Sports

Tennis match starts in 2018 and finishes in 2019

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Its not often a tennis match takes place in one year and finishes in the next, but thats exactly what happened at the Brisbane International as two players were the victims of some unfortunate scheduling.

Samantha Stosur and Marie Bouzkova began their match at around 10pm local time, but when the latter forced the match into a third set it was inevitable their New Years Eve celebrations would have to take place on court.

There wasnt much celebrating for those remaining in the crowd as home favourite and 2011 US Open champion Stosur was beaten 6-4 2-6 2-6, with Bouzkova booking her spot in the second round where she will face fifth seed Karolina Pliskova.

Stosur was beaten (Picture: Getty Images)

It was the biggest victory of the 20-year-old qualifiers career – and the ideal way to see in the New Year.

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The match concluded about 20 minutes into 2019 – two hours and 12 minutes after it started – with the DJ cheekily blasting out Auld Lang Syne during a change of ends shortly after the clock struck midnight.

Bouzkova said in her on-court interview: Thanks for the crowd who came here to support us. I really enjoyed this match. Happy New Year!

I was very nervous at the beginning because I never played on such a big court but I tried to keep fighting.