Australian Open latest | Lloyd Harris marches on Down Under

South Africa’s Lloyd Harris has reached the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne after a five-set win in Thursday’s second round.

READ | LATE SPRINGBOK’S DAUGHTERS BACK IN SA FOR PRESTIGIOUS TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Lloyd Harris beat local hope Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7/5), 6-3 in a match which lasted three hours.

Harris, 23, is currently ranked 91st in the world, but is projected to move up in the rankings regardless of his results in the remainder of the tournament.

He will either face 22nd-seed Borna Coric of Croatia or American MacKenzie McDonald in Saturday’s third round.

READ | TENNIS GOAT ROGER FEDERER RECALLS MATCH IN AFRICA 6

Meanwhile, South Africa’s only other men’s singles entrant, Kevin Anderson, lost in the first round in straight sets to Italian ninth-seed Matteo Berrettini.

South Africa’s double hope Raven Klaasen missed the tournament due to Covid-19.

READ | COVID-19 COSTS SA DOUBLES ACE RAVEN KLAASEN HIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN SPOT

.@lloydharris63 goes the distance and pulls off the five setter

He outlasts Popyrin 6-2 1-6 6-3 6-7 6-3 #AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/Bs4DDGVbjf

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 11, 2021