Vekic wins yet another epic to reach last 16 at Australian Open

Croatia’s Donna Vekic, the No 18 seed, enhanced her growing reputation as queen of the epic as she beat Russian Diana Shnaider, the No 12 seed, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 7-5 in almost three hours to advance to the last 16 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Friday.

Vekic, ranked No 19, held her nerve in the decider, breaking in the 11th game of the third and serving it out with her 10th ace to set up a clash with Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the No 27 seed.

It is Vekic’s sixth win in her past eight matches – and 15th in her past 20 – to go the distance at Grand Slams.

“The crowd (made the difference),” she said. “There’s a reason why this is one of my favourite courts. You guys gave me such good support and there were so many Croatians here.

“It was tough, it was hot. She was playing unbelievable. In my next life, I want to come back as a lefty. I don’t remember the last time I beat a lefty. I’m really happy I won.”

Ahead of her victory, the Croat won against Frenchwoman Diane Parry (6-4, 6-4) and lucky loser Harriet Dart (4-6, 6-0, 6-2).

Shnaider, ranked No 13, defeated Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto (7-6 (4), 6-4) and Australian wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic (6-4, 7-5) in the previous rounds.

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other third-round results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 60.627.573, most recent results first):

• Emma Raducanu vs. Iga Swiatek
• Eva Lys vs. Jaqueline Cristian
• Yulia Putintseva vs. Daria Kasatkina
• Emma Navarro vs. Ons Jabeur
• Elina Svitolina vs. Jasmine Paolini
• Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Veronika Kudermetova
• Madison Keys vs. Danielle Collins
• Elena Rybakina vs. Dayana Yastremska
• Olga Danilovic vs. Jessica Pegula
• Coco Gauff vs. Leylah Fernandez
• Naomi Osaka vs. Belinda Bencic
• Magdalena Frech vs. Mirra Andreeva
• Paula Badosa vs. Marta Kostyuk: friday
• Aryna Sabalenka (1) beat Clara Tauson: 7-6 (5), 6-4
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Laura Siegemund: 6-1, 6-2