Netflix curse strikes again as Sakkari slumps, Zhu books spot in last 16

Lin Zhu edged out Maria Sakkari 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-4 on Friday. She’ll play Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the No 24 seed, in the next round

Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 20, 2023 Greece’s Maria Sakkari reacts during her third round match against China’s Lin Zhu (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

Tennis Majors

January 20, 2023

Australian Open •Third round • Completed

See draw

L. ZhuvsM. Sakkari

Chinese Lin Zhu reached the last 16 of the Australian Open by edging out Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 6 seed, 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-4 at Melbourne Park on Friday.

Zhu, ranked No 87, will face Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the No 24 seed, next.

That first top-10 win feeling! 👏

#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/3PwQ8bbsOC
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2023

The Chinese won against Canadian Rebecca Marino (6-2, 6-4) and Swiss Jil Teichmann, the No 32 seed (6-2, 6-2) ahead of her victory.

In the previous rounds, Sakkari, ranked No 6, defeated Chinese Yue Yuan (6-1, 6-4) and Russian qualifier Diana Shnaider (3-6, 7-5, 6-3).

She is the latest of a series of big names who featured in the Netflix documentary ‘Break Point’ to crash out of the tournament in the first five days.