Miomir Kecmanović’s Australian Open journey once again turned into a demanding five-set contest, reinforcing a familiar pattern that has followed the Serbian throughout recent Grand Slam appearances.
The opening-round loss to Tomás Martín Etcheverry echoed several of Kecmanović’s previous matches in Melbourne, where physical endurance and momentum swings have often played a decisive role.
A recurring Grand Slam pattern
Last year at the Australian Open, Kecmanović was involved in two five-set encounters, overcoming compatriot Dušan Lajović in the opening round before falling to Holger Rune in another extended battle in the third round.
Roland Garros and Wimbledon 2025: Turning endurance into victories
That trend has continued across the majors. At Roland Garros 2025, Kecmanović staged a remarkable comeback against Sebastián Báez, overturning a two-set deficit to claim a five-set victory. Months later at Wimbledon, he again demonstrated resilience by defeating Alex Michelsen in another five-set match, underlining both his fighting spirit and the physical demands placed on his game.
Australian Open: Familiar five-set challenges return
Against Etcheverry in Melbourne, the decisive moment arrived late in the fifth set. With the score level at 4–4, Kecmanović dropped serve, allowing the Argentine to seize control. Etcheverry calmly held his final service game to close out the match, capitalizing on a brief lapse that proved costly at such a critical stage.
While Kecmanović’s ability to stay competitive deep into matches highlights his endurance and mental toughness, repeated five-set losses also point to ongoing challenges in maintaining focus during decisive moments. As the season progresses, finding greater stability in closing tight encounters may prove crucial for turning these long battles into consistent victories.
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