ANOTHER Aussie loses five-set thriller as No.1 just survives huge upset bid: Aus Open LIVE

Aussie Max Purcell has fallen just short of a stunning upset over world number 11 Casper Ruud, losing a five-set thriller in a heartbreaking match-tiebreak.

Purcell, after reaching the second round of his home Grand Slam for the first time, pushed the Norwegian superstar all the way in a Margaret Court epic, only to fall agonisingly short of victory.

Meanwhile, world number one Iga Swiatek has survived a massive scare from Danielle Collins, fighting back from 1-4 down in the third set to win 6-4 3-6 6-4.

Swiatek was also down 0-40 when serving at 2-4, and said she was ‘at the airport already’, so close was she to defeat.

Rain has again hit Melbourne Park – against the weather forecast – causing significant delays on the outside courts.

And there are a host of big names facing upsets, including controversial world number six Alexander Zverev, and 19th-seed Cameron Norrie.

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PURCELL FALLS JUST SHORT OF HUGE UPSET

Australian Max Purcell’s ambitious bid to oust three-time major finalist Casper Ruud has ended in heartache with the Norwegian winning a thriller in a deciding supertiebreaker.

After 3hr 50m, the No.11 seed managed to edge the Davis Cup representative 6-3 6-7 (5) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (10-7) in a fascinating contest between players with contrasting style.

Purcell attacked the net with vigour, approaching the net more than 100 times during the match in what dual-Australian Open champion Jim Courier declared “good, old-school style tennis”.

Ultimately the aggression fell marginally shy, with the disciplined Ruud making just 19 unforced errors in a phenomenal display of consistency.

Purcell was forced to fight hard to stay with Ruud throughout a high-quality deciding set.

Repeatedly on big moments, the Sydneysider’s ability to conjure a quality approach shot and then deliver with an excellent volley enabled him to keep the three-time major finalist at bay.

A case in point occurred at 5-all in the deciding set where he was able to save a break point by forcing a backhand error from Ruud when perched at the net.

He was particularly aggressive on both his second serve and also his forehand, a clear tactical change from his regular style on tour.

It was high risk tennis but it reaped rewards for a period. But in the super tiebreaker, the consistency of the No.11 seed came to the fore as he surged to a dominant lead.

But the Sydneysider was able to fight back into the tiebreaker, with a phenomenal forehand winner when stretched wide on the court at 4-7 simply remarkable.

“It was an outrageous winner at the moment he most needed it,” Courier said in commentary.

Using exceptional variety, from drop shots to topspin lobs, Purcell moved his rival around the court as Ruud tightened up to close the advantage to 8-7.

But when a forehand from Purcell sailed long, the match was over, with the pair embracing warmly at the net.

Ruud praised the performance of the plucky Australian, noting the variety he displayed made him a tricky proposition to handle.

“What can I say? It was an incredible match, honestly. It could have gone both ways,” Ruud said.

“If he keeps playing like this, he will have good chances to do good results this year.”

The Norwegian noted that Purcell’s style was a throwback to the days of the 1980s and 90s when stars used to serve-and-volley regularly.

“He plays fast. Serve-and-villey, he is one of the most unorthodox players thers days,” he said.

“That is tough, because you are not used to playing players like that these days. I was lucky in the end. Only a few points separated us in the end.”

SWIATEK PULLS OFF STAGGERING RECOVERY

World No.1 Iga Swiatek avoided her earliest grand slam exit in five years when overcoming a significant deficit against former Australian Open finalis Danielle Collins on Thursday.

The four-time grand slam champion was in significant peril when trailing the feisty American by two service breaks at 1-4 in the third set, with the momentum firmly against her.

But Collins, who let slip a 5-1 second set lead in her straight sets loss to Ash Barty in the final two years ago, endured a similar dip in dominance when losing the last five games.

Swiatek, a semi-finalist in Melbourne last year, said after her 6-4 3-6 6-4 triumph 3hr 14min that she tried to extend Collins in the latter stages hoping her hot streak would start to cool.

“Oh my God. I don’t even know. Honestly, I was at the airport already,” she said.

“I wanted to fight to the end. I knew she had played perfectly but that it would be hard for anyone to keep playing at that level. I am really proud of myself, because it was not easy.”

After conceding the first of the two service breaks in the third set, Collins had the chance to reclaim the momentum when holding three break points on the top seed’s serve at 4-2.

But they went begging and exacerbating the squandered opportunities was the loss of her conviction from the baseline.

Where once she was firing winners as regularly as fist pumps, she began erring badly from both wings, though she did continue to fight.

The 30-year-old saved two match points when serving at 4-5, one by driving a backhand straight at Swiatek at the net, to keep her hopes of an upset alive.

But after a spirited rally on her third match point, Swiatek was able to chase down a drop shot and whip a backhand winner up the line to clinch a spot in the third round.

Swiatek was wearing a black band underneath her left knee to assist with a niggle dating back to her triumph in the WTA Tour Finals in Cancun last November.

“It does not matter, because I have been struggling a little bit with my knee since Cancun. You don’t have to be worried, because it is all good,” she said.

She will play Czech Republic teenager Linda Noskova on Saturday for a spot in the Round of 16.

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