By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 27, 2023
Alina Korneeva won a three-hour and 18-minute final to defeat her best friend in the girls final in Melbourne.
Photo Source: Getty
15-year-old Alina Korneeva of Russia won a dramatic battle with her friend and compatriot Mirra Andreeva on Saturday in Rod Laver Arena, 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-5 in 3:18.
Korneeva was making her Grand Slam debut.
“I think we can say that we are the best friends off the court,” Korneeva said after toppling the No.7 seed. “On the court, of course I can't give to her the points. We are the opponents on the courts.
“Off the court, we are best friends. I love her so much. She's my girl…”
Korneev converted eight of 19 break points and hit 29 winners in the contest.
Belgium’s Blockx edges Learner Tien for Boys title
Third-seeded Alexander Blockx took some revenge after falling to American Learner Tien in the boys doubles final on Friday in Melbourne. The hard-serving Belgian edged Tien, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(9), to become the first Belgian player to win the Australian Open junior title.
De Groot, Hewett and Vink take home wheelchair titles
Diede De Groot defeated rival Yui Kamiji 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 to claim her ninth consecutive major title against the last player to defeat her. De Groot claims her fifth Australian Open title and her 17th Grand Slam singles title overall. Her run of nine consecutive majors won is two shy of Esther Vergeer and three shy of Shingo Kunieda’s all-time record.
Alfie Hewett of Great Britain defeated 16-year-old Japanese Tokito Oda, 6-3, 6-1 in one hour and nine minutes to claim his seventh Grand Slam title.
Niels Vink of the Netherlands defeated compatriot Sam Schroder 6-2, 7-5, in the quad wheelchair final.
Vink, who paired with Schroder to take the doubles title, claims his third Grand Slam title.