🎾 A true underdog story unfolded at Melbourne Park on Monday, as the Chinese mainland qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan stunned Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(3) to reach the second round of the 2026 Australian Open.
The 23-year-old, ranked 702nd, grabbed the first set when Pavlyuchenkova, a former world No.11, sent a backhand into the net. But the French Open runner-up roared back in the second, powering her serve and dominating the baseline to even the match 6-2.
In a nail-biting decider, Bai saved a match point in the tiebreak before unleashing a fierce forehand down the line to seal her 2-hour 43-minute victory. She slumped to the court in disbelief as the crowd erupted in cheers 🎉.
This win is Bai's first main-draw victory at Melbourne Park and her second Grand Slam triumph after her 2023 Wimbledon breakthrough. Next up is a colossal clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka – David vs. Goliath style!
Reference(s):
China's Bai stuns Pavlyuchenkova to reach Australian Open second round
cgtn.com
