Australian Open day 8: Novak Djokovic advances, Alex de Minaur eliminated in fourth round
At one point, it looked as though Alex de Minaur was sprinting to the final eight, then the gap between the Aussie and the best in the world really came to the fore.
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Alex de Minaur’s mad scrambles weren’t enough.
For almost four hours De Minaur produced his trademark desperate efforts to take the second and third sets, as well as the box seat against No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev.
But in the end, fire-breathing Russian Rublev won this match with a brutal 10-minute burst.
Looking gone only 20 minutes earlier, Rublev’s forehand became a booming cannon as he belted home winner after winner to stun the Australian in the fifth-set landslide.
De Minaur tried to rely on his defensive work to cover the court and blunt Rublev’s sheer power and stunning shot making.
.
RECAP ALL THE ACTION FROM THE DEMON’S CLASH BELOW
But even as Rublev started to suffer cramp, de Minaur looked helpless as the Russian sprung to life to emerge triumphant 6-4 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0.
And the sideshow was just as dramatic as Rublev spent much of the night shouting angrily at his coach’s box and gesticulating with his hands in frustration at some missed shots.
And by the end of the fourth set it seemed a full-on meltdown was on as the cool-headed De Minaur kept his emotions in check.
But what happened next was an extraordinary turnaround as Rublev played the set of his life to progress through to the quarterfinals.
De Minaur had cruised into Sunday night’s match after two easy wins, and was thought to have an edge in fitness, but it was the late show from Rublev which won it.
Midway through the second set, the Aussie was in deep trouble early after handing Rublev the first set on a sloppy double fault.
And for the first time this week, the frustration finally showed as de Minaur tried to boot the little yellow ball into Row 20 at Rod Laver Arena.
But after hanging on bravely for the next 30 minutes to force a second-set tie-break, de Minaur produced one of the moments of the tournament which underlined his biggest weapon.
And it’s not a thunderbolt serve, punishing forehand or a funky backhand slice.
It’s his huge heart. But is it enough to go all the way in a slam?
The 24-year-old was on the back foot deep in the court down 1-2 in the tie-break when a Rublev passing shot clipped the net chord, and luckily fell in on de Minaur’s side.
But, where others might have given up, de Minaur produced the chase-down of the summer to turn the match.
Showcasing his incredible speed and remarkable willpower, de Minaur produced some lightning footwork and a diving lunge to somehow tuck the ball around the side of the net back at Rublev’s feet.
It was an extraordinary wrap-around hit with the very top strings of de Minaur’s racquet, and summed up everything the country loves about its top-ranked tennis player.
RECAP ALL THE DAY’S PLAY BELOW
11.05PM: CLASSIC HEADS TO DECIDER
This titanic struggle has one more chapter to write, as this moves into a deciding final set.
Rublev was able to push the gas to close the set, and looks to have the momentum as he finds a new spirit in his groundstrokes.
The Russian delayed the fifth set with a short bathroom break, but all is in readiness for what will be a fascinating last set.
And immediately Rublev breaks! This will be a big mountain to climb.
10.55PM: DE MINAUR BREAKS BACK, BROKEN AGAIN
A sketchy start to the set put the Aussie on the backfoot in this pivotal fourth set, and after getting a break back, it’s Rublev with the advantage again.
The deeper this game has gone, the more de Minaur has been able to get on top in those longer rallies, but Rublev’s superb shotmaking has kept him well in this.
The Aussie is starting to back himself in to play some more shots too across the board, forcing his opponent to run ragged, but the Russian will not give in.
Rublev leads the fourth set 5-2.
10.25PM: DEMON SEIZES 2-1 LEAD
After a shaky start, the match has now turned all the way in favour of the Aussie de Minaur, claiming the third set 7-6.
‘The Demon’ was especially strong in his return games that set, using it to work his opponent around the court as the panic and frustration grows in Rublev.
Rublev has become more demonstrative as this game continues, slamming his racquet into the court before breaking back late in the third set.
However, the Aussie kept his cool in another tie-break to claim the upper hand in this match.
Alex de Minaur is now one set away from only his second quarter-final appearance at a Grand Slam.
9.30PM: MOMENTUM CONTINUES TO GO WITH AUSSIE ALEX
Alex de Minaur picked up from where he left off in the second set, grabbing an early break to seize the lead in the third set.
His opponent Andrey Rublev has become more and more frustrated with every error or piece of bad fortune.
