Thanasi Kokkinakis fought past Ben Shelton in three tight sets to put Australia one win away from the Davis Cup semi-finals.
Kokkinakis and Shelton battled it out in the opening contest of Australia’s quarter-final tie with the USA.
Questions had been asked pre-match over America’s decision to go with Shelton ahead of Tommy Paul. considering the latter’s positive head-to-head record over Kokkinakis.
Things got off to a very rocky start for the 22-year-old, as he lost the opening set 6-1, seemingly on the brink of defeat.
Shelton recovered in the second set, serving well to take things in to a third and deciding set in Malaga.
Nothing could separate the pair throughout, as a tie-breaker was necessary to break the deadlock, but even then things still took a while.
Thanasi Kokkinakis defeats Ben Shelton in record-breaking tie-breaker at the Davis Cup
In a thrilling deciding set tiebreaker, Kokkinakis finally converted his seventh match point to take home the win for Australia.
The Australian also had to save four match points of his own, as Shelton continued to apply pressure, throughout the marathon match.
Ending 16-14, the pair took part in the longest tie-break at the Davis Cup Finals since Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies beat Maximo Gonzalez and Leonardo Mayer 7-6 [20-18] in a third set tiebreaker back in 2019.
After the match, Kokkinakis explained just how crazy things got in the final set.
“Oh man, I don’t know if I’ve been that pumped up in my life,” he said.
“I wanted that one bad.
“Could’ve gone either way towards the end, that’s tennis, but I kept my nerve and I really wanted to win for the boys.”
The 28-year-old went on to thank the crowd for their part in the contest.
“That was incredible, thanks for the atmosphere,” said Kokkinakis.
Top five longest tie-breaks in Davis Cup Finals history
Whilst Kokkinakis and Shelton certainly put on a show in Malaga, there have been plenty of other marathon tie-breakers throughout the history of the competition.
1. Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies (GER) 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 [20-18] Maximo Gonzalez/Leonardo Mayer (ARG) – 2019
Five years ago, we were witness to the longest tiebreak in Davis Cup Finals history, as the German doubles pair took down the Argentines in an exhausting third-set breaker.
38 points remains the longest tiebreaker in the history of the competition, and despite Kokkinakis and Shelton’s best efforts, it’s a record that may stand for quite some time.
2. Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 [16-14] (USA) Ben Shelton – 2024
Thursday’s contest between the Australian and the American was one of the best tennis fans have been treated to in 2024 so far.
Thunderous serving, and a will to survive saw the players locked in battle throughout, and led to one of the greatest finishes in Davis Cup Finals history.
Kokkinakis was the eventual winner as he brought his side one step closer to the last four of the competition.
3. Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) 7-6 [16-14], 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 7-5 (SUI) Marco Chiudinelli – 2016
Another 30-point tie-breaker, Lorenzi and Chiudinelli battled it out in a five-set thriller, eight years ago.
The Italian came out on top, with his huge first set tie-break setting the tone for an impressive win.
4. Patrick Rafter (AUS) 7-6 [15-13], 0-6, 6-2 (CZE) David Rikl – 1997
The former world number one beat his Czech opponent after a tense opening set tie-breaker back in 1997.
Rafter’s performances at the Davis Cup were integral, as Australia reached the semi-finals eventually losing out to the United States.
5. Simone Bolelli/Fabio Fognini (ITA) 7-6, 6-3, 6-7 [13-15], 6-4 (KAZ) Andrey Golubev/Alexander Nedovyesov – 2015
Another doubles classic took place in 2015, as Kazakhstan won one of the longest tie-breaks in the history of the Davis Cup Finals.
Bolelli and Fognini were quickly able to move past a marathon breaker defeat however, as they wrapped things up with a break in the fourth set, to win the match.
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