Australian Open day 5: Recap all the big stories from Melbourne Park
Ash Barty wasted no time laying another Australian Open smackdown but it wasn’t her only big win for the night, with a huge rival sent packing.
Tennis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tennis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Defending champion Naomi Osaka was stunned Friday by unseeded Amanda Anisimova in the Australian Open, the American setting up a fourth-round clash with world number one Ash Barty.
The Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion, seeded 13, won the first set on Margaret Court Arena but the nerveless Anisimova saved two match points in the third to pull off a huge 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/5) upset.
Her reward is a shot at a place in the quarter-finals against Barty.
“I’m speechless, I can’t stop smiling,” said the 20-year-old, who is undefeated this year after winning a lead-up tournament in Melbourne.
“I knew I had to be playing sharp if I wanted to give myself a chance. Naomi is always going to be playing well, she is an absolute champion.
“So I really had to step up my game and try to be aggressive. That’s what I started doing in the second set and so grateful I was able to do this well today and get the win. It means a lot.”
For Osaka, she is now set for a huge rankings dip.
The Australian Open defending champion will fall outside the world’s top 80 after the loss.
It comes after she took an extended break from tennis in 2021 for mental health reasons.
“I fought for every point. I can’t be sad about that. You know, like I’m not God. I can’t win every match, you know. So I just have to, like, take that into account,” she said after the match.
Osaka held two match points in the third set but was unable to convert.
She said she planned to delete her social media accounts as she comprehends the loss.
“I mean, to me, it’s always a tennis match, you know what I mean?
“I feel like the outside stuff comes after.
“But it’s funny, like, the first thing that I’ll probably do when I look at my phone is delete Instagram and Twitter, and then I probably won’t redownload it for a couple of weeks.
“I don’t know. To me, it’s exciting. Not the loss itself, but, like, the person I lost to, because it’s like showing the growth of tennis.”
RECAP THE DAY 5 ACTION BELOW
NADAL TAKES OUT KHACHANOV IN FOUR SETS
In case anyone had any doubts, Rafael Nadal is still a top contender for this year’s Australian Open.
The Spanish superstar was forced to fight tonight against Karen Khachanov but he showed he more than has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the game’s power hitters.
Nadal recovered after dropping the third set to race through the fourth – taking it 6-1.
He might be about to catch a serious break in the draw too. His next opponent will be either Adrian Mannarino or Aslan Karatsev.
They are locked at one set all with the local time closing in on 1am.
11:44PM: KHACHANOV HITS BACK TO TAKE THIRD SET
We aren’t going anywhere just yet.
Karen Khachanov and some absolute monster hitting has sent this match into a fourth set.
And if he keeps this level up, you really feel like he could extend the clash even further.
The Russian is crushing winners and has Nadal moving all over the court.
The first few games of the fourth set are crucial. He can’t let Rafa get an early break.
10:45PM: RAFA TAKES SECOND SET 6-2
We could be in for an early night on Rod Laver Arena.
Rafael Nadal is putting on a clinic against Russian Karen Khachanov.
The Spanish Bull has locked away the opening two sets and continues to look like one of the major threats to taking out this year’s title.
Khachanov does have plenty of fire power in his game. But so far he hasn’t been able to hit through Nadal.
Can that change?
10:00PM RAFA RACES THROUGH FIRST SET
It has been a hot start to the third round for Rafael Nadal.
The number six seed has collected the first set in his match against Karen Khachanov, 6-3.
Nadal has been a little under the radar this week but there is no denying he is a huge chance to take out Slam No. 21.
9:15PM: BARTY THROUGH TO FOURTH ROUND
Gone in 60 minutes has been the theme of Ash Barty’s blistering week, with the tennis queen seemingly in a hurry to break her country’s 44-year Australian Open drought.
The world No. 1 has wiped three opponents off Rod Laver Arena in less than three hours and is suddenly just eight sets away from claiming her third Grand Slam without barely even raising a sweat.
Barty has dropped just eight games on her way to the last 16, with her three clinical victories the shortest three matches of the tournament.
It is as if the one-time Brisbane Heat batter is playing tennis in Twenty20 mode with the defending Wimbledon Champion landing knockout blows before her opponents have warmed into the game.
On Friday night it was popular Camila Giorgia on the receiving end.
The Italian shot-maker who has almost 550,000 Instagram followers only gave Barty one nervous moment.
