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2021 Australian Open: Hesitant Wawrinka bundled out in 4-hour epic

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/02/10/tennis-ausopen.jpg"/><figcaption>Switzerland&#x27;s Stan Wawrinka looks dejected after losing his second round match against Hungary&#x27;s Marton Fucsovics REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake</figcaption></figure></div><p>Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka admitted that hesitating at a crucial time during a draining five-set Australian Open epic Wednesday cost him a chance of matching his quarter-final run last year.</p><p>The 35-year-old Swiss, the tournament winner in 2014, struggled to match the intensity of Marton Fucsovics in the opening two sets but regrouped to stay in the fight.</p><p>On a scorching day, the 17th seed had three match points in the fifth set tiebreaker but blew them all, with the Hungarian reeling off five straight points for a famous 7-5, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (11/9) win in just under four hours.</p><p>&quot;It was tough match of course, five sets, four hours,&quot; said Wawrinka, whose tournament preparations were upset when he contracted Covid-19 before Christmas.</p><p>&quot;Always a difficult battle against my opponent, we played a few times in the past, always really tough matches and today was the same. </p><p>&quot;It was not the best level for me, but again, I was fighting, I had some chance to finish the match, I didn&#x27;t finish, I hesitated a little bit when I had the match point and I lost it,&quot; he added.</p><p>Fucsovics, ranked 55, last year equalled his best Grand Slam result in Melbourne when he reached the round of 16, only to be sent packing by Roger Federer.</p><p>He will now play Canadian 14th seed Milos Raonic, who beat France&#x27;s Corentin Moutet over four sets, for a place in the fourth round, where world number one Novak Djokovic potentially awaits.</p><p>&quot;Right now I feel like I&#x27;m dying, I&#x27;m really tired,&quot; said Fucsovics, who was playing his second straight five-setter.</p><p>&quot;It was a long match. I knew he was going to come back, he&#x27;s a strong player physically and mentally.&quot;</p><div><strong>mp/dh</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xh8o8_Kozxw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div> </div>

<p>Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka admitted that hesitating at a crucial time during a draining five-set Australian Open epic Wednesday cost him a chance of matching his quarter-final run last year.</p>

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka admitted that hesitating at a crucial time during a draining five-set Australian Open epic Wednesday cost him a chance of matching his quarter-final run last year.