Rublev’s attacking strokes have dried up slightly with more errors coming on the Russian’s part.
After going up 3-0 the Aussie is receiving some strapping on an ankle.
9.15PM: DEMON BATTLES BACK TO LEVEL MATCH
Alex de Minaur is back in the fight after claiming the second set in a tie-break.
The Aussie had plenty of chances to gain the upper hand, but it was not until the final part of the set that he was able to break through.
These two have gone blow for blow all match, playing some exhilarating rallies.
This could go well into the night.
We are at a set each nearly two hours into this one.
8.30PM: DEMON FAILS TO CASH IN AGAIN
Alex de Minaur has come oh so close multiple times, but cannot find enough to break the serve of the Russian opponent in this set.
After three break points in the fifth game of the set, the Aussie remains behind but on-serve in this set after some enthralling rallies.
At this point, will this Aussie be wondering what could have been already?
Rublev leads by a set and 3-2 in the second.
8.10PM: DEMONIC ERRORS GIFT RUBLEV OPENER
The match started with a missed chance from de Minaur, and the first set ended with a critical double fault to gift Andrey Rublev the opening set.
The Aussie was able to break back, but was broken in the final game to lose the opening set 6-4.
De Minaur showed visible frustration at the end of the first, knowing an opportunity had been missed.
We remain on serve to start the second stanza.
7.40PM: PRODIGY’S REMARKABLE RUN ENDS
– Callum Dick
The giant-killing run of teenage tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva has come to an end on the cusp of a 27-year Australian Open first.
The 16-year-old Russian had history in her sights on Sunday, bidding to become the youngest player to reach a women’s singles quarter-final at Melbourne Park since Martina Hingis won the title in 1997.
Andreeva became the talk of the tennis world last week when she thrashed No. 6 seed Ons Jabeur and came back from 5-1 down in the third set against Diane Parry to book a place in the fourth round.
But her remarkable run was halted on Sunday when 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova came from a set down to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 and book a place in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the second time in her career.
7.35PM: RUBLEV CLAIMS EARLY EDGE ON RLA
After a bit of a shaky opening service game, it’s Andrey Rublev who grabs the upper hand early, breaking de Minaur.
The Aussie had a chance to break in the first game, but blew a simple volley at the net, allowing Rublev to fight back.
Both players have shown a propensity to hit big strikes, knowing the other will battle hard to keep any rally alive.
Rublev has struggle from the Yarra River end of the court with the wind and that may be a factor the rest of this game.
EARLIER: UKRAINIAN TENNIS STAR LAMENTS FORGOTTEN WAR
– Callum Dick
Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk says without the ongoing war in her country she would not have grown as a player and person as much as she has over the past two years.
Kostyuk, 21, stormed into her maiden grand slam quarter-final with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Russia’s Maria Timofeeva on Sunday afternoon.
“It just shows that there is no limit in human possibilities withstanding stress and all around it,” Kostyuk said.
“If there was never a war in my life, I don’t think I would be able to grow this much as I grew in the last two years.
“I think it’s about perspective … if you take them as a burden … if you victimise yourself, which I think is normal. Every person goes through this kind of feeling.
“I think the more you can minimise this feeling of being a victim, I think the easier it is to get through life.
“I (am) very proud of all of us, honestly, for standing so long and not losing faith and still fighting and fighting for our rights and fighting for everyone basically.
“I think it just shows how strong Ukrainian people are.”
Kostyuk is among the most outspoken players in tennis over the war in Ukraine.
Earlier this week she accused the western media of no longer reporting on the war with the same level of commitment as 12 months ago, when the relationships between Ukrainian and Russian tennis players became a major talking point ahead of the Australian Open.
Kostyuk said she felt an obligation to remind the world of the war in Ukraine.
“I had a very long break because I finished my season in Beijing and I only restarted in Brisbane. I was out for almost three months … I wasn’t on tour … it was not talked about at all,” she said.
“When I came back I was like, wow, okay, everyone is back to normal life like nothing happened ever. I think it’s not right.
“I need to follow the news all the time and I need to know what’s going on because I don’t have anyone calling me from Ukraine like, ‘Hello, Marta, this, this and this happened today’.
“I have to go through all the information myself and see what’s the best way to present it to people so they understand it … it’s an extra duty that I have that I don’t think other players have, I mean from other countries.”
