China's Zhang Shuai and India's Rohan Bopanna were narrowly defeated in the Australian Open mixed doubles quarterfinals on Tuesday night, falling to Australian wildcards Olivia Gadecki and John Peers in a nail-biting third-set super tiebreak.
The dynamic duo of Zhang and Bopanna started strong, claiming the first set 6-2 with a series of powerful serves and precise volleys. However, Gadecki and Peers rallied in the second set, adjusting their strategy to clinch it 6-4 and level the match.
The tension peaked in the decisive super tiebreak. Zhang and Bopanna edged ahead to lead 9-8, earning a match point. But the Australian pair remained resilient. A wide serve from Peers proved unreturnable, nullifying the match point. Peers then delivered an ace to seize a 10-9 advantage. The match concluded when a volley from Zhang sailed just long, sealing an 11-9 victory for Gadecki and Peers.
Reflecting on the intense match, Peers remarked, \"I knew if we hung around long enough hopefully it would turn our way. Whether we like it or not, you have to win the last point, not the first point.\"
Zhang and Bopanna showcased remarkable teamwork throughout the tournament, and their quarterfinal performance was no exception. Trailing by two points in the super tiebreak, they demonstrated their resilience by winning four of the next five points, highlighted by a stunning forehand winner down the line from Zhang. Despite their efforts, the Australian duo managed to flip the momentum in their favor at the critical moment.
Gadecki and Peers, buoyed by their home crowd, advance to the semifinals where they will face the second-seeded New Zealand pair, Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus. The Australian Open continues to deliver electrifying matches, capturing the attention of tennis enthusiasts around the globe.
