South Africa’s Lloyd Harris has reached the third round of the men’s singles at the Australian Open in Melbourne after a five-set win in Thursday’s second round.
Harris beat local hope Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7/5), 6-3 in a match which lasted three hours.
Harris, 23, is currently ranked 91st in the world, but is projected to move up in the rankings regardless of his results in the remainder of the tournament.
He will face American MacKenzie McDonald in Saturday’s third round.
LLOYD WINS A 5 SET THRILLER!
Lloyd Harris is through to the third round of the men’s singles at the #AustralianOpen in dramatic style. The South African had to show real fighting spirit, as he edged Australian, Alexei Popyrin, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, in a see-saw 3 hour match. pic.twitter.com/GOMyAhn6OH
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) February 11, 2021
South Africa’s only other men’s singles entrant, Kevin Anderson, lost in the first round to Italian ninth-seed Matteo Berrettini earlier in the week and South Africa’s double hope Raven Klaasen missed the tournament due to Covid-19.
