On the third day of Australian Open 2019, the first night session match on Margaret Court Arena featured Alex de Minaur (27) against qualifier Henri Laaksonen in second round action.
Laaksonen opened proceedings by serving, and he was broken immediately.
de Minaur consolidated and led 2-0.
Taken to deuce, Laaksonen held, thanks to an ace and a winner. 1-2.
A terrific half volley winner and de Minaur recovered from 0-30. Laaksonen took it to deuce, but couldn’t do more and the Australian led 3-1.
A charge to the net by de Minaur was not enough to stop Laaksonen holding strong and the Swiss player drew to within a game 2-3.
A forehand winner from de Minaur and 30-30. Two good serves and 4-2. A Laaksonen forehand winner and a volley put away contributed to a love game and 3-4.
Two returns sailed long and de Minaur led 30-0. Three game points after another Laaksonen error. A backhand return winner saved one. A de Minaur miss and 40-30. de Minaur held and Laaksonen would serve at 3-5 to stay in the set.
15-15 after errors from both players. A de Minaur backhand into the net.
A Laaksonen forehand also found the net. Deuce with Laaksonen missing wide. An off forehand winner and game point. A conventional forehand winner for 4-5.
Laaksonen hit the net after a lengthy exchange. An ace for 30-0. A forehand wide and 30-15. Two set points after a Laaksonen error. The set went to de Minaur 6-4
A forehand winner from de Minaur was given a winning forehand response by Laaksonen. Another winner and game points. Impressive start from Laaksonen 1-0.
de Minaur winning at the net, but then caught out by a Laaksonen backhand. At 30-30, Laaksonen won a long rally and created a break point. Great court coverage by de Minaur, and he drew errors from the Swiss racquet. 1-1.
Laaksonen and de Minaur made mistakes and 15-15. de Minaur beaten at the net. Laaksonen held with a sweet forehand 2-1.
de Minaur won 15 of the next 18 points to lead 4-2 and have Laaksonen trailing 15-40 on serve.
The Swiss qualifier saved the two break points, and an ace gave him game point. Saved and deuce again. A Laaksonen forehand and a second game point. Also saved - third deuce. A third game point vanished. A failed forehand and break point number three. A de Minaur forehand winner achieved the break and he led 5-2.
Quickly triple set point. One disappeared. The second was used with a solid serve and de Minaur led 6-4 6-2.
Set three saw Laaksonen in control, breaking the Australian serve in game four, and consolidating to lead 4-1.
At 4-2 30-15, unforced errors brought Laaksonen undone, and he gifted the break back to de Minaur. The Australian served well, and together with strong backhand play, had three game points. Two were denied because of attacking Swiss shots, but in the end serve was held, 4-4 established.
Lob winner then forehand winner from Laaksonen, but two misguided forehands for 30-30. Big serve for game point, but another bad forehand and deuce. Serve held for 5-4.
The next three serves were also held and a tiebreak was required.
de Minaur had two serves to come at 4-5, but lost the first of them and Laaksonen had two set points. Both were saved, and de Minaur had a match point himself, serving at 7-6. However, a pair of unforced errors, handed Laaksonen another set point, and the Swiss player obliged by hitting a volley to win the set 7-6(7) and take this to a fourth.
In set four, serves were broken in both the opening two games. The next six games were free of breaks but de Minaur was under much pressure, having to save a break point in the fifth game, and four in the seventh.
It was 4-4, but when de Minaur mishit a forehand on yet another break point, Laaksonen would be serving at 5-4 for the set.
Laaksonen hit one wide and 0-15. Good serve and 15-15. Great forehand and terrific backhand to create two set points. One saved. A winning forehand on the second and the set to Laaksonen 6-4.
The match was going the distance.
A failed backhand from de Minaur and break point. A netted Laaksonen forehand and deuce. A repeat, and game point. Serve held and 1-0.
Laaksonen up 40-0, then an Australian forehand down the line, in between two Swiss errors - deuce.
Forehand long and break point. Saved. Backhand from Laaksonen wide after a 32 stroke rally. Another break chance. It came and de Minaur ahead 2-0.
Up 30-0, de Minaur lapsed and errors brought it to 30-30. Winners from both players, and deuce. Swiss backhand wide and game point.
Laaksonen forehand winner, then forehand long and wide - game point.
Double fault, netted backhand, and backhand too long from de Minaur, and Laaksonen broke back for 1-2.
After double faulting for 15-30, Laaksonen finished the game with an ace and a serve which couldn’t come back, to level at 2-2.
Serves were held easily until 3-4 when it was the turn of Laaksonen once more.
Laaksonen missed wide. 0-15. 15-15 with a Swiss forehand winner, and a volley made it 30-15. A Laaksonen forehand wide and 30-30.
A netted forehand and break point. A forehand wide and de Minaur led 5-3
Serving for the match, de Minaur was donated the first point via a Swiss error. His own forehand gave him 30-0. 30-15 after an over enthusiastic shot from the Australian. 30-30 following a stray backhand.
Match point after Laaksonen pushed one wide.
Laaksonen put the final shot into the net and Alex de Minaur won an epic contest 6-4 6-2 6-7(7) 4-6 6-3 in just under 4 hours.
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