In a thrilling showdown at the Australian Open 
, China's Zhang Shuai and India's Rohan Bopanna were edged out in the mixed doubles quarterfinals by local stars Olivia Gadecki and John Peers. The wildcard duo clinched the match 2-6, 6-4, 11-9, turning the tides in a nail-biting super tiebreaker!
After a blazing start, Zhang and Bopanna dominated the first set, showcasing their chemistry on the court. But Gadecki and Peers, backed by the home crowd's roaring support, flipped the script in the second set, leveling the playing field.
The final set was a heart-stopper 
. Zhang and Bopanna held a match point at 9-8, but Peers' wide serve proved unreturnable. With momentum swinging like a pendulum, Peers fired an ace to seize a 10-9 lead. The match slipped away when Zhang's volley sailed just long, sending the Aussie pair into the semifinals.
\"I knew if we hung around long enough, hopefully it would turn our way,\" Peers said with a smile. \"Whether we like it or not, you have to win the last point, not the first point.\"
Gadecki and Peers now set their sights on the semifinals, where they'll face second-seeded Kiwis Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus. Will the wildcard wonders continue their dream run? Stay tuned! 
For Zhang and Bopanna, despite the tough loss, their spirited performance won hearts and showed that age is just a number when passion fuels the game. Until next time! 
Reference(s):
Zhang/Bopanna beaten in Australian Open mixed doubles quarterfinals
cgtn.com
