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Who would have thought? AO 2024 week one

  • Jackson Mansell

It has been an action-packed week to begin Australian Open 2024. From early upsets to five-set thrillers, tennis fans have been spoiled for choice.

There have been some extraordinary moments and storylines.

In fact, who would have thought…

…we would see the longest tiebreak in women’s Grand Slam history?

Not much could separate world No.3 Elena Rybakina and Anna Blinkova on Thursday night. Tied at a set apiece, a third-set super tiebreak was needed. However, it went a little longer than expected. 

READ: Breaking new ground - Classic AO tiebreaks

An unforced error from Rybakina during the 42nd point (yes, 42nd) of the tiebreak saw Blinkova reach the third round at Melbourne Park for the first time. At 22-20, it surpassed the 38-point tiebreak of Lesia Tsurenko and Ana Bogdan at Wimbledon 2023 as the longest in women’s Grand Slam history. And it meant the end of AO 2024 for last year’s runner up in the process.

…there would be 30 five-set matches in just the first week?

Everyone loves a five-set classic, and this tournament has delivered in spades. Thirty of them to be exact. We are only in week one and Australian Open 2024 has already had more five-set matches than the whole of AO 2023.

MORE: Five-set fever - A record-breaking opening round at AO2024

Cameron Norrie and Daniil Medvedev are the only players who have won from two-sets-to-love down. Meanwhile, 20th seed Adrian Mannarino has gone the distance in every single match this tournament. With the record of 37 at Wimbledon 2001 in view, we hope there are more enthralling encounters. 

…two of tennis’ rising stars would be the frontrunners?

Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff seem invincible at the moment. Sinner is the only male seed this tournament not to have dropped a set. Potentially Novak Djokovic’s biggest threat to an 11th Norman Brookes Trophy, the Italian could become the first Italian since Adriano Panatta in 1976 to win a Grand Slam.

READ: Is Gauff the hottest player in the game right now? 

Winning 32 of her last 36 matches, Gauff is also yet to drop a set this Australian Open. In a tournament where seven of the top 10 women’s players have been eliminated, could the American win her second consecutive Grand Slam? Speaking of which…

…seven of the top-10 women’s players would be eliminated?

For the sixth time in the last two years, at least half of the top 10 have been eliminated in the first three rounds. 

MORE: Swiatek - "I was more stressed than other tournaments"

16-year-old Mirra Andreeva dropping just two matches against world No.6 Ons Jabeur might have shocked fans, but few will have expected 19-year-old Linda Noskova to get the better of No.1 seed Iga Swiatek. This marks the Pole's worst result at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2022. 

…Novak Djokovic would be under the pump at AO 2024?

What many thought would be an easy run to the final for Novak Djokovic has proved more challenging. This is the first Grand Slam Djokovic has dropped a set in each of his first two matches since the 2018 US Open. 

MORE: Djokovic steadies to subdue plucky Prizmic

Challenged by Dino Prizmic first up, the Serbian had to save four set points against Alexei Popyrin to prevent a two-sets-to-one deficit. Will he make it to the final day of play?

…Aryna Sabalenka would drop just six games in the first week?

The reigning champion is on a mission to defend her maiden Grand Slam crown. With an average of just two games conceded per match, Sabalenka is looking to become the first female to go back-to-back at Melbourne Park since Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013.

In her first-round matchup against German qualifier Ella Seidel, she only dropped one game, while she recently held 28th seed Lesia Tsurenko to a double bagel.

…so many unseeded players would do so well?

There have been success stories everywhere you look during AO 2024. Twenty-four players outside the top 50 made it to the third round. Included in that list are eight players outside the top 100, five qualifiers and two wildcards. Headlining that group is Frenchman Arthur Cazaux who claimed a huge win in the shape of world No.8 Holger Rune. Should he beat Hubert Hurkacz tomorrow, he will be the first wildcard through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open since Lleyton Hewitt in 2012.