While not the final point the match deserved,it was a fitting cap to an unpredictable battle where the lead traded places several times,including within the super-tiebreak itself,and where both men proved themselves capable of quickly recovering from disappointment.
Rublev,25 and from Russia,will need to channel that tenacity to advance to his first grand slam semi-final. To do so he will need to beat either nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic or Australia’s own Alex De Minaur,who were scheduled to play their fourth round match later on Monday night.
“Nobody wants to face Novak,” Rublev conceded.
Though the scoreboard and tiebreak indicated a nail-biting contest,Rublev was the better player for most of the match,winning 168 points to Rune’s 158,and serving at a higher level. Rune landed just 56 per cent of first serves and clocked up 12 double faults in the first four sets - though he improved his serve markedly in the decider.
Rublev,meanwhile,hit 58 winners and 37 unforced errors for the match - compared to Rune’s 44 winners and 60 unforced errors.
A disappointed Rune said the loss was “not the end of the world” but would take some time to get over. “This one hurts a lot,” he said. “I had all the chances I could wish for,I just didn’t close them.
“He was better than me in important moments. He was maybe a little bit more lucky than I was. I was maybe a bit passive on a few points,but he could have missed a few,[instead] he made them.”
Meanwhile on John Cain Arena,Shelton – ranked No.89 and enjoying his first trip outside the US – won the fifth set 6-2 to secure his path to the final eight,winning the match in three hours and 47 minutes.
Wolf,who is ranked No.67,won the first set 7-6 after clinching the tiebreaker 7-5. From there,little separated the players as they went set-for-set before sending the clash into a decider.
Wolf had called the physio at the end of the fifth game in the final set to receive treatment to his thigh. Shelton said it was a “gruelling match” against his fellow American.
“There were a lot of swings throughout the match,it was going to him,and then me,” he said on court afterwards. “It’s always tough playing a friend … I knew it was going to be a battle.”
Shelton will face his fellow American Tommy Paul in the quarter-final,who defeated Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in four sets on Monday evening,ensuring at least one American man makes the semi-final of this year’s Australian Open.
“It was a really physical,tough match,” Paul said on court following his win. “I mean,anytime you play Bautista it’s going to be a war.”