History was made at the Australian Open on Sunday but if you are Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber, look away now.
Murray and Kerber lost hours apart in the fourth round, leaving the tournament without both No. 1-ranked players prior to the quarterfinals for the first time in the Open Era.
A day after his younger brother nearly upset one of the game’s greats at the season’s first major, Mischa Zverev went one better when he eliminated Murray in four sets to hand the Scot his worst grand slam defeat — in ranking — in a decade.
In not quite as big of an upset given her play the first week and her ever dangerous opponent, defending champion Kerber — Zverev’s fellow left-handed German — was sent packing by 35th-ranked CoCo Vandeweghe 6-2 6-3 to conclude play at Rod Laver Arena.
Zverev — a net rusher ranked 50th — eliminated Murray 7-5 5-7 6-2 6-4, 11 years after the three-time grand slam winner was ousted by 51st-ranked Juan Chela at Melbourne Park.
Zverev’s sibling Alexander looked on from the player box on a warm, sunny day — he had lost in five sets to Rafael Nadal on Saturday in cooler conditions but was in much better spirits Sunday thanks to his brother’s heroics.
ICYMI: ????No.1 seeds #Murray and #Kerber both eliminated on Day 7.???? #AusOpen
Who is your pick to win it all, #sleepisfortheweak fans? pic.twitter.com/V855zSV2TK— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2017
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