MELBOURNE, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's top men's player Zhang Zhizhen produced a gallant effort but fell agonizingly short of a first round upset after losing to 13th seed Holger Rune in five sets at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Zhang trailed 2-4 in a gripping final set before digging deep to break Rune's serve. But his brave performance finally ended at the hands of the big-hitting Dane, who prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in three hours and 10 minutes.
"It was definitely an incredibly tough match," said Rune, who had to withstand 21 aces from 49th-ranked Zhang. "But I'm super happy to get through to the second round. He was serving very well, and he played very well. But I'm happy how I fought today."
The 28-year-old Zhang hoped to emulate his performance last year and win a match at the Australian Open.
He faced a tough opening task in warm conditions at Margaret Court Arena against Rune, who reached a career-high ranking of four in 2023. The 21-year-old is determined to make a deep run at the Australian Open having never made it past the last eight of a Grand Slam.
But Rune was left helpless on return in the first set, with a fired-up Zhang winning all 15 points when his first serve landed.
A sharp-moving Zhang broke in the third game after capitalizing on errors from an agitated Rune. He had no nerves serving for the set in the 10th game, firing down four aces to draw first blood after 32 minutes.
But Rune expectedly stepped up his level in the second set and found an opening in Zhang's serve in the second game, forcing his opponent into errors to earn his first break of the match.
He rolled through to level proceedings and his momentum continued in the third set when he ramped up his forehand and controlled the rallies from the backcourt.
But Zhang did not wilt and applied pressure in a tense fourth set before making his move on Rune's serve in the eighth game with a superb drop shot and backhand winner down the line.
Zhang capitalized to force a deciding set, where he had a breakpoint in the fifth game but could not convert. It proved costly with Zhang dropping his serve in the next game only to break back immediately.
But Holger lifted his intensity when it mattered to book a second round match with former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. ■