In a dramatic encounter at the Australian Open, unseeded Russian Anna Blinkova ousted last year's finalist and world No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina in the longest singles tie-break in Grand Slam history, with a final score of 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(22-20). The match featured a record-setting 42-point tiebreaker in the third set, where Blinkova saved six match points and required ten of her own to secure the win. Earlier in the tournament, Rybakina had saved three set points in the first set tiebreak against Karolina Pliskova, demonstrating her resilience. Blinkova's victory sends her into the third round of the Australian Open.
“If I have to say one word, I would say ‘courage,’” Anna Blinkova said of how she survived a 42-point tiebreak. Thursday's #AusOpen was a showcase for the 10-point match tiebreak. It culminated with Blinkova and Rybakina's half-hour cliff-hanger. https://t.co/vZxKLgXW1l
Unseeded Russian Anna Blinkova shocked last year's runner-up Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open, winning the longest tie-break in Grand Slam history as world number one Iga Swiatek came back from the brink. https://t.co/uxm4ZjovLV by @JohnMWeaver1 #AFPSports #AusOpen https://t.co/sdGtf6K9iR
Elena Rybakina was eliminated from the Australian Open by Anna Blinkova after a record-setting tiebreaker https://t.co/UvysFoEjQi
Anna Blinkova stuns Elena Rybakina after a record Australian Open tiebreaker that last 42 points. https://t.co/KUgJ516n0r
Anna Blinkova ousts Elena Rybakina in history-making Australian Open tie-break https://t.co/v0OWUJlUbe
Anna Blinkova and Elena Rybakina play epic, record-setting 42-point tiebreaker at the Australian Open https://t.co/ODdFN29nKk https://t.co/St32roP0R1
Anna Blinkova dumps Rybakina out of Australian Open after historic tie-break https://t.co/JF0PdU5god
No time for blinking! Anna Blinkova emerged victorious over Elena Rybakina by winning the longest singles tie-break in Grand Slam history, 7-6 (22-20). 😎 Blinkova saved *SIX* match points and needed *TEN* of her own to close out last year's #AusOpen finalist. 😲😲😲
THAT THIRD SET TIEBREAK 🤯 Anna Blinkova knocks out the No.3 seed Rybakina and takes her place in Round 3! Final tiebreak score: 22-20 #AusOpen https://t.co/eSLLPENvUf
EPIC! Anna Blinkova upsets 2023 runner up and #3 Elena Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(22-20) to reach the 3rd round at the #AusOpen. Saved 6 MPs. Needed NINE match points! Wow. https://t.co/DQ9s5p2bsR
THIS. IS. CRAZY. Anna Blinkova knocks out last year's runner-up Elena Rybakina after an outstanding super tie-break 6-4 4-6 7-6 (20) WOWOWOW https://t.co/OMtYXdlT9X
EPIC! Anna Blinkova upsets 2023 runner up and #3 Elena Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(22-20) to reach the 3rd round at the #AusOpen. Saved 6 MPs. Needed TEN match points! Wow. https://t.co/2KPuBtNFjP
Anna Blinkova grabs set one 6-4 over 2023 #AusOpen finalist Elena Rybakina! https://t.co/53rRRFWfaE
How To Pass A First-Round Test By: Elena Rybakina On her #AusOpen performance against Karolina Pliskova, where the No. 3 seed calmly saved three set points before taking control. 🔥 https://t.co/niG30HTL2o
Rybakina wins today's clash vs Pliskova Last year's runner-up defeats Karolina Pliskova in quite a tough match 7-6 6-4 Faces Anna Blinkova on R2 https://t.co/IU4CqyJRps
First test: Passed ✔️ Last year’s runner-up Elena Rybakina comes through a tightly-contested #AusOpen opener vs Pliskova, 7-6(6) 6-4! https://t.co/AnqBjp5shW
World #3 and 2023 runner up Elena Rybakina passes a very tough first round test at the #AusOpen, beating former #1 Karolina Pliskova 7-6(6), 6-4. Saved three set points in the first set tiebreak. https://t.co/y8pCzgmeHa
🥶 No.3 seed Elena Rybakina saves three set points to take the tiebreak 7-6(6) 😮💨 #AusOpen • #AO2024 https://t.co/pDesSWz0N4
Wow. Rybakina comes back from 3-6* in the tiebreak, takes the first set 7-6(6) vs. Pliskova. 54 minutes. https://t.co/p54BcKpbdB