7.10PM: STORM’S TITLE QUEST REMAINS ALIVE
– Rebecca Williams
Australian Storm Hunter’s bid for the women’s doubles crown at Melbourne Park remains alive after advancing to the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Hunter and her new Czech playing partner Katerina Siniakova cruised through their third round match 6-2 6-2 against Ekaterina Alexandrova and Anna Kalinskaya on Kia Arena.
The pair are the No. 3 seeds at the Australian Open.
Hunter reached the top of the world’s doubles rankings last year with Belgian Elise Mertens, but has formed a new pairing for 2024.
“We’re a new partnership, so (we’re) still working it out on the court,” Hunter said.
“The most important thing is that we’re really enjoying it and working together as a team.
“We’re super happy to be in the quarterfinals.”
7.00PM: SINNER CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE RUN
– Jay Clark
Jannik Sinner is ready to try to take the torch from Novak Djokovic.
Amid all the fanfare surrounding No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner is the other man helping lead the next generation of up-and-coming tennis superstars along with local hope Alex de Minaur.
Sinner, 22, is perhaps a little more understated and reserved than some of his peers.
But his shots pack a powerful punch.
The Italian progressed through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Sunday night overcoming Russian Karen Khachanov in three sets at Margaret Court Arena.
But the 6-4 7-5 6-3 triumph wasn’t without a struggle.
Sinner wrestled with his own wayward first serve in the second set, but came up big in some key moments to hold on against the No. 15 seed in blustery conditions.
In particular, on the break points it was Sinner who put this in his pocket.
Because even when Sinner isn’t playing as well as he would like, he remains a force.
And he just might be Djokovic’s bogey man.
EARLIER: DJOKOVIC STORMS INTO QUARTERS
Novak Djokovic put on a clinic in his fourth-round clash with Adrian Mannarino.
The 10-time Australian Open champion reached the quarter-finals with a stunning 6-0 6-0 6-3 victory in just one hour and 44 minutes.
On paper, it was one of the more straightforward victory’s the Serbian star has produced in his storied career.
However not everything went exactly to plan, with former Australian Open champion Jim Courier taking note of Djokovic’s fitness concerns.
Djokovic, who freely admitted pre-tournament that he was carrying an illness, appeared under the weather in his first three matches this tournament.
And that was again the case, to Courier’s eye, despite the eye-wateringly good performance on Sunday.
Courier noted Djokovic, one of the fittest players on tour, was making considerably more noise than you’d expect at this stage of a match.
“Djokovic is one of the most silent assassins we have seen in tennis. He doesn’t grunt until late in the match or if the point gets really long,” Courier said as the clock crept towards an hour of match play.
“He is grunting in the last game on every point. He is without question physically wounded at the moment.
“He is sick. He told us he was sick five days before the tournament. Would have thought by now he would have healed up.
“Something is still not right inside his body because his energy levels are not what we are used to seeing.
“It may not show it on the scoreboard … (but) Novak is showing his mental toughness here. He’s trying to be as efficient as possible.”
Tennis legend Paul McNamee noted some particular concern coming from camp Djokovic, even as the legend was routing his opponent.
In all my time, I’ve never seen a player box so concerned at 5 love up first set than Goran & co in Djokovic’ box… he’s clearly not well…what mental fortitude to be able to push through it, but there will be limits
— ðŸŽ—ï¸ Paul McNamee (@PaulFMcNamee) January 21, 2024
After an earlier double fault, commentator Brenton Speed noted Djokovic fans would be concerned.
“Another double … That is about 10 or 15m away from our commentary position and Djokovic fans may be worried, he looks in real distress,” said Speed.
6.10PM: SINNER STUNS LATE TO STEAL SECOND
Janik Sinner has taken a commanding lead over Karen Khachanov now, stealing the second set late to press his advantage.
In a match-up that may determine Alex de Minaur’s possible next opponent, Sinner was
5.20PM: FRITZ STUNS TSITSIPAS TO ADVANCE
The 2023 runner-up is gone from this year’s Australian Open after Taylor Fritz stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas on John Cain Arena 7-6 (3) 5-7 6-3 6-3.
For Fritz it is his first win against a top-10 opponent in a grand slam, and after that first he will try to knock off Novak Djokovic for the first time in his career.
Djokovic has won all eight of their meetings.
The American dealt with a quad complaint throughout this game and the last set, but powered through to take home the victory.
“At the end when I really needed it I turned it up a level,” Fritz said.
“I’ve improved and become a better player, in the times I have played him and some I haven’t bought my best level.
“If I play like I did today I’ll definitely have a chance.”
