Lorenzo Sonego produced the shot of the Australian Open so far when pulling off a remarkable effort against Stan Wawrinka in their first round clash on Tuesday
Lorenzo Sonego’s mind-blowing shot against Stan Wawrinka at the Australian Open has left tennis supporters proclaiming it as the “best ever”.
The Italian ace narrowly defeated the former Aussie Open champion in the opening round on Tuesday (January 14), clinching the four-set nail-biter 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.
Currently ranked 55th in the world, the 29-year-old was pushed to the limit during a match that spanned just over three hours, captivating a full house at Melbourne Park’s Court 6. Amidst the high-calibre tennis on display, one particular shot had the audience begging for an encore.
In a tense moment, with the scores tied at 5-5 in the third set and the three-time Grand Slam champion fending off break points, the pair engaged in a riveting rally.
It seemed Wawrinka, 39, had secured the point with a deft drop volley, leaving Sonego hustling to make a return. Against all odds, Sonego not only reached the ball but also unleashed a spectacular behind-the-back flick shot that stopped Wawrinka in his tracks, with the ball landing perfectly in the far corner.
The Turin-born player, astonished by his own brilliance, threw his arms up in triumph and bellowed to the crowd, who echoed his enthusiasm, having just witnessed the tournament’s standout shot thus far.
Social media went into a frenzy over the spectacle, with one user exclaiming in awe of Sonego’s masterstroke: “Think this might be the best shot I’ve ever seen”, one fan wrote on X, reports the Express.
Another was left in awe of the incredible display, commenting: “This is nuts. The speed of some of these players. How did he get to that ball in the first place? To do this on break point is also crazy. Hats off to Sonego”.
Meanwhile, a third spectator pointed out a potential tactical misstep by the Swiss star despite praising the shot, saying: “Great shot, But, Stan the Man should have been there for it.” Sonego is now set to take on the young prodigy Joao Fonseca, 18, in the second round on Thursday (January 16).
The Brazilian whizkid sailed past world number nine Andrey Rublev in straight sets, booking his spot in the following round. As for Wawrinka, this marks his third consecutive first-round exit at the Australian Open. The 39-year-old has found it tough going in recent times, last making it beyond the fourth round of a major back in 2020.