Australian Open 2024: Elena Rybakina beaten in longest singles ...

In all, Blinkova saved six match points of her own as she went on to post the best win of her career.

“I just tried to stay focused on every point,” said Blinkova after her 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (22-20) triumph in front of a raucous Rod Laver Arena crowd.

“I had so many match points and I tried to be aggressive in these moments but my hands were shaking and my legs too.

“I tried to be calm … [I’m] super happy to win in the end.”

Blinkova had previously beaten a top-10 player twice – then-world No.8 Belinda Bencic in 2020 and fifth-seeded Caroline Garcia at last year’s French Open – but never one as highly ranked as Rybakina.

The world No. 57 has not progressed beyond the third round of a grand slam before, but will get a fourth shot against Italian No. 26 Jasmine Paolini, who beat German Tatjana Maria 6-2, 6-3 earlier on Thursday.

AAP