China's Zhang Shuai and Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna saw their Australian Open mixed doubles journey end in a heart-stopping quarterfinal showdown against wildcard duo Olivia Gadecki and John Peers. The match, packed with 🎢 momentum swings, concluded 2-6, 6-4, 11-9 in favor of the Australian pair after a tension-filled super tiebreak.
Zhang and Bopanna came agonizingly close to victory, holding a match point at 9-8 in the deciding tiebreak. But Peers' clutch wide serve and a final ace sealed the deal for the home team. 'You have to win the *last* point,' Peers remarked post-match, channeling major 🔑 wisdom vibes.
The loss halted Zhang’s bid for a third Grand Slam mixed doubles title, while Gadecki/Peers advance to face New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus next. Despite the exit, Zhang’s fierce forehand winner during the tiebreak – which briefly flipped the script – left fans buzzing 🤯.