4.55PM: SABALENKA’S WEIRD SECRET TO SUCCESS
– Rebecca Williams
If Aryna Sabalenka is successful in defending her Australian Open crown this week, then she could have a “weird” pre-match routine to thank for it.
Sabalenka’s Australian Open defence remains on target after she comfortably advanced to the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Amanda Anisimova on Sunday.
The No. 2 seed dispatched the American 6-3 6-2 with another powerful performance on Margaret Court Arena, later declaring that she felt stronger than she did en route to her maiden grand slam title at Melbourne Park last year.
Sabalenka is yet to drop a set in the tournament and her chances of claiming back-to-back Australian Open crowns were bolstered by the shock early exit of top seed Iga Swiatek on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old shed some light on the strange pre-match preparation she had adopted in Melbourne, which involved her signing the head of her fitness coach.
“We just like to do weird s**t guys,” Sabalenka told the crowd after her fourth-round win.
“Somehow I decided to start drawing my signature on his head. I did it before the first match,” she later explained.
“Now it’s a routine. Every time he’s not super happy that I’m going to do that. He’s like, ‘OK, anything for the win’. I’m like, ‘Thank you’.”
Sabalenka would have made her rivals sit up and take notice after her double-bagel demolition of Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in the third round on Friday.
4.30PM: TSITSIPAS ON THE ‘FRITZ’ IN FOURTH ROUND CLASH
2023 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas will need to something special from here, after dropping the third set in his clash with Taylor Fritz of the USA.
Tsitsipas has consistently dropped opening sets at this tournament, and appeared to show some frustration in the closing game of the third.
The Greek star also tried a change in serving tactics, much to the confusion of Channel 9 commentator Roger Rasheed.
Fritz has however, been taken down into the treatment room during the break.
4.15PM: THE LIGHTER SIDE OF A DEMOLITION
It was as tough a day as they come for Adrian Mannarino, thankfully both he and the fans could see the funny side of his destruction at the hands of Novak Djokovic.
After being double bagel’d for the first two sets, the Frenchman claimed his first game of the contest to a rousing recpetion from the fans on Rod Laver Arena.
With his tournament fate all but secured at that point, Mannarino couldn’t help but laugh along with the bronx cheers.
A magic moment for @AdrianMannarino 🇫🇷
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2024
RLA is rocking. #AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis#Kia • #MakeYourMove • @Kia_Worldwidepic.twitter.com/X1nuFxjT6i
3.25PM: DJOKOVIC BLOODBATH ALMOST OVER
The end is nigh for Adrian Mannarino – who will be able to tuck into his favourite tequila soon enough.
He’s simply been outclassed by the greatest, today. In a little over 90 minutes he’s down 6-0 6-0 4-1.
3.00PM: CRUZ HEWITT COPS HUMBLING IN AUS OPEN DEBUT
Cruz Hewitt came out swinging. The 15-year-old crunched the only five aces of
his Australian Open debut.
Hewitt had hope when he broke No. 6 seed Alexander Razeghi to love in the first
game.
But hope quickly turned to hurt for the boyhood wonder as he bowed out 6-2 6-3
on Showcourt 3.
Hewitt’s 38 unforced errors told the story. It was a match dictated by his
racquet and the mannerisms with his old man were uncanny.
Hewitt tugged on his shirt, straightened his cap and slid across the court with
the same spirit Lleyton was known for.
But, ultimately, the youngest player in the boys’ singles tournament was overmatched by his more senior opponent.
2.40PM: SABALENKA POWERS INTO QUARTERS
– Rebecca Williams
Aryna Sabalenka’s Australian Open title defence remains on target after she comfortably advanced to the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park with a straight-sets win.
The No. 2 seed dispatched Amanda Anisimova 6-3 6-2 with another powerful performance on Margaret Court Arena.
Sabalenka is yet to drop a set in the tournament, but the five games she lost to Anisimova were the equal-most she has dropped in a match during the Open.
The 25-year-old was coming off a double-bagel demolition of Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in the third round.
The players faced a 10-minute rain delay in the opening set when the Margaret Court Arena roof was closed.
It is the second time Sabalenka has advanced past the fourth round at Melbourne Park.
2.30PM: HEWITT 2.0 TAKES FIRST STEPS ON TENNIS JOURNEY
There was a white Nike hat sported backwards, an ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ chant and barely a spare seat in the house.
And it was a round 1 junior boy’s match. Welcome to the first steps of Cruz Hewitt’s tennis career, the 15-year-old wildcard who is the youngest in the draw.