The Aussie superstar was 0-40 down before peeling off a burst of unplayable shots to hold serve, pull 5-2 ahead and bury Giorgia.
8:30PM: BARTY TAKES THE OPENING SET 6-2
It’s been business as usual for Ash Barty, who continues to look untouchable.
The world number one raced through her first set with Camila Giorgi, picking up two breaks of serve to secure the win 6-2.
Barty’s serve has been at its brilliant best.
Incredibly, she has not been broken for the entire tournament.
Can her epic run continue?
7:50PM TOP SEEDS RAGE DURING SHOCK KYRGIOS-KOKK LOSS
Revs can wait – because the Special Ks might just have a doubles title to win.
The world’s wildest pairing did it again on Friday, stunning the world No. 1 Croatian pairing of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in front of a roaring KIA Arena.
The two mates played up, messed around and, of course, played some stupendously good tennis to eliminate a pairing that, last year, won basically everything.
Olympic gold and Wimbledon honours sat along seven more titles for their 2021 trophy cabinet, but they’d never come up against anything like Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis before.
The party atmosphere was in full swing, with one punter turning to face the crowd and knocked back a shooey early in the second set.
Honestly, you wouldn’t have been surprised if Kyrgios and Kokkinakis had joined him in the beer-drinking ritual.
They play doubles for the fun – which isn’t to say they can’t also take it seriously.
The match was not without controversy, however, with Pavic becoming increasingly frustrated as the night wore on and the jeering got louder.
He took the extraordinary step of approaching the chair umpire on a crucial break point and beg for some respect as Kyrgios played up to the crowd.
“This is pissing me off. Don’t let that happen,” Pavic pleaded.
He lost the next point, was broken and quickly shuffled off the court as the Special Ks did their victory lap for the crowd after the stunning upset.
The all-night session at Revolver they’ve got pencilled for the post-Open party will just have to wait.
CRAZY AUS OPEN EPIC DELAYS BARTY CLASH
Ash Barty’s huge night clash against Camila Giorgi has been delayed because of a marathon men’s five-set match on Rod Laver Arena.
Matteo Berrettini has just defeated rising star Carlos Alcaraz Garfia, winning 6-2 7-6 4-6 2-6 7-6.
Alcaraz Garfia is just 18 years of age and is seen as the next big thing on the men’s tour.
“When I started the fifth set, I started to think about fighting every point,” Berrettini said after the match.
“I’m really happy.”
Barty was meant to start at 7pm AEDT but that will be pushed back at least half an hour.
7:25PM: KYRGIOS, KOKKINAKIS SMELL DOUBLES UPSET
Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have Melbourne Park pumping once again.
The duo has just taken the first set off the number one seeds in the men’s doubles.
And KIA Arena is going absolutely wild.
The Aussies came through in the clutch, winning the opening set tie-break 10-8.
‘ABSOLUTE JOKE’: STAR RAGES OVER SHOCK CALL
Denis Shapovalov is not a happy man on Margaret Court Arena.
Taking on one of the biggest servers in the game in Reilly Opelka, the Canadian is convinced he was on the wrong end of a hawk-eye shocker.
Trailing 4-5 and at 30-all, Shapovalov thought he had a Opelka fault in the books following a wide serve.
However, the official challenge system had it clipping the edge of the line, which meant Opelka won the point with an ace.
"ABSOLUTE JOKE!" 👿👿👿
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 21, 2022
Shapovalov RAGES at the chair umpire over a line call - despite the technology showing it was in 🤷â€â™‚ï¸#AusOpen - Live on 9Gem and 9Now pic.twitter.com/JJwT9TK34w
“It’s an absolute joke,” Shapovalov screamed.
“It was like this far out and it is calling it good.”
The Australian Open isn’t using line judges this year, instead running with hawk-eye for all calls.
It’s hard to argue with a machine and not surprisingly, the umpire didn’t change the call.
6:45PM: MEET THE OPEN’S BIGGEST SURPRISE PACKET
The Serbian surprise packet who has rocketed into a maiden fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open says he’s not spoken to Novak Djokovic since the world No. 1’s shock deportation opened up his path at this year’s tournament.
Miomir Kecmanovic was drawn to play Djokovic in the first round, only to soon be matched up with lucky loser Salvatore Caruso instead.
