Storm Hunter (WTA No. 180) came close to pulling off the surprise of the day at the 2024 Australian Open on Friday. The home favorite lost her match against Barbora Krejcikova (Grand Slam champion and 9th seed in Melbourne) in the fourth round, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6.

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Barbora Krejcikova bounces back from 0-1 with Storm Hunter to reach round of 16 at Australian Open 2024

The final match of the day on Friday pitted Hunter (much better known for her doubles involvement – she marked the 2023 Wimbledon final and the 2022 US Open semi-final) against Krejcikova.

The Czech is known to be a Grand Slam champion, a title won at Roland Garros in 2021.

The paper’s tally was finally vindicated late in the evening in Melbourne when the ninth favorite defeated the player who arrived from the qualifier.

Backing up her compatriots, Storm played bold, attacking tennis and the first set went back to her after a real break (5 in total, three on the Aussie side) 6-4.

The second set was very balanced, with the only break coming late, 6-5. Actually, this moment became the difference (7-5), and Krejcikova avoided the emotions of the tie-break and leveled the situation in sets.

The decisive one was the one in which the home favorite (arriving from the qualifiers) suffered a mental collapse, and the excellent experience of the Czech player spoke for itself.

Krejcikova won the set 6-3 and advanced to the 1/8 finals in Melbourne. The dispute lasted two hours and 30 minutes.

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Know:

• Barbora Krejcikova’s best AO result is the quarterfinals since 2022.

• Storm Hunter had his best result at this Australian Open: reaching the third round.

• Krejcikova will beat the sensation of the WTA moment Mir Andreev in the round of 16.

Friday’s Australian Open 2024 women’s singles results

Amanda Anisimova (442 WTA) – Paula Badosa (100 WTA) 7-5, 6-4

Aryna Sabalenko (2 WTA) – Lesya Tsurenko (33 WTA) 6-0, 6-0

Mira Andreeva (47 WTA) – Diane Parry (72 WTA) 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(10-5)

Marta Kostyuk (37 WTA) – Elina Avanesyan (74 WTA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4

Coco Gauff (4 WTA) – Alicia Parks (82 WTA) 6-0, 6-2

Magdalena Frech (69 WTA) – Anastasia Zakharova (190 WTA) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4

Maria Timofeeva (170 WTA) – Beatrice Haddad Maia (12 WTA) 7-6(7), 6-3

Barbora Krejcikova (11 WTA) – Storm Hunter (180 WTA) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3

Australian Open 2024, matches not yet played in the 3rd round

Iga Svyatek (1) – Linda Noskova

Elina Svitolina (19) – Victoria Golubich

Olena Ostapenko (11) – Victoria Azarenka (18)

Emma Navarro (27) – Diana Yastremska

Anna Blinkova – Jasmine Paolini (26)

Anna Kalinska – Sloane Stevens

Qinwen Zheng (12) – Yafan Wang

Okean Dodin – Clara Burel

The duels of the eighth Australian Open 2024 are already known

Marta Kostyuk – Maria Timofeeva

Magdalena Frech – Coco Gauf (4)

Mira Andreeva – Barbora Krejchikova (9)

Aryna Sabalenko (2) – Amanda Anisimova.

Australian Open 2024 will be held from January 14 to 28. The reigning champions are Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenko.

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