The parochial chant rang around Showcourt 3 when Hewitt broke No. 6 seed Alexander Razeghi to love in the first game.
Love was in the stands as parents Lleyton and Bec looked on from the first and second rows.
Then, the dampeners on the Hewitt party hit. Razeghi reeled off the next four games either side of two rain delays.
But the fans refused to move their feet despite the droplets falling from the sky.
When Hewitt held serve for the first time another ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ chant – albeit with less decibels – was shouted.
– Sam Landsberger
2.25PM: NOVAK BAGELS FANCY FRENCHMAN
Novak Djokovic saved two break points in the opening game of the match, and rarely looked troubled through the rest of the first set against France’s Adrian Mannarino.
It was one-way traffic after Djokovic fought back to save break on his opening serve, going on to take the first set 6-0 in dominant fashion.
Mannarino has a remarkable record in five-set matches, and that might be his best way into this match – because Djokovic is on a roll and showing no signs of slowing down.
2.20PM: SECRET INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGES BEHIND TEEN’S BLOODBATH
Teenage star Coco Gauff has revealed the inspirational messages on her shoes driving her Australian Open campaign after she stormed into the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time in her career with a powerful straight-sets win on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.
While world No. 1 Iga Swiatek is on her way home, No. 4 seed Gauff’s campaign for a second grand slam title continues to build momentum after she dominated from the outset against Poland’s Magdalena Frech in their fourth-round clash on centre court.
The American took just 63 minutes to dispatch world No. 69 Frech 6-1 6-2 to improve on her best result at Melbourne Park, joking in her post-match interview she wanted to go to the movies to see the Iron Claw when asked if she had been in a rush to finish the match.
With Rod Laver watching on in the stands, the 19-year-old put on a centre court show for the tennis legend as she revealed the personal messages she is carrying with her on her shoes at Melbourne Park.
“I have a lot of things written on my shoe. One is, the quote is you can change the world with your racquet – something my dad told me since I was a little girl,” Gauff said.
“It’s an inspiration for why I always feel it’s important to speak up and speak out about certain issues.
“Another thing written on my show is the coordinates to the park I grew up at in Delray Beach, Florida. I grew up playing at public tennis courts at Pompey Park and that’s the coordinates there.
“The last thing is I have my little brothers’ names on my shoe, Codey and Cameron. I know they are at home. I love you guys and Cameron just got MVP for his football team so I am super proud of your Cam.
“Sometimes my mum thinks I am negative when I look down, but I am just looking at my shoes, just a reminder that life is much more than tennis and how I do out here on court does not define me as a person.”
Gauff had previously reached the fourth-round of the Australian Open twice, most recently last year and in 2020.
The 19-year-old is yet to drop a set in her 2024 campaign as she seeks to add the Australian Open crown to her breakthrough US Open win last year.
– Rebecca Williams
2.10PM: SABALENKA ON THE CHARGE
No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka has taken the first set 6-3 in her fourth-round match against Amanda Anisimova.
Sabalenka wrapped up the set in just 36 minutes to wrap up the opening set, in which play was halted for 10 minutes due to a rain delay.
2.00PM: NOVAK OVERCOMES EARLY WOBBLES
It’s been a cagey start from Novak Djokovic, who opened up with a bunch of double faults – and then an uncharacteristic volley into the net – to give up two break points in the opening game.
“That was not a great volley, an unusual mistake here,” said Todd Woodbridge.
But the 10-time Australian Open champion saved them both to escape without any damage in the opening game.
“Slowly starting to heat up after an icy cold start for the world No. 1,” adds Jim Courier.
1.40PM: RAIN HALTS PLAY IN MELBOURNE
Play has been suspended in the fourth-round match between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova on Margaret Court Arena due to a rain delay.
Play was halted once, before the players resumed only for play to be stopped for a second time.
The umpire then announced the roof would be closed.
Sabalenka leads 4-1 in the opening set, while Anisimova was 30-0 up in her service game before play was stopped.
Similarly, the start to the clash between Novak Djokovic and Adrian Mannarino copped a brief delay as ball kids mopped up the court on Rod Laver Arena.
1.30PM: WOMEN’S SEEDS IN SCARY FORM
It’s a day of carnage at Melbourne Park so far – with the big seeds flexing their muscles as we speed towards the business end of the tournament.
Fourth seed Coco Gauff took just 63 minutes to destroy Magdalena Frech in straight sets, and now defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is doing some serious damage on Margaret Court Arena.
