(CNN)Defending champion Naomi Osaka was eliminated at the Australian Open by unseeded American Amanda Anisimova.
Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, had a set-up in Friday’s high-quality match but couldn’t finish it. 20-year-old Anisimova completed her comeback in a tiebreak in the third set, winning 4-6 6-3 7-6 (10-5).
“I’m speechless, I absolutely love playing in front of you guys in Melbourne. Honestly, it’s so much fun,” Anisimova told viewers after the game.
“I mean I can’t stop smiling even when I’m playing when I should be serious.”
The first encounter between the two women resulted in a spectacular match with the Australian crowd cheering both players to the end.
World No. 60 Anisimova saved two match points and continues her impressive form this season. The American now meets two-time Grand Slam winner Ash Barty for a place in the quarterfinals.
Barty came through her third round match against Italy’s Camila Giorgi with ease, winning 6-2, 6-3.
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Osaka is still finding form
Osaka had gotten past their earlier rounds in Melbourne this week but faced a very different challenge in Anisimova.
The two traded powerful shots from the baseline, but Osaka couldn’t fully capitalize on the match points she created for herself.
It comes as the 24-year-old continues her comeback after a hiatus from the sport.
She withdrew from last year’s French Open due to mental health issues and chose not to compete at Wimbledon.
Then, in September, she announced she would take another indefinite break after losing to Leylah Fernandez at the US Open.
The win also marked a return to form for Anisimova. The youngster stormed onto the scene after reaching the semi-finals of the 2019 French Open but has struggled to find her best tennis since the death of her father and coach later that year.
She now has a chance to prove herself again against the very best in the next round.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal survived a minor scare in his third-round match against Russia’s Karen Khachanov on Friday.
After taking a two-set lead, the Spaniard lost the third but bounced back to win 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1.
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