“I was so tired,” said Rune. “I was like, ‘I need to find a solution.’ I wasn’t going to be able to (chase) 15 balls side to side, so I had to go for it when I had the chance.”

Kecmanovic had beaten Rune once before and led their lone other encounter, so the latter knew of his quality.

Rune and Sinner, meanwhile, have split their four meetings – all of them going to a deciding set. But Sinner no doubt enters it the fresher, since the Dane has already contested 14 sets through three rounds.

“Gonna be very, very exciting,” said Rune. “I have nothing to lose.”

Shelton feeds off crowd

Nick Kyrgios isn’t the only player who thrives at John Cain Arena. Count Ben Shelton as another one.

The exciting – and excitable – lefty with the bulging biceps fed off the energy when he made his Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park in 2023, and is doing the same thing at AO 2025.

The No.21 seed cracked 11 aces and won 81 per cent of his first-serve points to beat Olympic bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 3-6 6-4 7-6(5).  

“This has been my lucky court,” Shelton said afterwards. “I think it’s because it’s open to the public and everyone in here gets a little rowdy when the sun goes down.

“I always want to play on here. Knock on wood, I never lost on this court but I just love being out here.

Shelton clinched the affair at about 8pm local time by slamming a forehand winner in what was a tense tiebreak.

Shelton earlier took a tumble chasing a ball near the net in the tiebreak but responded with a 221km/h serve into the body.

He had lost both his previous matches against Musetti.

“He’s one of the top three shotmakers on tour, and he does some things you can’t believe on the court,” said Shelton.

So does Shelton, who has another popcorn match next against the evergreen Gael Monfils.

Musetti took a medical timeout in the opening set, motioning to his chest. It was that kind of tournament for the Italian, who overcame a thigh issue in a first round slugfest against countryman Matteo Arnaldi.

Tien joins Rafa

Following up a nearly five-hour win against last year’s finalist Daniil Medvedev that ended at 3 am local time?

No problem for Shelton’s countryman, Learner Tien.

The 19-year-old became the youngest man to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open since fellow lefty Rafael Nadal in 2005 when he topped Corentin Moutet 7-6(10) 6-3 6-3 in the heat of the day session.  

“I don’t think I can start comparing myself to Nadal, but yeah, that’s really cool,” said Tien, competing in just his second Grand Slam main draw. “This exceeded my expectations, what I was hoping for coming into this week.

“You go into every match believing you can win, but to be in the second week is amazing.”

In the pivotal tiebreak that shaped the outcome, Tien saved a set point as Moutet’s return hit the top of the tape – and landed on the unpredictable, talented Frenchman’s side.

The match swung in Tien’s favour, and more so after a Moutet medical timeout at the end of the second set for a right leg issue.

Moutet crumpled to the ground after hitting a serve to open the third set, but gutsily carried on.

Tien joined his friend and fellow Next Gen Californian Alex Michelsen into round four.

Michelsen – who keeps rising and rising – achieved his maiden Grand Slam second week, too, by beating AO 2023 semifinalist Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-6(5) 6-2.

An Italian winner

Lorenzo Sonego topped another Next Genner, Joao Fonseca, in the second round. He will be Tien’s next opponent.

Given all the Italians in action, Sonego has quietly advanced to a first hard-court fourth round at a major.

Similar to Tien, emerging victorious in a tiebreak in his 6-7(3) 7-6(8) 6-1 6-2 win against Fabian Marozsan proved to be massive – especially in the way it unfolded.  

The Hungarian held three straight set points at 6-3 in the second-set tiebreak, all saved by Sonego.

When he won the set, Sonego stretched his arms wide, sensing the importance. He stepped on the gas while Marozsan – who had upset Frances Tiafoe – faded.