She’s jumped out to a 3-0 start against American Amanda Anisimova to cement her status as the player to beat in the woman’s draw.
1.20PM: COCO BLASTS HER WAY INTO QUARTERS
– Rebecca Williams
Teenage star Coco Gauff has stormed into the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time in her career after a powerful straight-sets win on Rod Laver Arena.
While world No. 1 Iga Swiatek is on her way home, No. 4 seed Gauff’s campaign for a second grand slam title continues to build momentum after she dominated from the outset against Poland’s Magdalena Frech in their fourth-round clash on centre court.
The American took just 63 minutes to dispatch world No. 69 Frech 6-1 6-2 to improve on her best result at Melbourne Park.
Gauff had previously reached the fourth-round of the Australian Open twice, most recently last year.
The 19-year-old is yet to drop a set in her 2024 campaign as she seeks to add the Australian Open crown to her breakthrough US Open win last year.
1.10PM: ALCARAZ BREAKS RECORD, EYES NOVAK
Carlos Alcaraz is the young star, barely out of his teens, who seems destined to take over from Novak Djokovic as the most feared player in the tennis world.
The 20-year-old on Saturday notched another stunning record for his resume when he broke Bjorn Borg’s record to become the youngest player in the Open era to reached the second week in seven consecutive grand slams.
A mighty achievement, but not one worth celebrating, according to Alcaraz.
Because his focus is only on breaking the records of one man.
“I try not to give it importance because the records I want to break are the ones that Novak (Djokovic) is breaking,” Alcaraz said.
“These are the goals I have set for my career. Taking them away from legends like Borg is always a good thing, but if you put too much value on them, it can work against you.”
He next faces Miomir Kecmanovic for a place in the quarter-finals.
12.50PM: ‘IT’S CRAZY’: NOVAK RIVAL’S BIZARRE SUPERSTITION REVEALED
Adrian Mannarino has been described as the most interesting man in tennis – and not just because of his tequila-swigging antics, loosely strung racquet and non-sponsored clothing.
The quirk that has truly captured the imagination of the tennis world is his phobia of learning who his upcoming opponent is until the last minute before a match.
That means that, yes, if all things go to plan then the unique 35-year-old doesn’t know he is playing world No. 1 Novak Djokovic later today.
It speaks to the Frenchman’s relaxed style that he prefers not to know who he next plays, and doesn’t come up with player-specific match plans.
But it certainly confuses everyone else on tour.
“The interesting thing about Adrian Mannarino, he doesn’t realise who he plays until he walks out on the court – it’s a known fact,” said the recently retired John Millman.
“If you’re around Adrian, don’t tell him who his next opponent is. He doesn’t look really. It’s crazy. It’s crazy.”
12.44PM: GAUFF STUNS IN 26-MINUTE BLOODBATH
– Rebecca Williams
The top women’s seed is on her way home, but teenage star Coco Gauff looks more than comfortable in her fourth-round match on Rod Laver Arena.
The No. 4 seed took just 26 minutes to wrap up the first set against Polish player Magdalena Frech.
Gauff dropped just one game in the opening set against the world No. 69, who has not passed the first round of the Australian Open before this year.
12.35PM: GAUFF STORMS OUT OF THE BLOCKS EARLY
It’s been a hot start from Coco Gauff on Rod Laver Arena.
The American fourth seed broke Magdelena Frech in the opening game of the match, and backed it up with another break in the Pole’s third service game, to race to a 4-1 lead in the opening set of the match.
It’s a cool 18 degrees in Melbourne today, but Gauff doesn’t look like she wants to spent any extra time than she has to on centre court.
12.15PM: GAUFF EYES QUARTER-FINALS
The first match up on Rod Laver Arena is about to get underway.
US Open champion and fourth seed Coco Gauff has been in good touch and is up against Poland’s Magdalena Frech as she attempts to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
At just 19, Gauff is ranked 3rd in the world and is already a grand slam champion – following her 2023 US Open triumph.
The draw is starting to open up for her to add a second slam title to her resume. But first, Frech.
11.45AM: AUSSIE STAR CAUGHT UP IN ‘CONCERNING’ TENNIS MELTDOWN
Australia’s Storm Hunter unwittingly had the best seat in the house for one of the biggest blow-ups of the Australian Open when doubles partner Katarina Siniakova erupted during their second-round match on Saturday.
