Australian Open 2021: Stefanos Tsitsipas survives a marathon as No. 1 Barty cruises and more
Young Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece survived a marathon five-set match against Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia to move into the third round of the Australian Open. In other major matches, world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty and No. 6 seed Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic posted easy wins in the second round in Melbourne on Thursday. Here we take a look at some of the top action from Day 4 of the Australian Open.
A Greek tragedy threatened to befall Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open on Thursday before the fifth seed steadied to fend off local wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4 and reach the third round. Former world number one Karolina Pliskova conceded she played far from her best tennis at the Australian Open on Thursday, but excelled in clutch moments to avenge a loss to Danielle Collins in a warm-up tournament just eight days ago.
Pliskova, seeded sixth, lost serve twice in a see-saw opening set but pulled away in the second to book a place in the third round with a 7-5, 6-2 win over American Collins, a 2019 Australian Open semi-finalist. A tearful Sofia Kenin admitted the pressure of defending a Grand Slam title for the first time had proved too great after she tumbled out of the Australian Open in the second round on Thursday.
The 22-year-old American looked a shadow of the player that won her first major title at Melbourne Park and reached the French Open final last season as she succumbed 6-3 6-2 to Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi on Margaret Court Arena.
Elina Svitolina
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece returns to Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia in their marathon second round match at Australian Open 2021. The only player from Greece to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, Tsitsipas paid tribute to his friend Kokkinakis, who celebrated his first Australian Open win in six years on Tuesday after battling injuries and illness. (Source: Twitter)
Kristina Mladenovic
Karolina Pliskova
