It was a day of contrasting meltdowns at the Australian Open for two former US Open runners-up on Saturday. Karolina Pliskova was dramatically dumped out early of yet another Grand Slam while Daniil Medvedev theatrically won a fifth set for the first time.
The sixth seeded Pliskova was out of sorts throughout and fell 7-5, 7-5 in one hour and 54 minutes to compatriot Karolina Muchova. Fourth seed Medvedev overcame buttock pain and a walk-out by his coach mid-match as he withstood a test from Filip Krajinovic 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-0.
If the scoreline seems odd, the matches were odder.
Pliskova was docked a point for smashing her racquet off the court after dropping the first set, fought back to take a 0-5 lead and inexplicably dropped the next seven games in a straight-set capitulation.
Medvedev was on course for a straight-sets win but dropped his level and next two sets, shouted at his box which made his coach Gilles Cervara walk out, needed treatment on his buttock but…