Aussie wildcard Tristan Schoolkate clawed back from a one-set deficit to beat Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-7 (8), 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-4. He capped off his triumph by winning eight straight points at the end of the match to secure his spot in the second-round.
Schoolkate lost the first in a tough tiebreak despite having the upper hand and leading 5-2. But he got revenge in the second set after phenomenal serving by both players forced another tiebreak. Up six points to four, Schoolkate hit a forehand winner to win the set in thrilling fashion.
The 23-year-old carried the momentum into the third set with brilliant play. Schoolkate held and broke serve to consolidate, going up 3-0 with multiple deuces played in each game. The Aussie swiftly and aggressively ran away with the set, only conceding one game.
The fourth set opened up again with fantastic service games by both players, who each held until four games. In the ninth game, however, the Aussie took control and broke to love phenomenally. Schoolkate showed no nerves as he held to love to set up a second-round match against the No.1 seed from Italy and reigning Australian Open Champion, Jannik Sinner.
The Aussie commented on how it felt to have the crowd’s energy and support while picking up his first Australian Open win.
"Oh, it's unbelievable," Schoolkate stated. "Pretty cool. Different feeling for sure."
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He also reflected on the memories and emotions playing in Melbourne Park brought.
"Obviously I have played juniors here, like, the Nationals from age 11 until now," Schoolkate said.
"I'm 23. Yeah, pretty crazy obviously to win in front of a crowd like that.
"I have had some different memories on that court as well."
Thanasi Kokkinakis filled Kia Arena with passionate fans as they willed him on against Russia’s Roman Safiullin.
The World No.71 got off to a shaky start, conceding the first set after securing an early break. Safiullin used his second break opportunity to race ahead and secure the set on his fifth set point.
Kokkinakis, however, used the crowd's support to propel him forward in the second set. After both players held serve for three games, Kokkinakis took charge and hit a brilliant backhand down-the-line winner to set up two break points.
A double fault handed the Aussie the break and a 3-1 lead. Another backhand down-the-line winner helped the 28-year-old hold serve and go up 4-1. Aussie and Greek flags were held high in Kia Arena.
Safiullin held to love to force the Aussie to serve out the set at 5-2. After an off-court medical timeout, Kokkinakis fended off two break points to take the set 6-3.
The third set was a power play once again by the Aussie. Both players held serve until 2-2 until the Aussie applied the pressure with aggression to break serve. But Safiullin broke right back. Kokkinakis didn’t let this sway him, hitting two winners and forcing three errors en route to breaking the Safiullin serve once again to go up 4-3.
This time, Kokkinakis dug deep to win a monster of a game that went to deuce six times to take the lead, five games to three. As the crowd went wild, Kokkinakis pressured Safiullin into making multiple errors and converted his second set point to take the third set, six games to three.
The fourth set was neck and neck on serve until Safiullin broke in the seventh game. But Kokkinakis applied the pressure to force errors from the Safiullin racquet and break right back to even the set at 4-4.
On his second match point in the tiebreak, Kokkinakis aggressively powered forward towards the net and Safiullin tried to lob over the Aussie's head, but his backhand sailed long and the crowd went wild as Kokkinakis roared in triumph.
The 28-year-old lamented on how much of an advantage playing at Melbourne Park is compared to the rest of the year.
"I don't think Australians have much advantage throughout the whole year, so it's good to get a little bit in January," the Aussie said.
He was especially grateful to the fans that helped him get over the finish line today.
"Yeah, just an unbelievable feeling to get in front of that crowd again," Kokkinakis said.
"That roar, that atmosphere, they really willed me on like they've done so much throughout the years.
"Incredible emotions and memories there."
Kokkinakis has set up a second-round showdown with Great Britain’s 15th seed Jack Draper, who is coming off a tough five-set victory today.
Next up on Kia Arena was Christopher O'Connell who pushed 12th seed American Tommy Paul in five epic sets. The final score was 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in favour of the American.
In the first set, Paul broke twice to swiftly take the set.
However, O'Connell broke Paul early in the second set to race to a 3-0 lead. The Aussie continued to hold serve and subsequently level the contest.
This time, it was Paul's turn to race to a 3-0 lead with an early break, and continued with positive momentum to pick up another break and hold twice to steal the set.
But the fourth set proved to be neck and neck, with each player grabbing a break before taking the set to a deciding tie-breaker. O'Connell played aggressively and, with the help of unforced errors from the racquet of Paul, took the tiebreak seven points to five to force a fifth set.
All that separated the two in the final set was O'Connell’s final service game at 5-6, which Paul broke to love to win the match exactly as the match time hit four hours.
Although a heartbreaking loss for the Aussie, O'Connell fought tooth and nail and can take a lot of positives from the match into the rest of his 2025 season.
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