Aleksandar Vukic earned his place within the second spherical of the Wimbledon 2024 males’s singles competitors in dramatic trend.
London, Nice Britain, 2 July 2024 | Leigh Rogers
A primary five-set win is a memorable second in any participant’s profession, however Aleksandar Vukic definitely made certain his shall be unforgettable.
The 28-year-old bravely saved a match level earlier than triumphing 6-7(9) 6-4 6-4 3-6 7-6(8) in opposition to Austrian Sebastian Ofner within the opening spherical of the Wimbledon 2024 males’s singles competitors.
World No.45 Ofner held a match level on his serve at 5-4 in an unpredictable deciding set, earlier than Vukic fought again to report one of many greatest wins of his profession.
“This match was such a rollercoaster,” Vukic mentioned. “For this reason the gamers, the followers and everybody loves the five-setters. It’s simply by no means over, there’s all the time momentum modifications and I’m joyful I stored believing, stored going and managed to get the win right this moment.”
Each gamers carried spectacular kind into the match, with Vukic advancing to the semifinals at an ATP match in Nice Britain final week and Ofner that includes in an ATP last in Spain.
“We each had a number of matches final week, so there was all the time going to be just a little fatigue,” mentioned Vukic. “But in addition with these matches comes confidence.
“For me, simply being within the second was the largest factor that helped me right this moment.”
Vukic survived a barrage of winners from Ofner, who hit 24 aces amongst 72 winners in whole, throughout the three-hour and 49-minute battle.
Solely a single level separated them ultimately, with Vukic successful 188 to Ofner’s 187.
The reward for Vukic, who had misplaced the 2 earlier five-set matches he had contested, is a second-round showdown with world No.3 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
“Taking part in my subsequent opponent shall be an incredible honour and an incredible problem, but it surely’s additionally one other match for me to check myself,” Vukic mentioned.
The world No.69 joins compatriots Jordan Thompson and Daria Saville on the winner’s listing on day one in all The Championships.
> READ: Thompson phases steely comeback at Wimbledon 2024
Aussies in motion – Wimbledon
RESULTS
Males’s singles, first spherical
Jordan Thompson (AUS) d Pavel Kotov 5-7 5-7 6-4 6-4 6-4
Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) d Sebastian Ofner (AUT) 6-7(9) 6-4 6-4 3-6 7-6(8)
[8] Casper Ruud (NOR) d [Q] Alex Bolt (AUS) 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4
[Q] Otto Virtanen (FIN) d Max Purcell (AUS) 6-3 6-2 6-2
Girls’s singles, first spherical
Daria Saville (AUS) d Peyton Stearns (USA) 6-4 6-2
COMING UP
Males’s singles, first spherical
[9] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [LL] James Duckworth (AUS)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Thiago Monteiro (BRA)
Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v Flavio Cobolli (ITA)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [13] Taylor Fritz (USA)
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v [17] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
Adam Walton (AUS) v Federico Coria (ARG)
Males’s singles, second spherical
Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v [3] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Brandon Nakashima (USA)
> VIEW: Wimbledon 2024 males’s singles draw
Girls’s singles, first spherical
[WC] Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v [13] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
[Q] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) v [Q] Robin Montgomery (USA)
Girls’s singles, second spherical
Daria Saville (AUS) v [18] Marta Kostyuk (UKR)
> VIEW: Wimbledon 2024 girls’s singles draw
> READ: 9 Australians to contest doubles at Wimbledon 2024
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