Video: Matosevic Ends Run of Grand Slam Ineptitude and Rolls in the Dirt to Celebrate

News

Videos

Scores

TV Listings

Tournaments

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Magazine

Tennis Now TV

Is Novak Djokovic the GOAT?

Signs Encouraging for Djokovic to Play 2023 Australi...

End of an Era: Roger Federer’s Farewell Coming at La...

Is Novak Djokovic the Grass GOAT?

The Most Unlikely Slam Finals Since the 2000s

Popular This Week

Thiem Sees GOAT as Two-Man Race

Gilbert Klier Junior Banned One Year on Doping Viola...

Kyrgios on Tsitsipas: Got Taught a Lesson

Zverev Reacts to ATP Decision on Domestic Abuse Alle...

Nick Kyrgios Pleads Guilty to Assault, Charges Dropp...

Gauff to Lead U.S. BJK Cup Team in Delray Beach Home...

Toni Nadal Believes Rafa Can Win Roland-Garros in 20...

Video: Matosevic Ends Run of Grand Slam Ineptitude and Rolls in the Dirt to Celebrate

13 is supposed to be an unlucky number, but in Marinko Matosevic’s case, it’s the luckiest number of all. The 28-year-old Aussie notched his first career Grand Slam victory in his 13th Grand Slam, rallying from 5-1 down in the fourth set to defeat Dustin Brown, 7-6(5) 6-4 6-7(1) 7-5.

Video: Novak Djokovic and Ballboy Steal the Show During Roland Garros Rain Delay

Afterwards, the Australian conducted a wild celebration in which he threw himself onto his back on the court and rolled over in the clay six times before sitting up and screaming with his hands outstretched.

“I was pretty spontaneous, really,” Matosevic said of his long awaited victory dance. “Yeah, maybe a little bit over the top, but just, yeah, huge relief.”

Did it ever get to be too much? reporters wanted to know after the match. Did he ever want to give up trying?

“No, I never thought that,” he said. “Maybe a lesser man would've. I'm just kidding. No, yeah, it was like--it got pretty demoralizing at some stages. I had some tough draws. When I did have my chances, I just couldn't quite do it. Just really happy to do it today."

The former world No. 39 and current world No. 66 later admitted the streak was eating him up a bit each time a Grand Slam rolled around.

“Yeah, obviously it played on my mind,” he said. “Not during the tour events, but when I came to slam I definitely thought about them. You know, you guys write about it, other players know about it, so, yeah, it was tough.

“I got to 39 in the world, so I'm like, I got to do it. I'm better than this. With the early losses, I mean, before, you know, like once it got to five, six, then two years, eight, then twelve, three years, yeah, it's tough. I always knew I was a better player than my Grand Slam results.”

If Matosevic is to stretch his career-best Grand Slam winning streak to two matches, he’ll have to pull a major upset in the second round. Andy Murray is his next opponent.

“Yeah, I played Andy before,” he said. “Learnt a lot of lessons in Queen's. He won and went on to win Wimbledon. I think that was the third round. Yeah, one of the best players in the world. I'm just looking forward to it.”

But for now, the Aussie will take a breather and bask in the glory of the end of a streak was, quite frankly, getting on his nerves. Not anymore.

“I'm happy I could get the win today,” he said. “It's tough when you're on 13. I tried not to think about it and I kind of let it go after the Australian Open. Just tried to forget about it. It paid off a couple months later.”

Posted: