The Australian Open men’s singles action on Thursday began with high drama, as two seeded players won their second-round matches in fifth-set tiebreakers at Melbourne.
No. 11 Casper Ruud of Norway fought off Australia’s Max Purcell, who had the partisan support of the crowd, to earn a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory.
Sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev needed tiebreaker wins in each of the last two sets to get past Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (10-7).
Ruud saved 12 of 13 break points to escape against Purcell, who saved 8 of 10 break points. Both players won 79 percent of their first-serve points and 57 percent of their second-serve points.
“What can I say? It was an incredible match,” Rudd said. “Happy with the way I was serving and happy with the way I was playing. …
“Max is a tricky and good player. … I grew up playing juniors with him, so I know him very well and I wish him the best of success in the years to come because if he keeps playing like this I think he will have good chances for good results.”
“He plays fast, serve-and-volley, one of the most unorthodox players these days. Kind of brings it back more to the ’90s and ’80s with serve-and-volley, and that’s tough.”
Rudd reached major finals at the 2022 and 2023 French Open and the 2022 U.S. Open, but he is still looking for his first Grand Slam title.
Zverev, whose best finish in a major was as the runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open, registered 21 aces to stay alive in a match that exceeded 4 1/2 hours.
In another early Thursday match, 19-year-old American Alex Michelsen defeated No. 32 Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
–Field Level Media