline, but the match hinged on a breathtaking tiebreak that Blinkova won 22-20.

The big-hitting former Wimbledon champion, who lost to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s title clash, began the match sluggishly as her ex-doubles partner capitalized with an early break which proved enough for her to go on and wrap up the opening set.

The 25-year-old Blinkova built up the pressure and pounced on her opponent’s serve again in the second set to take a 2-1 cushion but Rybakina, the Kazakhstan ace born in Russia, responded with one of her own as the powerful protagonists were evenly matched after eight games. —REPORTS FROM REUTERS, AFP

AFP

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