Down a set to Australian duo Maddison Inglis and Destinee Aiava, Siniakova and Hunter were in control at 4-2 in the second set before the Czech star inexplicably double-faulted to give back the break.
That triggered an explosion from Siniakova, who threw down her racquet in anger before smashing it as she returned to her seat. An emotional Siniakova then turned her attention to her box as commentators expressed their concerns about the doubles star.
“There’s something going on isn’t there?” said commentator Abigail Johnson.
“I think this is something deeper than a match.
“She’s been in tougher situations than this.
“It’s concerning to be honest because we don’t know these players as people ... anything could be happening off the court and we have no idea.”
But far from unravelling, Siniakova – with the help of world No. 1 Hunter – recovered as the pair took the second set 7-5 and sealed the match with a comfortable 6-1 third set.
The third seeds face Russians Ekaterina Alexandrova and Anna Kalinskaya this afternoon in the third round.
11.20AM: TEEN STAR SHOWS OFF GRUESOME BITE MARK
Mirra Andreeva appeared to bite her own arm during her Australian Open third round clash with Diane Parry.
The 16-year-old has had an impressive breakthrough tournament Down Under.
Beaten in last year’s girls’ singles final, Andreeva has left her mark on the women’s event this time around.
After defeating Bernarda Pera in straight sets in round one, world No. 47 Andreeva dismantled fifth seed Ons Jabeur for the loss of just two games in a 6-0, 6-2 demolition.
She looked to back up her incredible Jabeur win against world No. 72 Diane Parry.
The Frenchwoman won the first set 6-1 against her precocious opponent on Court 3.
Andreeva came roaring back, however, levelling the contest by winning the second set 6-1.
After falling an early break down in the decider, the Russian furiously berated herself.
And during the third set, Andreeva appeared to have bite marks on her own arm.
She went on to fall 5-1 down and looked on the brink of exiting the tournament.
But Andreeva showed off her steely resolve, somehow clawing her way back from the brink to win the match 10-5 in a deciding tie-break.
– The Sun
11AM: ‘SPECIAL MOMENT’ AWAITS HEWITT
There’s a familiar name on the schedule today: Hewitt.
And while Lleyton Hewitt was a mainstay at Melbourne Park for two decades, it is son Cruz who will momentarily steal the spotlight today.
The 15-year-old will today take to Court 3 as a wildcard in the junior boys’ singles event – taking on sixth seed Alexander Razeghi.
And Hewitt Snr, who had a warm-up hit with his son this morning, couldn’t be happier.
“Just unbelievably proud, to be honest,” Hewitt said on Channel 9.
“They asked me late last night if I would go out and warm him up this morning on Show Court 3. Just a really special moment.
“My first ever main draw match at the Australian Open was actually out on Show Court 3 as well.
“Just some great memories coming back of me playing here. He’s been around the traps, but he’s worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. He is playing well.
“He’s still very young. This is all a learning experience. That’s what the junior event is all about.
“You want to get the opportunity to play here in seniors one day. He’s been fortunate enough to get a wildcard and hopefully goes out, has a lot of fun.”
10.15AM: FREAKISH NOVAK STAT BEHIND DECADE-LONG DOMINANCE
Novak Djokovic will next face French veteran Adrian Mannarino, but one remarkable statistic has emerged about the world No. 1’s incredible Australian Open dominance.
And it spells the end of Mannarino’s impressive run this season.
Why? Because aside from being a 10-time Australian Open champion, Djokovic has only shown frailties against one particular subset of tennis players in recent years: the bespectacled kind.
Because today marks the 10 year anniversary of Djokovic’s last defeat at Melbourne Park … to a player not wearing on-court glasses.
Possibly the wildest Djokovic stat ever:
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) January 20, 2024
This Sunday marks 10 YEARS since Djokovic’s last Australian Open loss against someone not wearing on-court glasses; an oddity that applies to both men to beat him in Melbourne the last decade, Denis Istomin and Hyeon Chung
(h/t @SvenARG) pic.twitter.com/7TNVzjw5KJ
His only defeats in that time came to Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, in 2017, and South Korea’s Hyeon Chung the following year.
Of course, ten years ago Djokovic was defeated by eventual champion Stan Wawrinka in the 2014 quarter-finals.
9.30AM: WHY ‘UNBLEMISHED’ DEMON WILL TRIUMPH
Alex de Minaur faces the biggest test of his Australian Open to date in the form of fifth seed Andrey Rublev tonight.
