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Teen Tauson takes first top-10 scalp by sinking Kontaveit

  • Gillian Tan

Danish teenager Clara Tauson grabbed a career-first Grand Slam third round berth, toppling sixth seed Anett Kontaveit 6-2 6-4 in one hour and 19 minutes.                          

"I felt so good out here," beamed the world no. 39 after marching to victory on Margaret Court Arena. "I heard a lot of people cheering for me… that just gave me so much confidence and I played a very good match.

MORE: Women's singles results AO 2022

"It's the first time I'm in the third round of a slam [and] playing a player like her to reach it, it's a really big achievement for me."

The triumph marks the 19-year-old's first top 10 scalp in what has been a dream Australian Open main draw debut.

"I didn't really go into this match with a winning thought," said Tauson, admitting she had muted expectations for her first-ever battle against Kontaveit, who had a tour-leading 39 hardcourt wins in 2021.

"Obviously I wanted to win, but she's one of the best players in the world so I don't think I can go in with the attitude I have to win this match. It was more I can win, but we'll see what happens."

Tauson's AO main draw debut keeps getting better

Newfound self-belief fuelled an inspired performance on Thursday, said the Dane, acknowledging not fully backing herself last year in showdowns against heavy favourites Victoria Azarenka at Roland Garros and Ash Barty at the US Open.

"I don't think I really believed that I could beat those players," she revealed. "[Today], even in some of the difficult moments, I believed that I could win.

"Everything was working," added Tauson, who won 73 per cent of first-serve points and slammed 20 winners past her much-more experienced rival.

"I felt really comfortable on court… just went for everything and it worked today. My weapons were obviously working very well."

Still, the right-handed 2019 Australian Open girl's singles champion is far from complacent.

"I still need to improve a lot of things in my game to hopefully play [at] this level every time I play," Tauson said, smiling. "I cannot be too happy with the win today, but I am really happy."

Left in the shadows: a disappointing exit for Kontaveit

The teen's third-round opponent is 27thh seed Danielle Collins, who defeated Croat Ana Konjuh 6-4 6-3.

MORE: Women's singles draw AO 2022

The Dane lost to Collins in straight sets at Roland Garros in 2020, albeit while nursing an injury.

"She always goes far in the good tournaments so we'll see," said Tauson, aware of the American 28-year-old's semifinals run at Melbourne Park in 2019.

"I have to play good again, so I hope I can do that."