The ‘Netflix curse’ has continued to wreak havoc this yr Australian Open with the tennis conspiracy rising as one of many main speaking factors.
Ladies’s sixth seed Maria Sakkari was the newest sufferer with the Greek star suffering a shock loss to world No.87 Zhu Lin within the third spherical on Friday evening.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Zhu Lin’s emotional post-match interview.
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The curse stems from Netflix’s new collection ‘Break Level’, which was launched on the eve of the grand slam.
The 10-part collection provides followers a behind the scenes have a look at among the recreation’s greatest stars with every episode specializing in a special participant.
However producers may battle to seek out expertise for a second season contemplating what’s occurred to gamers to date.
Aussie stars Nick Kyrgios and Ajla Tomljanovic withdrew earlier than the match started and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis fell within the second spherical to Andy Murray.
Spaniard Paula Badosa was one other to drag out earlier than the match and world No.2s Casper Ruud and Ons Jabeur have been each eradicated within the second spherical, whereas extremely fancied Italian Matteo Berrettini and American Taylor Fritz additionally suffered early exits.
That leaves simply Canadian star Felix Auger Aliassime as the one member of the 10 who has progressed to the second week of the grand slam.
“My girlfriend confirmed me right now. I wasn’t conscious,” Auger Aliassime stated after his third-round win over Francisco Cerundolo.
“I used to be conscious that gamers have been dropping, I would see gamers have been dropping, but it surely did not cross my thoughts till she confirmed me the factor this morning. I believed it was humorous…
“Possibly the gamers that misplaced, possibly they do really feel prefer it’s linked someway. I do not assume they do. I do not assume it is linked anyway. However, yeah, so humorous how issues work out typically.”
Tomljanovic, who revealed she’s going to miss a number of months after present process knee surgical procedure, was fast to close down the conspiracy.
Already cruelly sitting out her dwelling grand slam after withdrawing two days earlier than the Australian Open began, Tomljanovic took to social media on Saturday to disclose her newest harm replace.
“This morning I had a minor process completed on my knee that went very effectively. Sadly I will not be round for the following few months,” the Aussie ladies’s No.1 posted.
“However I am pleased I did the mandatory steps to get wholesome. Nice issues take time and rehab begins very quickly. I am unable to wait to get again on the market.
“I recognize all of your candy messages and phrases of help, it would not go unnoticed.”
Tomljanovic’s premature harm setback got here after the 29-year-old loved her best grand slam season in 2022
