Magda Linette defeated Mayar Sherif 7:5, 6:1 in the first round of the Australian Open. The Pole and the Egyptian waited more than 24 hours to play a match in Australia. Hubert Hurkacz, however, defeated Lorenzo Sonego 3:6, 7:6, 2:6, 6:3 and 6:3 in the second round of the Australian Open after a five-set battle.
Easy-peasy match
Linette’s match against Sherif was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but due to heavy rain, it could not take place. Melbourne first experienced a veritable heatwave and then there was heavy rainfall in the evening.
The Pole has not yet played against the Egyptian. Sherif started the match better, but then Linette served flawlessly and took the lead. She played masterfully. As a result, she first won the first set by 7:5 and in the second set, she took a 5:0 lead in a flash.
A few minutes later, she used her second match ball and after one hour and 25 minutes, she was happy to advance to the second round.
Magda’s next opponent will be the Estonian Anett Kontaveit, seeded 16th.
Magda Linette – Mayar Sherif 2:0 (7-5, 6-1)
Five-set horror
Hubert Hurkacz defeated Lorenzo Sonego 3:6, 7:6, 2:6, 6:3 and 6:3 in the second round of the Australian Open after a five-set battle. The Pole triumphed after more than four hours on the court.
Hurkacz, who started the tournament with a win over Spaniard Pedro Martinez 7:6 (7-1), 6:2, 6:2, faced Sonego, 47th on the ATP list.
Advancing to the third round at the Australian Open means Hurkacz has achieved his best result at this Grand Slam tournament. Previously, he had twice dropped out in the second round.
The whole match was like a rollercoaster. Once the Italian was leading, Hurkacz attacked in another set. That’s what the match looked like. After losing the first set, the Pole triumphed after a 7:6 tie-break in the second one.
In the third set, it turned out that the Italian was better. Hubert, in the fourth set, presented himself much better. Above all, he played more decisively and offensively and won that set.
In the fifth set, the Pole was incredibly focused and eventually, he defeated the Italian. The match lasted nearly four hours.
Hubert Hurkacz – Lorenzo Sonego 3:2 (3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3)