In a thrilling comeback, Zhang Zhizhen of China and Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic rallied from a set down to defeat German duo Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the men’s doubles second round at the Australian Open on Saturday.
The match, held in Melbourne, was a nail-biter that saw only three service breaks—one in each set—highlighting the tight competition between the pairs. Zhang and Machac edged out their opponents by just three points overall, showcasing the razor-thin margin in this high-stakes encounter.
The victory was largely decided on shorter rallies. Out of 103 total points won by Zhang and Machac, a remarkable 83 were clinched in four shots or fewer. In the decisive third set, they dominated these quick exchanges, winning 35 of 42 short points, while Schnaitter and Wallner managed only 19, a significant drop from the 30 they secured in the first set.
Serving for the match at 5-4, Machac faced fierce resistance as the German pair earned two break points to level the score. However, Zhang’s swift volley winners saved both points. At deuce, Zhang exhibited keen judgment by letting a narrowly out ball pass, setting up their third match point. Machac sealed the victory with a powerful ace, propelling the duo into the round of 16.
Earlier in the match, Zhang displayed composure under pressure when serving for the second set. Facing two break points, he delivered an unreturnable wide serve to bring up set point, which he then secured with a forehand winner down the line.
With this win, Zhang and Machac advance to face the 15th-seeded pair, Hugo Nys of Monaco and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France, in the next round. Their resilience and teamwork have captured the attention of tennis fans as they continue their quest at the Australian Open.
Reference(s):
Zhang & Machac rally to advance in men's doubles at Australian Open
cgtn.com
