Final-Drama bei den Australian Open!
In the junior final, US boy Bruno Kuzuhara (17) and Czech talent Jakub Mensik (16) fought a marathon battle lasting almost four hours.
The first set goes to Kuzuhara 7:6, Mensik gets the second set – also only in the tie-break. Then it gets dramatic!
At the end of the third round, Mensik is visibly plagued by cramps and can hardly stand up. After a few long, intense rallies, he falls to the ground, desperately trying to stretch. When trying to get up again, he gets on his knees again and has to support himself several times on his bat.
Bitter: Mensik also gets a warning for not serving in the allotted time. The young Czech is no longer capable of a normal serve anyway. With a double fault, the completely exhausted teenager ends the ugly spectacle and then collapses again.
Kuzuhara takes the title 7-5 and runs straight to the opponent’s side to check on them. Paramedics also rush to Mensik, who is lying on the ground, and finally take him off the seat in a wheelchair. Mensik can no longer take part in the award ceremony.
Opponent Kuzuhara fair: “It’s an unfortunate way to win. I wish Jakub a speedy recovery. It was a great fight.” With a dramatic ending…
