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Australian Open 2019: Day 8 live coverage from Melbourne Park

Serena Williams has taken down Simona Halep to earn her spot in the Australian Open quarter finals.

Debbie Schipp and Courtney Walsh
15 min read
5:47PMJanuary 21, 2019.
Updated 12:45AMJanuary 22, 2019
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Serena Williams of the US reacts after a point against Romania's Simona Halep during their women's singles match. Picture: AFP
Serena Williams of the US reacts after a point against Romania's Simona Halep during their women's singles match. Picture: AFP

Hello and welcome to our live blog of all the Day 8 action from the Australian Open.

12.44am: Djokovic is through!

11.22pm: Nishikori survives

A furious Pablo Carreno Busta has blown up at the chair umpire after losing to Japan’s Kei Nishikori in a five-hour epic during the Australian Open round of 16.

Eighth seed Nishikori trailed by two sets and a break but fought back magnificently to claim a marathon 6-7 (8-10) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 7-6 (10-8) victory on Margaret Court Arena.

Up 8-5 in the first-to-10 points deciding tiebreaker, Carreno Busta raged at the chair umpire after Nishikori was awarded a point - hitting a winner off a ball initially called out - that the Spaniard was adamant should have been replayed. The official was unmoved and Nishikori won the next four points, firing off an ace to claim victory and equal his best Australian Open result.

Carreno Busta shook hands with Nishikori before throwing his bag across the court and again screaming at the umpire before departing to scattered boos.

It is the third five-set match Nishikori has been forced to endure for the tournament, taking his time on court to almost 14 hours.

10.39pm: Djokovic looks in control

10.10pm: Nishikori heads into 5th set

Pablo Carreno Busta is showing some signs of frustration.

9.06pm: Williams defeats world No.1 Halep

Serena Williams has continued her march towards a record 24th grand slam title, vanquishing world No.1 Simona Halep in a high-quality fourth round contest.

Williams blazed through the first set in just 20 minutes but had to fight tooth and nail on Rod Laver Arena to put away the valiant Halep, prevailing 6-1 4-6 6-4 to book a quarter-final clash with Czech seventh seed Karolina Pliskova. The victory, just 16 months after giving birth to daughter Olympia, secures an astonishing 50th grand slam quarter-final appearance for the 37-year-old Williams.

AAP

8.29pm: Pouille through to quarter finals

France’s Lucas Pouille has continued his dream run at the Australian Open, defeating Borna Coric for a sport in the quarter finals.

Next, he’ll face Milos Raonic.

8.18pm: Halep brings new energy to win second

After dominating the first set, Serena Williams has lost the second to Simona Halep. Now we head into the third.

7.40pm: Serena breezes through the first set

Serena Williams is having no trouble so far against No.1 seed (and world No. 1) Simona Halep, with the first set done in 20 minutes.

Serena Williams serves. Picture: Getty
Serena Williams serves. Picture: Getty

7.30pm: Serena’s awkward entrance

6.46pm: What’s coming up

This is going to be BIG.

Debbie Schipp 5.12pm: Pliskova powers into final eight

Karolina Pliskova took exactly one hour to book her third straight Australian Open quarterfinal berth, demolishing Spanish 18th seed Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-1.

The No. 7 seed, and former world number one, will face the winner of tonight’s Serena Williams — Simona Halep clash.

Debbie Schipp 5pm: While Zverev was racquet-smashing …

Apart from discovering it takes nine solid blows to mangle a racquet, here’s some other things we learned today:

Cramping Tiafoe out of a pickle: Frances Tiafoe took a miracle cure on his way into the quarterfinals on Sunday. “Third set, I had the break, but started to feel my body,” he said. “I was downing pickle juice like Kool-Aid. It was lucky for me.” Yep. Pickle juice. “I’m talking straight up. Just downing it. Tasted terrible,” he said.

Tsitsipas back to earth: Stefanos Tsitsipas revealed his superpowers don’t extend to Australia’s strict drone-flying laws. In the wake of his win over Roger Federer, Tsitsipas revealed himself as a keen amateur photographer and filmmaker. But he had to pull an aerial video panorama taken in Sydney from YouTube.

“It’s not allowed to fly drones in the city,” he said. “It was a very nice video. It took me hours to make. It was nice to watch. Unfortunately I don’t want to get into trouble because of that.”

