Russia’s Andrey Rublev hits a return against Denmark’s Holger Rune during their men’s singles match on day eight of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 23, 2023. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)Russia’s Andrey Rublev survived two match points in the fifth set to defeat Denmark’s Holger Rune 6/3, 3/6, 6/3, 4/6, 7/6(9) in an Australian Open thriller that lasted three hours, 40 minutes.Rublev, seeded fifth, held serve in the opening game of first set.
He came back from 0-40 to break Rune in the sixth game and went on to win 6/3. The ninth seeded Holder took the second set 6/3.
The two players split the third and fourth sets. On the decider, Holgate lost three break chances, but later led 3-1. Rune served for the match at 5-4, but he lost the service game.
The Dane had two match points in the 12th game, but the Russian cancelled them. In the super tiebreak, Holgar led 5-0, but Rublev battled to level seven points apiece.