Sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime has fallen foul of the so-called Netflix curse on the Australian Opentwo days after he thought he might need defied the hoodoo.
The Canadian was the final participant standing of the 10 featured within the ‘Break Level’ docuseries that launched simply days earlier than the grand slam.
WATCH IN THE VIDEO ABOVE: Andy Murray’s frosty handshake after defeat.
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However with Auger-Aliassime’s loss on Sunday to the world No.71 Jiri Lehecka, who bounced again from dropping the primary set to win 4-6 6-Three 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-3), not one of the featured stars have reached the second week in Melbourne.
Episode one’s hero Nick Kyrgios withdrew earlier than the event bought underway on account of a knee damage that required surgical procedure, whereas his nice mate Thanasi Kokkinakis was outlasted by Andy Murray within the second spherical.
Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic additionally pulled out with an damage forward of the slam, and might be on the sidelines for even longer after present process her personal knee surgical procedure. Her episode two co-star Matteo Berrettini misplaced within the first spherical to Murray.
Episode three’s Maria Sakkari and Taylor Fritztwo of the event favorites, went down within the second spherical.
Episode 4 featured Paula Badosapressured out on account of damage in a lead-up event, and world No.2 Ons Jabeurwho gained only one match earlier than being knocked out.
Episode 5’s Casper Ruud fell on the similar stage, with Auger-Aliassime managing three wins earlier than defeat.
“I believed it was humorous,” he mentioned of the Netflix curse after reaching the fourth spherical.
“I do not know, I do not suppose it is related… possibly the gamers that misplaced, possibly they do really feel prefer it’s related, by some means. I do not suppose they do. I do not suppose it is related, anyway.”
How about now, Felix?
Worryingly for the remainder of the tour, episodes six by 10 are rumored to be launched in June, between the French Open and Wimbledon.
In the meantime, Lehecka’s victory over the sixth seed caps off a stellar first week that kicked off with a win over 21st seed Borna Coric and reached a brand new degree when he upset 11th seed Cam Norrie in a five-set thriller.
World No.71 Lehecka had by no means beforehand gained a match at a grand slam in 4 makes an attempt.
“Actually, it feels wonderful,” the Czech mentioned.
“It is robust for me to seek out some phrases as a result of what we have been by final yr (dropping within the first spherical) and now coming again to Australia, if someone had advised me earlier than the event that I might play like this, I would not I do not imagine him.
“I am tremendous glad that I am by and, yeah, excited.”
He’ll face world No.Four Stefanos Tsitsipas or 15th seed Jannik Sinner within the quarter-finals.
“The run just isn’t over,” Lehecka mentioned.
“All the blokes I beat over right here, all of them are unbelievable gamers. I will need to have performed my finest tennis and confirmed all of the playing cards to beat them.
“Coric within the first spherical, Eubanks within the second spherical after which Norrie and now Felix, I imply, it sounds loopy nevertheless it’s true.
“I am very glad and so excited to proceed the journey.”
Japanese star avoids humiliating slice of historical past, American fights on
Karen Khachanov can also be by to the quarter-finals, having continued her grand slam renaissance with a straight-sets mauling of Yoshihito Nishioka.
Khachanov gained the primary 14 video games of the match en path to a 6-Zero 6-Zero 7-6 (7-4) victory over the Japanese 31st seed.
“First two units I did not know what was occurring nevertheless it’s by no means simple when you’re going with a rating too simple,” the world No.20 mentioned.
“You’re feeling it after which at one level Yoshi tried to show it round, he pumped the gang and it is regular.
“So I attempted to remain targeted all of the match from the start nevertheless it’s not simple to win with this rating, three straight units. So the third set was a extremely robust one.”
The quarter-final conqueror of Nick Kyrgios ultimately yr’s US Open, Khachanov has rediscovered the shape that thrust him into the world’s high 10 4 years in the past.
With 15 aces and 30 winners, the big-serving Russian finally wanted lower than two hours to progress and e book a last-eight conflict on Tuesday with rising American Sebastian Korda.
Korda knocked out 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz in a five-set thriller, prevailing 3-6 6-Three 6-2 1-6 7-6 (10-7).
It was the fifth match within the males’s event determined by a fifth-set tiebreaker.
Korda rattled off six straight factors in the course of the tiebreaker to construct a 7-Three lead however misplaced the subsequent 4 factors as Hurkacz leveled.
The 29th seed finally closed it out on his personal serve, later revealing an uncommon secret to his success all through the rollercoaster end.
“I bought slightly superstitious with the towel. The towel bought me by it,” he mentioned.
“Each time I went to the towel, I gained the purpose. So I simply saved going to it.”
The win propelled Korda into his first grand slam quarter-final and franked the 22-year-old’s type after a straight-sets overcome seventh seed Daniil Medvedev within the third spherical.
– with AAP
