Australian Open: Krejcikova fights back to beat home hope Hunter and reach last 16

No 9 seed Barbora Krejcikova reached the last 16 of the Australian Open by beating Australian qualifier Storm Hunter 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 at Melbourne Park.

This defeat marks the end of a thoroughly impressive and spirited run from home hope Hunter, who has built most of career around doubles and had to come through three rounds of qualifying in order to reach the main draw.

Hunter progressed to the third round for the first time in her career and fought admirably against a former Grand Slam champion, with Krejcikova looking in real trouble after the loss of the first set and a very tight second.

In the end, the Czech’s experience shone through an she was able to oust the Aussie in three sets to survive a huge scare.

Krejcikoka will go on to face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva next, after she won in extraordinary circumstances earlier on Day 6.

“Definitely very, very difficult match. Storm played really well. She’s doing great, she had a great run,” Krejcikova said after the win.

“I just go point by point, because everything can change in one second. It’s tennis, and every ball counts.”

Ahead of her victory, Barbora Krejcikova won against Japanese wildcard Mai Hontama (2-6, 6-4, 6-3) and German Tamara Korpatsch (6-2, 6-2).

Hunter, ranked No 180, won against Italian Sara Errani (6-4, 6-3) and German Laura Siegemund (6-4, 3-6, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other third-round results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 58.910.000, most recent results first):

• Elina Svitolina vs. Viktorija Golubic
• Iga Swiatek vs. Linda Noskova
• Jelena Ostapenko vs. Victoria Azarenka
• Oceane Dodin vs. Clara Burel
• Anna Blinkova vs. Jasmine Paolini
• Qinwen Zheng vs. Yafan Wang
• Anna Kalinskaya vs. Sloane Stephens
• Emma Navarro vs. Dayana Yastremska
• Maria Timofeeva (Q) beat Beatriz Haddad Maia (10): 7-6 (7), 6-3
• Magdalena Frech beat Anastasia Zakharova (Q): 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
• Coco Gauff (4) beat Alycia Parks: 6-0, 6-2
• Marta Kostyuk beat Elina Avanesyan: 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
• Mirra Andreeva beat Diane Parry: 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5)
• Aryna Sabalenka (2) beat Lesia Tsurenko (28): 6-0, 6-0
• Amanda Anisimova beat Paula Badosa: 7-5, 6-4