Lorenzo Sonego’s Australian Open run may have come to an end on Wednesday, but not before he came up with some more incredible shots.
Down break point early in the second set of his eventual 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4) loss to Ben Shelton, Sonego hit a diving backhand volley for a winner to answer what had been a perfect forehand pass attempt by Shelton. The spin on the Italian’s volley made the ball bounce back over the net onto his side before Shelton could track it down.
Later in the match, Sonego hit an over-the-shoulder forehand passing shot for a clean winner.
The world No. 55’s shot-making heroics in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance came on the heels of similarly amazing stuff in round one against Stan Wawrinka. During his four-set victory, Sonego produced what is perhaps the early frontrunner for Shot of the Year honors. A backwards-facing flick forehand winner was made all the more amazing because it came on break point at 5-5 in the third set with the match tied at a set apiece.
ridiculous scenes