Tennis – Australian Open – Fourth Round – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 21, 2019. France’s Lucas Pouille in action during the match against Croatia’s Borna Coric. REUTERS/Edgar Su
January 21, 2019
By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A slow-starting Lucas Pouille rallied from a set down to overcome Borna Coric 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5 7-6(2) and advance to the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time on Monday.
The Frenchman made hard work of the fourth set, allowing 11th seed Coric to break back and drag the match into a tiebreak in the twilight at Melbourne Arena.
Pouille raised his game when it mattered, however, flicking a delightful lob over Coric to move within two points of victory.
The 28th seed Pouille grabbed four match points when Coric netted a volley and converted the first of them when the Croat hammered a shot over the baseline.
Pouille will meet 16th seed Milos Raonic for a place in the semi-finals.
(Editing by John O’Brien)
