Get ready for a thrilling tennis tale! An epic upset at the Australian Open has left everyone talking.
French tennis star Elsa Jacquemot, ranked 58th, pulled off a historic victory on Sunday, defeating the 20th seed, Marta Kostyuk, in a match that will go down in history. The scoreline, 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6[7], not only marked Jacquemot's first career win against a Top 20 player but also became the first triple-tiebreak match at the Australian Open in the Open Era.
But here's where it gets controversial... Kostyuk, the Ukrainian player, had been on a winning streak, with three Top 10 wins to start the year. Her pre-season training seemed to be paying off, but against Jacquemot, something unexpected happened. Despite firing 67 winners, Kostyuk's 68 unforced errors cost her the match.
Jacquemot, a former Roland Garros junior champion, showcased her defensive skills and well-timed aggression. She saved a match point in the second set and fought back from a set and 5-3 down to eventually win in 3 hours and 31 minutes. This match was not just a victory for Jacquemot but also the longest match of the season so far, just two minutes shy of the longest match in 2025.
And this is the part most people miss... The triple-tiebreak scoreline is a relatively new phenomenon at the Australian Open. Before 2019, the US Open was the only Grand Slam to use a third-set tiebreak instead of playing the set out. This match was only the fifth triple-tiebreak Grand Slam match in the Open Era, with the previous ones occurring at the US Open and Wimbledon.
Jacquemot's win was the 13th triple-tiebreak match of this decade at the tour level, and the second in 2026 alone. Her next opponent will be Yulia Putintseva, a former Top 20 player, who also put on a show with her unique celebration after defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Unfortunately, not all seeds made it through. Marketa Vondrousova, the former Wimbledon champion and 32nd seed, had to withdraw due to ongoing shoulder issues, a decision she made to prioritize her health.
The Australian Open continues to surprise and delight, with upsets, comebacks, and unique celebrations. Who will be the next player to make history? And will we see more triple-tiebreak matches? The tennis world is buzzing with excitement!
