Andrey Rublev comes back from the brink to beat Holger Rune

Andrey Rublev overcame a match point deficit in the fifth set of their gruelling 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (11-9) Australian Open quarterfinal on Monday to eliminate Holger Rune from the tournament.

Rublev, the fifth seed, overcame a 5-2 deficit in the deciding set at Rod Laver Arena by saving two match points and forcing the match into a tense 10-point tiebreak.

He fell behind early in the tiebreaker, 5-0, but came storming back to take a 9-7 lead. However, ninth-seeded Rune made two crucial saves at that time to prevent an upset.

Finally, on match point three, Rublev’s final return clipped the net and popped over, giving the Russian the victory and leaving the Dane helpless.

On the court, Rublev remarked, “(Tennis) is not a rollercoaster, it’s like they put a gun to your head.”

“Man, I say we go the roller coaster instead.

“Never before in my life had I been able to win matches with such ease; this was the first time I had ever done so.

When the night session concludes, Rublev will face whoever emerges from the match between nine-time champion Novak Djokovic and home favourite Alex de Minaur.