Darian King is onto the next round of qualifying at the Australian Open.
Barbados’ top ranked tennis player is just two more wins away from reaching the main draw of another Grand Slam after winning his opening-round qualifying match Down Under.
Playing Aussie doubles specialist Marc Polmans, the 25-year-old King squandered five match points before eventually pulling out a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory on court 12.
The win put him into a second round matchup with 20-year-old Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, who advanced by beating Portugal’s Goncalo Oliveira 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 over on the adjacent court 13.
King was seemingly cruising after going up a set and a break before handing the break right back for 1-1 in the second set.
The momentum then swung in the Aussie’s favour as Polmans broke again soon after for 4-2.
However, King quickly regained control with a series of winners from either wing while rattling off four straight games.
And the match looked all but over when he went up 40-0 while serving for the match.
But the Bajan ace shockingly lost serve after blowing all three match points before racing out to a quick 6-1 cushion in the ensuing tiebreak. (JM)
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