It was good day to be Lorenzo Sonego. Not only did the 59th-ranked Italian oust former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in four tight sets on Tuesday afternoon, but he also came up with early favorite for Shot of the Year on the ATP Tour.
And it came at a crucial moment, too.
On break point at 5-5 in the third set with the match tied at one set apiece, Sonego tracked down a Wawrinka lob and responded with a backwards-facing flick forehand winner.
On any other day, Botic van de Zandschulp would have headlined the highlight reel. The 84th-ranked Dutchman lost to Alex de Minaur in straight sets but not before coming up with some heroics of his own.
Serving at 1-1, deuce in the third set, Van de Zandschulp answered a perfect De Minaur lob with a tweener cross-court winer. And it wasn’t a hotdog tweener, either; it was an entirely necessary, on-the-run shot of desperation.
“That’s one for the rocking chair years from now,” gushed commentator Robbie Koenig.
unreal stuff