Kubler into last 16 in dream Wimbledon

Ian Chadband | July 3, 2022

Jason Kubler has written another delightfully unlikely chapter in his inspiring Wimbledon fairytale by scrapping his way into the last 16 in his first-ever five-set match.

The 29-year-old Australian, who’s battled back from injuries to recently rediscover the magic that took him to No.1 in the world as a junior, defeated American Jack Sock 6-2 4-6 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in the longest match of the entire tournament on Saturday.

When it came down to a final-set dogfight, the Queenslander, who’s been enjoying his new billing as the archetypal ‘Aussie battler’, lived up to the moniker memorably against the far more experienced Sock, outlasting and outplaying him after four hours 15 minutes.

There were flourishes of brilliance too, as he scuttled on the retreat to hit an astonishing cross-court backhand pass almost blind – a 57th winner that took him to match point.

Moments later, he was raising his hands to the SW19 sky after Sock’s wide and weary backhand finally gave Kubler the biggest win of his tennis life.    

Already enjoying the best grand slam of his career after having come through three hard rounds of qualifying and two fine main draw wins, Kubler is now in nosebleed territory, entering the second week of a slam for the very first time.

The Brisbane man’s progression has been staggering, considering this is only his second Tour-level grass court event and he had to delve deep into his energy reserves to come back from two sets to one down and hold firm in a fourth set tiebreak.

He seemed tireless even though he’s now played 25 matches in four different countries over a draining couple of months, extraordinarily winning 22 of them, including one Challenger title and another final in the US after being the last Aussie man standing at the French Open.

In that fifth set, he was in uncharted waters against fellow qualifier Sock, a former top-tenner and one-time great US hope who’s been making a fine comeback of his own after injury woes. 

The American was in his 12th five-setter but Kubler, playing with fearless aggression, went on the offensive straight away in the decider, earning a swift break to take a grip on the contest which he wouldn’t relinquish.

And the dream may not be over yet for Kubler, the man who underwent multiple surgeries as a youngster to deal with a hereditary knee condition which has hampered him ever since.

Next up, Kubler, who’s already knocked out one seed in the shape of Britain’s Dan Evans, will face American 11th seed Taylor Fritz, who knocked out Slovak Alex Molcan 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7-3).