Australian Open 2024: West Australian Storm Hunter concedes a set lead to be bundled out in third round

West Australian Storm Hunter has fallen heartbreakingly short of the biggest win of her career, conceding a set lead to lose to No.9 seed Barbora Krejčíková on Rod Laver Arena.

The world No.1 doubles star outworked and outsmarted the 2021 French Open champion early and looked as if she was going to make the fourth round for the first time in her career.

Krejcikova had other ideas, saving four break points in the second set before riding wave of momentum in the third to claim a 4-6 7-5 6-3 victory in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Czech star will now face 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva for a place in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

Entering as the only Australian left in the women’s singles draw, Hunter was not overawed by the occasion, landing a break in the opening game.

Hunter troubled the world No.11 with the depth of her shots, forcing the normally calm and controlled Krejčíková into uncharacteristic mistakes and an incredible 21 unforced errors in the opening set.

Taking on a former grand slam champion was never going to be a walk in the park but and Krejčíková fought back as expected, with both players trading breaks before Hunter was able to get a valuable hold to lead 5-3 in the first set.

From here she was able to hold her nerve and take the first set to the delight of the home crowd.

Finding a break was harder in the second with neither able to take a lead in the opening eight games.

Hunter was presented with two break points to go 5-4 up and serve for the second set, but Krejčíková was able to force an error and find an ace to keep the Australian at bay.

The Czech saved two break points again on her next service game, before finding the break to win an enormous second set.

This is where it broke down for Hunter, conceding a break early to go down 3-0.

From here the win for Krejčíková seemed inevitable as she showed her grand slam experience to close out the match in two-and-a-half hours.

Teenager Andreeva is going to be no easy beat on Sunday, having beaten No.6 seed Ons Jabeur 6-0 6-2 in the second round on Australian Open debut.

The winner of that is likely to face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.