SA’s Harris triumphs in epic five-set battle to advance at Wimbledon
South African star Lloyd Harris powered through to book a place in the next round of Wimbledon. It took the South African five sets to defeat a determined American, Alex Michelsen.
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Harris won the contest 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 7-6 (11/9) to qualify for the second round of The Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Monday.
The match lasted over three hours and 30 minutes.
What an outrageous way to seal an epic Wimbledon victory 🤯
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2024
This incredible match point effort from Lloyd Harris is the Play of the Day, presented by @Barclays #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FwfqOMatc6
Harris, who currently sits at No 118 in the world rankings, came back from two sets to love down to force the game to five sets after winning both the third and fourth sets.
Harris started the match on the backfoot, struggling in the first two sets.
Michelsen, ranked 55th in the ATP rankings, took advantage and won the first two sets to command the match.
Although Harris, 27, had lost the opening sets, he came back stronger in the third set, which he won in a tiebreaker.
Harris committed a total of five double faults throughout the match, setting him back and gifting the teenager much-needed points.
He had a much stronger showing in the fifth set. Momentum was on his side, and he controlled the set only to drop points in the last game.
He, however, held his nerve to fend off the resilient American in a nail-biting fifth-set tiebreaker, finishing with a spectacular forehand volley winner before he slipped to end the match.
Harris will next face the winner of the match between Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci and American world No 14 Ben Shelton.
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