Purcell brushes off heartbreaking five-set loss at Roland Garros 2024 | 28 Might, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

A yr after recording a milestone first Grand Slam singles main-draw win at Roland Garros, Max Purcell got here extremely near notching one other spectacular first in Paris.

The 26-year-old Australian nearly fought again from a two-sets-to-love deficit for the primary time in his profession, earlier than finally falling to German qualifier Henri Squire in heartbreaking vogue.

World No.221 Squire saved six match factors earlier than closing out a dramatic 6-2 6-2 3-6 4-6 7-6(10) victory, in a see-sawing three-hour and 21-minute encounter impacted by a number of rain delays.

Purcell held 4 match factors on his serve within the tenth sport of a tense deciding set, earlier than incomes one other on serve once more within the twelfth sport. His sixth alternative got here within the match tiebreak.

Nonetheless, the 23-year-old Squire, a Grand Slam debutant, finally transformed on his third match level.

“I’ll go to observe tomorrow, then doubles the following day. The sport retains going, it’s wonderful,” mentioned world No.94 Purcell, who will play doubles at Roland Garros alongside compatriot Jordan Thompson.

“I’m pleased with the best way that I fought. I ought to have walked off with the spoils, however that’s tennis.”

Purcell and Thompson have been one of many world’s best-performing doubles staff this season, claiming three ATP titles and successful 17 of their 20 matches collectively.

Daria Saville was additionally left feeling pissed off after her singles marketing campaign got here to finish towards world No.15 Jasmine Paolini.

The Italian scored a 6-3 6-4 first-round victory towards the Australian No.1.

“I felt like the entire match was really rather a lot nearer than perhaps the scoreline urged, with quite a lot of deuce video games,” world No.84 Saville mentioned after their 92-minute encounter.

“Though she was hurting me along with her forehand rather a lot, I nonetheless felt on the baseline rallies, we had been head-to-head.”

Saville’s service efficiency finally impacted her possibilities. She solely gained 43 per cent of first-serve factors and didn’t maintain a service sport till the second set.

“Clearly, I’m not proud of the best way I served, I gave her quite a lot of free factors,” Saville conceded.

“It price me, particularly within the first set.”

The 30-year-old Saville now turns her consideration to the ladies’s doubles competitors, the place she is teaming up with fellow Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic.

Aussies in motion – Roland Garros

RESULTS
Males’s singles, first spherical
[Q] Henri Squire (GER) d Max Purcell (AUS) 6-2 6-2 3-6 4-6 7-6(10)

Girls’s singles, first spherical
[12] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) d Daria Saville (AUS) 6-3 6-4

COMING UP
Males’s singles, first spherical
[11] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Alex Michelsen (USA)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)
Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v Luciano Darderi (ITA)
[WC] Adam Walton (AUS) v Arthur Rinderknech (FRA)