Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2023 | Leigh Rogers

Jason Kubler has amassed some impressive firsts already this season.

The 29-year-old Australian currently sits at a career-high ranking of world No.84, scored back-to-back top-40 wins for the first time during the United Cup, and recorded his maiden Australian Open main-draw win earlier this week.

Kubler was hoping to add a first top-20 win at a Grand Slam tournament to his growing list of achievements tonight, but big-hitting Karen Khachanov had other plans.

The 18th-seeded Khachanov recorded a 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 victory in their second-round clash at Melbourne Park, striking 15 aces and 57 winners in the two-hour and 53-minute encounter.

“I’m still trying to get the experience against these top guys. Tonight I’m definitely going to look back as a good match and have good memories from it,” Kubler said.

“This is the first time that I feel like in best-of-five, I got a set off one of the top guys. I feel like I’m improving, and each day I’m going to go out there on the practice court and keep trying to get better.”

A gallant Kubler showed plenty of the grit that has endeared him to fans across an outstanding Australian summer, especially when staring down a two-sets-to-love deficit.

Khachanov served for the second set, but was broken when Kubler won a mind-boggling 70-shot rally with a net-cord winner.

OUTRAGEOUS 🤯

Jason Kubler has just won a 70-shot rally to break, absolute scenes on JCA! 😍#GoAussies • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/dkZCshl1qh

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) January 18, 2023

That point proved a major momentum changer, as Kubler reeled off four consecutive games to level the match.

But despite Kubler’s best efforts, the US Open 2022 semifinalist proved too strong in the end and closed out a four-set victory.

“To be honest, (I’m) pretty exhausted,” Kubler said after the match. “Exhausted in a good way, though, because I felt like I left it all out there.”

This matches Khachanov’s career-best result at Melbourne Park and is the fifth consecutive year the world No.20 has reached the Australian Open third round.

Khachanov now faces 16th-seeded American Frances Tiafoe for a place in the fourth round.

Thanasi Kokkinakis has been the sole Australian winner so far on a rain-interrupted day three, with the 26-year-old scoring a comprehensive first-round win over former world No.9 Fabio Fognini.

> READ MORE: Kokkinakis stepping into the spotlight at AO 2023

AUSSIES IN ACTION – Australian Open

TODAY’S RESULTS
Men’s singles, second round
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) d [WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) 6-3 6-0 6-2
[7] Daniil Medvedev d [WC] John Millman (AUS) 7-5 6-2 6-2
[18] Karen Khachanov d [WC] Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2

Men’s singles, first round
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-1 6-2 6-2
Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) d [Q] Max Purcell (AUS) 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(11)
[Q] Brandon Holt (USA) d [Q] Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-4 1-6 6-3 3-6 6-3

Women’s singles, second round
Marta Kostyuk (UKR) d [WC] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) 6-2 6-1

COMING UP
Men’s singles, second round
[22] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Adrian Mannarino (FRA)
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Andy Murray (GBR)
[WC] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [8] Taylor Fritz (USA)

Women’s singles, second round
[WC] Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) 

> READ: Australian Open doubles draws revealed

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