In an astonishing twist at the Australian Open, Elsa Jacquemot delivered a remarkable upset by defeating the 20th seed, Marta Kostyuk, in a thrilling encounter that marked the first triple-tiebreak match of the tournament in the Open Era. The final score was 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6[7], capturing not just a win but a historic moment in tennis history.
Ranked 58th, the French player showcased her resilience by coming back from a set down and trailing 5-3 in the second set. She saved a crucial match point while serving at 6-5 in that same set, ultimately prevailing after a grueling battle that lasted 3 hours and 31 minutes—the longest match of the season thus far—falling just two minutes short of the longest match recorded in 2025. This victory also marked Jacquemot's inaugural win against a Top 20 opponent in her career.
Kostyuk had started 2026 with impressive momentum, having secured three victories against Top 10 players and reaching the finals in Brisbane during the opening week of the year. She attributed her early-season success to rigorous pre-season strength training, expressing her ambition for a Top 10 finish this year.
However, despite her promising start, Kostyuk struggled with consistency against Jacquemot. Although she struck an impressive 67 winners throughout the match, these were overshadowed by 68 unforced errors. Jacquemot, who was the junior champion at Roland Garros in 2020 and broke into the Top 100 last year, expertly drew Kostyuk into over-hitting through her exceptional defense, while also interspersing moments of calculated aggression. A couple of fierce forehand returns thwarted Kostyuk as she attempted to serve for the match at 5-3 in the second set, and Jacquemot managed to fend off a match point with a well-placed service winner.
In the deciding set, Kostyuk needed a medical timeout after rolling her ankle while serving at 6-5. Nevertheless, she fought back to level the tiebreak at 7-7. Unfortunately for her, Jacquemot seized the moment brilliantly, unleashing two powerful forehands to put herself in a position for match point. A tense rally culminated in Kostyuk netting a drop shot attempt, sealing Jacquemot’s victory.
This match was only the fifth instance of a triple-tiebreak Grand Slam encounter since the Open Era began, following notable matches in previous tournaments:
- 1985 US Open Quarterfinal: Stefanie Graf defeated Pam Shriver 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(4)
- 1991 US Open Round 3: Gigi Fernandez overcame Leila Meskhi 7-6(1), 6-7(3), 7-6(2)
- 2021 US Open Round 1: Rebeka Masarova triumphed over Ana Bogdan 6-7(9), 7-6(2), 7-6[9]
- 2023 Wimbledon Round 2: Ekaterina Alexandrova bested Madison Brengle 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-6[7]
Since 2019, this particular scoring format has been unique to the Australian Open, whereas previously only the US Open allowed a third-set tiebreak instead of playing out the final set.
On the broader tour, Jacquemot's victory marked the 13th triple-tiebreak match of the current decade, with two already occurring in 2026, including Madison Keys’ earlier match against Diana Shnaider, which ended with a score of 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(5).
Next, Jacquemot is set to face Yulia Putintseva, a former No. 20 player who celebrated her own comeback by defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 after being a set and a break down. Putintseva's vibrant interaction with the crowd during her match was memorable; after clinching her victory, she delighted fans with a hip shimmy and a theatrical bow complete with a twirl, establishing her as a contender for the best celebration of the tournament.
In another notable development, Marketa Vondrousova, the 32nd seed and former Wimbledon champion, withdrew from the tournament due to persistent shoulder problems, a consequence of surgery she underwent in 2024 that kept her sidelined for six months that year. Vondrousova expressed her regret but emphasized the need to prioritize her health.
Taylor Townsend, who entered the draw as a lucky loser in place of Vondrousova, faced off against fellow American Hailey Baptiste but ultimately lost in a tight match with scores of 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3.