Straight sets wins over Caruso and American Tommy Paul followed before Friday’s upset win over 25th seed Lorenzo Sonogo set up his fourth-round clash with Gael Monfils.
It’s something he couldn’t have imagined when Kecmanovic was drawn against Djokovic in round one over the week – before the stunning deportation.
Which is why reaching the round of 16 for the first time in a grand slam was not lost on Kecmanovic.
“A week ago I was supposed to play the world No. 1 and didn’t have much of a chance there,” he said.
“But now I’m in the last 16, so I’m happy that I was able to use this chance and that I’ve been playing some really good tennis.
“I didn’t have much pressure just because I felt that I got a second chance, so I just wanted to use it the best that I can.”
But Kecmanovic says he’s not had the chance to thank his countryman for the opportunity, nor check on his welfare since he was returned to Serbia.
“No, not really. I think he’s still recovering from everything, and I didn’t really want to bother him, give him his space,” he said.
“I’ll definitely talk to him eventually after things calm down.”
– JOE BARTON
6:22pm SERBIA’S SURPRISE NOVAK REVENGE
It isn’t tennis, but it appears Serbia has found another way to hit Australia where it hurts over the Novak Djokovic deportation saga.
AFP and Andrew Koubaridis
Serbia has abandoned plans to build a controversial lithium mine following weeks of protests against the project set to be built by Australian mining giant Rio Tinto.
The surprise U-turn from the government comes months ahead of likely national elections with President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration looking to shore up support from voters following a series of major protests that gained traction across large parts of the Balkan country.
It also comes days after Serbian Novak Djokovic had his visa cancelled in Australia and was booted out of the country. The Grand Slam champion was unvaccinated, and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke deported him amid concern Djokovic could provoke protests against Australia’s vaccine mandates.
The deportation stirred anti-Australian sentiment in Serbia, with President Vucic calling Prime Minister Scott Morrison to complain about the “witch hunt”.
5:23 STOSUR KNOCKED OUT OF DOUBLES
It wasn’t to be for Sam today.
After her and Zhang Shuai secured the break to even the ledger in the fifth set, the pair lost out to Linette and Pera 6-7, 6-1, 7-5.
5:08pm STOSUR SECURES BREAK
Sam Stosur and her doubles partner Zhang Shuai are back in this third set!
The pair, ranked fourth in the world, have broken Magda Linette and Bernada Pera in a tense final set to make it level pegging at 5-5.
They certainly have the crowd behind them over at John Cain Arena!
3:07pm 5YO STILLS THE SHOW
Few would have thought anything could steal Victoria Azarenka’s thunder after she ousted No 15 seed Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open.
Cue her son Leo.
The 5-year-old joined his mum for her post match press conference and stole the show.
Sporting a pair of sunglasses, Leo was asked what he made of the match and her performance.
Reporter: "Leo, how did mummy play today?"
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2022
Leo: 😎😎😎@vika7 · #AusOpen · #AO2022 · #AOpressconpic.twitter.com/o1KRswMLio
Special guest in Azarenka’s press conference pic.twitter.com/BlvHYtusOG
— ジョン (@delJontro) January 21, 2022
“Awesome,” he said.
It was an outstanding Aus Open debut for the youngster who spent the rest of the media call breathing heavily into the microphone.
“Good job,” Azarenka said afterwards.
2:29pm RULE-BREAKING STAR’S LAME EXCUSE
Barbora Krejcikova was up to her old tricks.
The Czech became the first player at this year’s tournament to cop a violation for breaking the new toilet rules.
And Krejcikova has form in this department.
A set down against Jelena Ostapenko and in blisteringly hot conditions, Krejcikova left Rod Laver Arena for over eight minutes.
When she returned her excuse was she broke her necklace.
But we have been here before.
And not long ago.
Barbora Krejcikova just took a (trademark?) 8 minute toilet break and received a time violation under the new rules.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) January 21, 2022
Krejcikova says she broke her necklace.
At the 2021 US Open she was accused of being unprofessional by Garbine Muguruza when she called for the trainer at 5-6 in the second set having won the first, before leaving the court for nine minutes.
New rules were put into effect at this year’s slam after Stefanos Tsitsipas was accused of cheating in his opening round against Andy Murray in New York last year.
Tsitsipas was ridiculed by rivals Alexander Zverev and Murray for taking extended bathroom breaks at key points in matches.