The powerhouse Russian is a giant step up in class compared to De Minaur’s three vanquished foes, but retired Australian star John Millman is confident the Demon has what it takes to reach a maiden Melbourne Park quarter-final.
And knocking Novak Djokovic off Rod Laver Arena for the prime-time night match could be De Minaur’s secret weapon against the big-hitting Rublev.
“Andrey hits the absolute cover off the ball,” Millman said on Channel 9.
“I learned that first hand when he annihilated me in Shanghai, but Alex is one of the quickest guys on tour, so I think it’s in this night time condition on it’s going to be a little bit slower.
“I think he’s going to use his wheels to get into the point and he is quietly confident.”
De Minaur’s perfect start to 2024, which included a United Cup victory over Novak Djokovic, is more reason to be confident.
“He hasn’t lost in 2024 … his record has been unblemished and I think that he’ll take that confidence in with him,” Millman added.
“I’ve never seen him so relaxed at the Australian Open. I think he’s fresh, he’s ready to go.
“He’s just entered into the top ten for the first time in his career, and I think he has that belief now, which is a dangerous Alex de Minaur.”
9.10AM: DJOKER, DEMON, HEWITT: AUS OPEN’S BIGGEST DAY YET
Son of a gun Cruz Hewitt will begin his Australian Open Junior Championships campaign on Sunday after being granted a wildcard entry into the tournament.
The son of Australian tennis great Lleyton, the 15-year-old will take on American Alexander Razeghi in his opening match.
Cruz has been described as “one of the best young players in Australia”, with former Australian women’s star Alicia Molik likening his game to both his father and Nick Kyrgios.
Lleyton – a Wimbledon and US Open champion – will next week be honoured with a hall of fame ceremony and bronze bust at Melbourne Park.
Cruz is not the only son of a former tennis star competing in the junior tournament, with American Jagger Leach another player with famous bloodlines.
Leach is the son of Lindsay Davenport, who won the Australian Open in 2000 among three career grand slam singles wins.
Leach won his first-round match against Russian-born Daniil Sarksian on Saturday, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
— Chris Cavanagh
8.45AM: UKRANIAN STAR TORCHES ONLINE TROLLS
– Callum Dick
Ukrainian tennis star Lesia Tsurenko has hit out at online trolls who continue to celebrate her straight-sets defeat to Aryna Sabalenka.
Tsurenko, 34, was knocked out of the Australian Open on Friday 6-0 6-0 by reigning champion Sabalenka.
The two players had a shared history. At Indian Wells last year, Tsurenko withdrew from their scheduled third-round clash, later citing a panic attack brought on by an earlier conversation with WTA CEO Steve Simon about Russian and Belarusian players and the war in Ukraine.
World No. 2 Sabalenka is a Belarusian player. She has repeatedly fielded questions about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Friday, Tsurenko and Sabalenka did not shake hands at the net as is the customary gesture at the end of a match. Instead the two players acknowledged each other with a wave.
It has become standard practice for Ukrainian players to not shake the hands of Russian and Belarusian rivals.
On Friday, Tsurenko said it was a “national position” that she would continue to observe – a point which did not sit well with online trolls.
Tsurenko hit out in an Instagram post on Saturday night to address the barrage of abuse she had received.
“I noticed that my loss yesterday made a lot of people happy. So my new post is for you,” Tsurenko wrote on Instagram.
“Please feel free to express whatever you want to me. I hope this will make you happy for a little bit longer.
“But you know, on the eve of the new year, my friend returned from Russian captivity after 1.5 years. Lost 55 kilograms of body weight and with an infection in his legs, but the main thing is that he is alive. This is real happiness.
“So I hope that you will also have real reasons to feel happy in your life, and not because of the loss of some random tennis player whom you have never even met in your life.”
8AM: WELCOME TO THE SECOND WEEK!
Hello and welcome from Melbourne Park, where – owing to the early start to the tournament last Sunday – we’re officially into the second week.
The fourth round is upon us, and that means the tennis is about to go up a gear.
We have a day-time treat today, with Novak Djokovic making a rare appearance in the Melbourne sun when he takes on Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in his first daytime fixture in 1075 days.
But first, American Coco Gauff has a chance to creep closer to another grand slam victory when she takes on Poland’s Magdalena French.
And, of course, tonight we have Australia’s Alex de Minaur and his quest for a maiden quarter-final appearance at his home slam. In his way is fifth seed Andrey Rublev, with that match set for the prime time slot on Rod Laver Arena tonight.
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