Andrey Rublev battled back from 5-0 down in the final set to knock Holger Rune out of the Australian Open on Monday with a drama-filled 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (11-9) victory.
“I never in my life was able to win matches like this, this was the first time in my life I was able to win a match like this,”Rublev said afterwards.
The Russian will meet the winner of the Novak Djokovic-Alex de Minaur clash to be played on Monday evening.
“No-one wants to face Novak,” Rublev added. “I’d rather be in any other part of the draw right now.”
Both players had chances to break their opponent in the opening set before Rublev eventually prevailed with 11 winners.
The young Dane fought back to take the second set before Rublev took the third.
Rune took the fourth to stay in the match, and then took a 5-0 lead in the decider.
Amazingly, that wasn’t enough against Rublev, who turned the score around to lead 9-7 and on two match points, took the tie.
Young American Ben Shelton defeated compatriot J.J. Wolf 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-2 in their last-16 clash and will play the winner of the match between Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, and American Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals.