1:30pm ANOTHER WOMEN’S UPSET
There has been another upset in the women’s draw with 15th seed Elina Svitolina going down to Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.
Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open finalist, blitzed the Swede 6-0, 6-2 in just over an hour to advance to the fourth round.
“He’s been my inspiration for a while,” Azarenka said in her post-game interview.
“I’m so proud of what his involvement is in Australia.
“Those guys, the wheelchair tennis, they deserve so much recognition. I just hope you guys come and watch them because they are way better than us.
“I just want to give him a shoutout, it’s his last tournament and I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next because he’s such an amazing personality.”
Such beautiful words from you @vika7 - you are such a legend. Appreciate it so much â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ https://t.co/dOQ2bKtYdZ
— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) January 21, 2022
Meanwhile, Aussie pair Arina Rodionova and Marc Polmans took out their mixed doubles match 4-6, 6-3, [10-7].
1:18pm STUBBS SLAMS SIUU, AND MULLETS?
Former No. 1 doubles star Rennae Stubbs has taken aim at spectators making the Cristiano Ronaldo ‘siuu’ noise at the Australian Open – and those adorning mullets.
The Aussie, who won six doubles titles across her career before moving into coaching and commentary, implored these people to stop booing and cutting their hair into the mullets, labelling them as “idiots”.
“Two things! Stop cutting your hair as a mullet and two stop booing or doing whatever noise sounds like a boo at the tennis! U idiots and Good night!” Stubbs tweeted overnight.
The Ronaldo ‘siuu’ was prevalent from the crowd yet again during Nick Kyrgios’ loss to Daniil Medvedev last night.
11:45am VIKA ON FIRE
It's not looking good for Svitolina on Rod Laver Arena.
She’s just dropped the first set to Azarenka in 25 minutes 6-0.
That’s absurd.
11:01am KYRGIOS’ HAIR DYE EXPOSED
There aren’t many ways to link Nick Kyrgios to Donald Trump’s mate Rudy Giuliani, but the hot conditions on Rod Laver Arena did just that.
Kyrgios was reaching for the towel a lot during his clash with Danil Medvedev.
He pushed the top seed to four sets in a match which fell just shy of three hours.
This is less than a week after recovering from Covid.
But was it perhaps also to cover up the fact he might be getting a little help in keeping his hair in impeccable form?
Images from the blockbuster showdown shared on social media suggest Kyrgios might have been sweating some hair dye beads.
We’ve all got few greys to cover up and given how exciting Kyrgios plays, we’re fully expecting to have a few more by week’s end.
Football reporter James Dodd tweeted: “Is that a bit of ‘Just For Men’ dribbling down Kyrgios’ forehead?”
Nick Kyrgios having a Rudy Giuliani moment as hair dye melts off his face pic.twitter.com/zC559fBiTG
— Pog’s Tennis Channel (@POG__WORLD) January 20, 2022
10:45am STAR BREAKS DOWN ON COURT
Benoit Paire is best described as the Nick Kyrgios of France.
Brash, opinionated, talented but not always at his best and always dividing opinion.
He made more headlines last year for spitting on court and his general behaviour than he did for any victories or success.
He’s a hard nut that seemingly doesn’t care what we think.
But there’s always a soft side isn’t there which is what made his post match interview after he defeated Grigor Dimitrov on day four so moving.
The might Frenchman, who has had a torrid 18 months, was reduced to tears on court.
“I am happy,” he said. “It’s not been easy since the beginning of last year.
“I know that my parents and everyone are watching. This really was exceptional.”
Paire then had to pause the discussion to compose himself.
Wiping away tears, he continued: “It was a shit year last year. It was really complicated.
“This year started shit, I tested positive and had seven days in isolation so it started like shit again. But I’m here, I’m hanging on. This was one of my best matches in a long time.
“I’ve been criticised a lot. When I pull off wins like this and have the French fans, really there is nothing better.”
9:29am PLAYER ARRIVED IN AUS COVID POSITIVE
Tennis star Andrey Rublev has revealed he was allowed into Australia with Covid despite the ugly Novak Djokovic row.
The 24-year-old Russian is set to face Marin Cilic in the third round of the Australian Open after beating Ricardas Beraknis.
And ahead of that match-up he has revealed how his own battle with coronavirus before the Grand Slam tournament left him uncertain on whether he would be in Melbourne.
