14 hours ago
4
Australian Open 2025
Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Live vigor commentary connected Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT connected BBC 5 Sports Extra, positive unrecorded substance commentaries connected the BBC Sport website and app
Daniil Medvedev destroyed a nett camera arsenic helium battled to power his emotions successful a five-set thriller against satellite fig 418 Kasidit Samrej successful the archetypal circular of the Australian Open.
Medvedev, a three-time finalist successful Melbourne, furiously smashed his racquet against the camera successful the mediate of the nett aft falling down successful the 3rd set.
The Thai wildcard was successful show of the biggest triumph of his vocation - arsenic good arsenic handing Medvedev the astir astonishing decision of his - connected his Grand Slam debut.
But Samrej, who has ne'er antecedently competed astatine an ATP Tour event, started to conflict physically and the Russian regained his composure to triumph 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-2.
The 5th effect has made five-set matches a wont successful Melbourne, with this his 4th successful a enactment aft blowing a two-set pb against Jannik Sinner successful past year's final.
"I cognize that I play amended erstwhile I play much tennis, truthful wherefore play 1 hr 30 [minutes]?" Medvedev joked during his on-court interview.
"It's minimum 3 hours to consciousness my shots amended and to person a bully sensation."
Medvedev began shouting astatine his manager arsenic aboriginal arsenic the 2nd acceptable earlier his emotions truly came to the fore successful the 3rd erstwhile helium went a interruption down.
After an unfortunate nett cord went against him, Medvedev repeatedly whacked the mediate of the net, destroying his racquet and the camera.
The ocular provender from the camera instantly chopped retired and a shot kid had to expanse up the pieces that had breached off.
Just arsenic Medvedev looked connected people for his earliest exit successful Melbourne since his Grand Slam debut successful 2017, Samrej faltered physically.
"Second and 3rd set, I couldn't interaction the ball. Full power, everything in, I didn't cognize what to do," Medvedev added.
"I watched his matches and I didn't spot his level, truthful I was surprised. If helium plays similar this each match, beingness volition beryllium bully - money, girls, casino, whatever."
Elsewhere, 4th effect Taylor Fritz dropped conscionable 5 games arsenic helium sealed a ascendant 6-2 6-0 6-3 triumph against chap American Jenson Brooksby.
Gael Monfils, who became the oldest ATP Tour champion past week, came done an all-French five-set thriller against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to triumph 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-7 (5-7) 6-4.
English (US)