Same old from ‘tough’ Saville in late-night Aussie agony

In a gritty first-round loss that did well to encapsulate the troubles Daria Saville has faced often through her career, the Australian wildcard failed to capitalise on 15-break point opportunities against Anna Blinkova.

Saville lost from a set and a break up, failing to close out against Russia’s Blinkova.

The after-midnight heartbreak, which ended 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 to the world number 73 Blinkova, could have been Saville’s to win but when the chances came she struggled to truly capitalise. Four break points in the second were a perfect example there, while Blinkova’s 7-5 closer in the third seemed to be coming for some time.

The Aussie star, ranked 112 and given a wildcard into the 2025 Australian Open main draw, did have several chances in the last set – most of which played out in the early Monday hours – but couldn’t find the edge.

“It was such a tough match and she’s such a fighter,” Blinkova said after her post-midnight victory.

It may have been two hours and 32 minutes long, but it’s a storyline Aussie fans have seen time and again from Saville since her back-to-back fourth-round charges in 2016 and 2017; she has the tennis talents to play anyone on her day, but focus and staying power have often eluded the now-30-year-old in big matches.

Since those fourth-round finishes, Saville has twice made the second round in five attempts. She was also forced to miss her home Grand Slam in 2020 and 2023 through gruelling injury stints.