And to the eleventh game, Roberto Bautista stumbled. The Spanish tennis player, who arrived undefeated in 2020 at his appointment with Marin Cilic, ended up nailing the knee in five intense sets. He said goodbye to the Australian Open in the third round after falling into a tight duel of more than four hours by 6 (3) -7, 6-4, 6-0, 5-7 and 6-3.
The veteran Croatian player, a finalist in Melbourne Park in 2018, took revenge on Castellón after the latter won the duel they held in the last edition in the round of 16. Bautista could not maintain the consistency that characterizes him and gave eleven consecutive games, from 3-3 of the first round to 2-0 of the fourth round, which deprived him of channeling the game. "It was not invincible before or now it is a catastrophe," said the Spanish tennis player after his defeat. "I have fought to the end and I have nothing left but to congratulate Cilic."
Bautista lamented the opportunities he wasted during the second set, when he led the scoring for a set to zero, of not closing any games to the rest. "I was playing very well and I had 15-40 twice, it has escaped me. Then with the 3-0 and third place I have let go," argued the Castellon.
Despite the fact that the Croatian asked for medical assistance in the last section of the fourth set, which he opted for the Spanish side, the 2011 US Open champion was redone to sign a new epic victory.
The defeat in the third round will relegate the Spanish player to the eleventh position in the world rankings, although he could descend more positions in the event that the Italian Fabio Fognini exceeds his match against the Argentine Guido Pella.
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