But even though he was still positive for Covid upon his arrival Down Under, he was let in and is no longer being tested.
Speaking to Sport Klub, Rublev said: “I am not being tested personally now because I just got over the coronavirus.
“When I flew to Australia, I was still positive, but the level of Covid SS, as it is called, I will not lie, it was very low and not dangerous.
“I was allowed to enter the country. In addition, I spent more than ten days in quarantine.”
Rublev tested positive on December 27 and it is widely understood traces of Covid showed on tests due to him shedding the virus.
Per the government website it appears the superstar followed all protocols.
Originally published by The Sun
There are some tweets popping up regarding Andrey Rublev saying (via Sportsklub) he was still positive for covid-19 when he flew to Australia. If true, just know this can happen and is detailed in the Australian Department of Health "inbound international travel" regulations: pic.twitter.com/dSslvHFDfM
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 20, 2022
9am STOP THE SIUUUUUU
I hold Cristiano Ronaldo personally responsible for the most irritating sound in sport since the vuvuzela of 2010.
And I mean no disrespect to the Portuguese language when I say that.
I understand the origins of the Siiiuuuuu chant, but why is it at the Australian Open?
Why is a football chant making its way on to a tennis court?
Why are crowds so entertained by a noise that makes them sound like they’re booing some of the greatest sporting talent in the world?
I have so many questions about this ridiculous trend.
I’m all about a crowd getting behind a home favourite and creating an atmosphere but honestly watching grown men and women boo/siuuuu and heckle a player between points, between serves even and between games grow up.
Danil Medvedev had every right to voice his frustrations with the crowd after the match.
Andy Murray has done similar this week.
There’s a time and a place for this siuuuu nonsense and it’s never and nowhere.
"It’s not everybody who’s doing it, but those who are doing it probably have a low IQ" 😠pic.twitter.com/4e5pGHwwmI
— Les 🙠(@haloinreverse_) January 20, 2022There’s a time and a place for this siuuuu business and it’s never and nowhere
.
8:40am CROWD HAS LOW IQ
The best tennis player in the world says Melburnians who cheered between his serves “probably have a low IQ” as he lashed Thursday night’s Rod Laver Arena crowd as “disrespectful”.
Big-serving Russian Daniil Medvedev waltzed past hometown hero Nick Kyrgios in four sets, but it was his encore match against the public – and awkward on-court interview with Jim Courier – that stole the show.
The Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired ‘Siuuu’ chant has spread like Omicron across Melbourne Park crowds this week, and while several players have mistaken it for boos it appeared Medvedev was actually on the receiving end of distasteful jeers.
8:15am TILEY SPLITS OPINION
Nick Kyrgios has backed Craig Tiley’s brazen move to jet unvaccinated superstar Novak Djokovic into the country as powerful players reject calls for Tennis Australia’s board to sack its long-time chief executive.
Kyrgios spoke to Djokovic when he was locked up in detention shortly before the world’s best player was deported by the Federal Government as Tiley’s move backfired spectacularly.
“We spoke briefly, and he’s back home now,” Kyrgios told News Corp.
“I guess it’s just been a bit of s**t-show for him, so I was just making sure he’s all right. He’s been through worse, I’m sure he just wanted to get away from it all.”
Tiley has become the Australian Open’s invisible man since the fiasco that made the Australian Open and the entire country a lightning rod for global criticism.
7:40am Good morning we are here for day 5! It’s the morning after the night before and if, like me you’re still recovering from the Kyrgios-Medvedev four setter, strap yourself in because there’s a lot to work through.
Amid the pantomime on Rod Laver Arena we perhaps missed the fact Emma Raducanu has bowed out of the tournament after struggling with blisters.
The 19-year-old, making her debut at Melbourne Park, looked on track when she raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set against Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic.
But the 17th seed then lost five games in a row and needed a medical timeout for treatment on her right, racquet hand, and said afterwards that the blisters were so bad she had only been able to practise backhands.
Despite battling back she couldn’t stop 98th-ranked Kovinic winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena.
Major Kyrgios news in Aussie Open statement
While Nick Kyrgios has been busy commentating and promoting his new beer, he’s also been getting ready for a comeback to the tennis court.
‘Very frustrating’: Demon’s injury cloud lingers
Slow progress recovering from a hip injury is threatening to derail Alex de Minaur’s aspirations ahead of the Australian Open next year.