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E-mail Xinhua, January 19, 2025
Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac came back from a set down to win their second round Australian Open men's doubles match.
China's Zhang and the Czech Republic's Machac beat German duo Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours on Saturday night.
There were only three breaks of the serve in the entire match - one in each set.
Zhang and Machac won only three points more than Schnaitter and Wallner for the entire match in a tight contest that was largely decided in the shorter points.
Of the 103 total points won by Zhang and Machac, 83 were won in 0-4 shots, including 35 of the 42 points they won in the deciding set. By comparison, Schnaitter and Wallner won only 19 short points in the deciding set - down from 30 in the opener.
With Machac serving for the match at 5-4, the Germans had two break point opportunities to draw level - both of which were saved by volley winners from Zhang.
At deuce Zhang had another brilliant moment at the net when he left a ball that narrowly landed out, setting up a third match point that Machac converted with an ace.
Earlier, Zhang and Machac saved two break points with the Chinese player serving for the second set.
An unreturnable wide serve from Zhang brought up set point, which he won with a forehand winner down the line.
Zhang and Machac will face 15th seeds Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the third round.
