Simona Halep was on the brink of an exit from the Australian Open in just the second round but fought back from a break down in the decider to set up an enticing tie with Venus Williams. The Romanian looked in control a set and a break up against young American Sofia Kenin on Thursday night but let her lead slip. The 20-year-old was making her second round debut at Melbourne Park against the 2018 runner-up and gave a good account of herself on her way to a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 defeat to the French Open champion. Halep will go onto face Venus Williams – another tough proposition amid a nightmare draw down under – after the American fought hard against Alize Cornet to win 6-3 4-6 6-0. Thiem was unwell (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) Popyrin came through (Picture: Getty Images) In the men’s side, Dominic Thiem was forced to retire when two sets and a break down against 19-year-old home favourite Alexei Popyrin. Thiem was taken to five sets in round one in Benoit Paire and, clearly feeling under the weather, called for medical assistance on court a couple of times to take some pills during his contest against the Aussie wildcard. World No. 149 Popyrin took full advantage as he moved 7-5 6-4 2-0 up on the Austrian seventh seed to advance to the third round of a major for the first time.<doc-sep>Dominic Thiem was livid with himself after he dropped the first set in the second round of the Australian Open against Australia's Alexei Popyrin and took out all his anger at the racquet. Seventh seed Thiem is playing at the Melbourne Arena against an unseeded opponent and got broken right at the end to lose the first set of the match. Right after losing his serve and the set, Thiem banged his racquet on the court and picked it up against and smashed it three more times before going back to the chair to cool down and get ready for the second set. Thiem had played out a marathon in the first round of the Grand Slam tournament against Frenchman Benoit Paire that went on past 2 in the night before winning 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 1-6, 6-3. Thiem, who received medical attention during the match, eventually retired when he was trailing 5-7, 4-6, 0-2 and the Australian wildcard Popyrin advanced to the third round, much to the delight of the home crowd. Glad we're not that racket!#Thiem dropped the opening set 7-5 to Aussie WC Popyrin. Is an upset brewing?#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/PXD3Y2Jvkh #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2019 While the Melbourne Arena witnessed Thiem's racquet smash on Thursday, this is not the first time that Thiem has shown brutality to his racquet. One say can he is a serial racquet smasher. Last year at the French Open, Thiem had banged his racquet multiple times in an epic fashion after losing a point on his serve to Italy's Fabio Fognini. Excellent racket smash from Dominic Thiem against Fognini just now !! #atpRome pic.twitter.com/NRuQdJ0AfS Tennis/NBA (@BoomTSB) May 16, 2018 Last year in August during a match against USA's Taylor Fritz as well, Thiem had shown his hot headed side by smashing his racquet to the ground after not converting a break point. In 2017 at the Miami Open, Thiem was up against Borna Coric when he smashed away his racquet while a year back in 2016 during the Davis Cup tie against Portugal as well, he was seen banging his racquet.<doc-sep>Australian wild-card entry Alexei Popyrin advanced to the third round at Melbourne Park when seventh-seeded Dominic Thiem retired in the third set with an injury. Popyrin was leading 7-5, 6-4, 2-0 when Thiem retired. Thiem had a 2 a.m. finish in his first-round match when he beat Benoit Paire in five sets.<doc-sep>
Dominic Thiem became the third top-10 player to go out of the men's tournament, the seventh seed retiring while trailing young Australian wild card Alexei Popyrin by two sets. Popyrin, 19, won his first grand slam match in the opening round and was leading 7-5, 6-4, 2-0 when Thiem, who appeared to be feeling unwell, pulled the plug. Thiem had become frustrated by his performance throughout the encounter, where he squandered no less that eight break points. Dominic Thiem's frustrations boiled over during his defeat by qualifier Alexei Popyrin Thiem had been feeling unwell and retired when he was two sets and a break down Glad we're not that racket!#Thiem dropped the opening set 7-5 to Aussie WC Popyrin. Is an upset brewing?#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/PXD3Y2Jvkh — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2019 The Austrian smashed his racket against the ground during the first set and was jeered by the crowd. The racket duly became a priceless memento for one lucky young spectator. 'It’s never easy winning like this, Dom played a tough first round,' Popyrin said. 'But I just want to thank everybody that came out and supported me today. Thiem's smashed racket became a priceless memento for one fan in the crowd Popyrin pictured celebrating in the crowd after his impressive performance against Thiem 'When I won the second set was when that thought really kicked in and that I could actually win the match. 'There are no nerves for me coming into the matches. I’m just really looking forward to playing in the next round and seeing who I play.' Popyrin will play the winner of Lucas Pouille's match against Maximillian Marterer.