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'It was bonkers, it was everything' - Laura Robson wowed by Anna Blinkova's 'epic' tie-break win over Elena Rybakina
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Published 18/01/2024 at 14:32 GMT
Ex-tennis players and Eurosport experts have reacted to Anna Blinkova’s incredible deciding set tie-break win over Elena Rybakina in the second round of the Australian Open. The 42-point settler was the longest tie-break in the history of women’s singles matches at Grand Slams. It was the biggest win of Blinkova’s career and she has described it as the “best day of my life”.
'It was incredible, it was bonkers' - Robson, Henman, Wilander react to Blinkova win over Rybakina
Video credit: TNT Sports
“It was incredible, it was bonkers, it was everything,” was the reaction of former British No. 1 Laura Robson after watching the longest-ever Grand Slam women’s singles tie-break at the Australian Open.
Anna Blinkova produced the biggest win of her career by knocking out third seed Elena Rybakina, winning 22-20 in the deciding tie-break - which lasted over half an hour - to secure a 6-4 4-6 7-6(20) victory in the second round.
The Russian world No. 57 finally won the encounter on her 10th match point, while former Wimbledon champion Rybakina had also seen opportunities to win come and go.
Blinkova twice served for the match before finally rounding off what she said had become the best day of her life, so far.
“I only looked [as cool as a cucumber]. It took me a lot of work. I work [on my composure] every day, managing the emotions,” she told Eurosport.
“I had a lot of emotions. I was leading in the second set, third set, and I was losing all these opportunities, but I was telling myself that I still want to win, I still can win.
“I forgot about the opportunities I missed and I focused on the new opportunities I had to still win the match.”
Seven-time Grand Slam champion and Eurosport expert Mats Wilander described it as “too much drama for my heart” afterwards, while Robson and Tim Henman could not believe what they had seen either.
“It was incredible, it was bonkers, it was everything," said Robson.
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Blinkova beats Rybakina in longest women's Grand Slam tie-break ever
Video credit: TNT Sports
"The amount of stress I felt in the last half an hour in that whole tie-break.
“At that point you just wanted her to get over the line. Having so many chances after being so resilient, so brave with her tennis.
“What it meant to her, wow. It almost gives me chills to have that moment to look back on whenever she’s done and dusted. Hopefully in many, many years. I can’t believe the match I’ve just seen.”
Rybakina was runner-up at last year's Australian Open and was seen as one of the favourites for the title.
Henman said the match - which lasted two hours, 46 minutes - “had everything”, with the quality really stepping up in the latter stages.
“There were some great winners and rallies, but then the pressure was getting to both players’ forehands,” he told Eurosport.
“A lot of unforced errors, but both players competed so hard. They were chasing down, making their opponent play that one extra shot. It was absolutely epic.”
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