PHOTOS

Australian Open 2021: Stefanos Tsitsipas survives a marathon as No. 1 Barty cruises and more

A Greek tragedy threatened to befall Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open on Thursday before the fifth seed steadied to fend off local wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4 and reach the third round. Former world number one Karolina Pliskova conceded she played far from her best tennis at the Australian Open on Thursday, but excelled in clutch moments to avenge a loss to Danielle Collins in a warm-up tournament just eight days ago.

Pliskova, seeded sixth, lost serve twice in a see-saw opening set but pulled away in the second to book a place in the third round with a 7-5, 6-2 win over American Collins, a 2019 Australian Open semi-finalist. A tearful Sofia Kenin admitted the pressure of defending a Grand Slam title for the first time had proved too great after she tumbled out of the Australian Open in the second round on Thursday.

The 22-year-old American looked a shadow of the player that won her first major title at Melbourne Park and reached the French Open final last season as she succumbed 6-3 6-2 to Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi on Margaret Court Arena.

Updated:Feb 11, 2021, 04:05 PM IST

1/5

Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in action against American Coco Gauff in Australian Open 2021 second round. The fifth seeded Svitolina cruised into the third round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Gauff. (Source: Twitter)

2/5

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece returns to Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia in their marathon second round match at Australian Open 2021. The only player from Greece to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, Tsitsipas paid tribute to his friend Kokkinakis, who celebrated his first Australian Open win in six years on Tuesday after battling injuries and illness. (Source: Twitter)

3/5

Kristina Mladenovic

Kristina Mladenovic is all smiles after her win over Nao Hibino of Japan in Australian Open 2021 second round. Mladenovic from France posted an easy 7-5, 6-1 victory. (Source: Twitter)

4/5

Karolina Pliskova

Karolina Pliskova from Czech Republic exults after her win over Danielle Rose Collins of the US in the Australian Open 2021 second round. The sixth seed won 7-5, 6-2 and served up seven aces. (Photo: Reuters)

5/5

Ashleigh Barty

World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty celebrates after her win over Australian compatriot Daria Gavrilova in the second round. Barty defeated Gavrilova 6-1, 7-6 (9) in a battle between home town heroes in Melbourne. (Photo: Reuters)