Ashleigh Barty blows out the cobwebs at a practice session today ahead of tomorrow night’s big quarterfinals clash. Picture: David Crosling/AAP
Ashleigh Barty blows out the cobwebs at a practice session today ahead of tomorrow night’s big quarterfinals clash. Picture: David Crosling/AAP

Debbie Schipp 4.45pm: Barty’s brave plan

Ashleigh Barty won’t die wondering when she continues her pursuit of Australian Open glory in a quarterfinal against Petra Kvitova tomorrow.

She knows she can’t blink if she’s to turn the tables on Kvitova, the only player to have beaten Barty in a tour match this summer: in a third-set tiebreaker in the Sydney final nine days ago.

She’s also defeated Barty at each of their three meetings.

“I know that I have to go out there and try and be as brave as possible,” Barty told AAP.

“If I get my opportunities, they’ll be few and far between so I know I have to take them with both hands and try and really get stuck into her service games.”

Barty is bidding to become the first Australian woman to reach the Open semi-finals in 35 years when she takes to the court tomorrow night.

Milos Raonic celebrates his three-set win into the quarterfinals. Picture: Michael Klein
Milos Raonic celebrates his three-set win into the quarterfinals. Picture: Michael Klein

Debbie Schipp 4.25pm: All over for Zverev, Raonic though

Milos Raonic has won through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open with a three-set win over a strangely off-form and temperamental world No. 4 Alexander Zverev.

Raonic’s big-serving winning performance was overshadowed by the display from Zverev, who played dreadfully — unable to even hold serve until the second set.

As his frustration grew, the No. 4 seed’s temper boiled over — culminating in him smashing his racquet late in the second set.

He was warned for racket abuse after the display and, after dropping the set two games later, he left the court and went to the locker room.

Raonic remained unflustered, but had to survive a tiebreak in the third set to win 6-1 6-1 7-6.

“I just tried to stay composed” said Raonic. “It worked extremely well for me today.

Debbie Schipp 4.16pm: Zverev takes third to tiebreak

Alexander Zverev has rallied to take the third set to a tiebreak against Milos

Raonic. Go figure

Debbie Schipp 3.57pm: Calm after storm

In the wake of his epic racquet-destroying meltdown, Alexander Zverev has managed to slightly stem his on-court bleeding of points.

He’s held serve for all of the third set — in fact, with the score 4-4 he had only dropped one point on his own serve.

He’s tightened his game, but the much calmer man at the other end of the court, Milos Raonic is staying the course. He’s smashed out 12 aces — the most recent on a second serve. He leads 5-4.

Debbie Schipp 3.24pm: Zverev’s racquet-smashing meltdown

In a spectacular temper tantrum, down 4-1, Alexander Zverev spent a break in play smashing his racquet.

He belted it into the court nine or ten times, then threw it away in anger.

“Look it’s not sporting or whatever, let’s be honest. Maybe that may be the release that he needed,” said Jim Courier.

Something’s very amiss.

He’s now lost the second set 6-1.

He earned a code violation from umpire Carlos Ramos andleft the court for a bathroom break at the end of the set to let off steam

Debbie Schipp 3.22pm: ‘This is like Twilight Zone stuff’’

Alexander Zverev has now served seven double-faults, prompting a disbelieving Jim Courier to say: “Oh, my goodness, what is wrong with his serve?”

“He is just going straight to the donation station and dropping gifts off at Raonic’s door,” Courier says.

Another double fault, and Courier says: “That’s crazy. This is like Twilight Zone stuff on the serve” … “he’s playing like a guy who has the flu”.

Alexander Zverev smashes his racket. Picture: Kin Cheung/AP
Alexander Zverev smashes his racket. Picture: Kin Cheung/AP
Zverev with the destroyed racquet. Picture: Andy Brownbill/AP
Zverev with the destroyed racquet. Picture: Andy Brownbill/AP
A court attendant takes the smashed racket away. Picture: Mark Schiefelbein/AP
A court attendant takes the smashed racket away. Picture: Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Debbie Schipp 3.12pm: Finally, he holds it

Alexander Zverev has finally held serve — for the first time in his match against Milos Raonic — and after losing eight games in succession. Commentator Jim Courier is as mystified as anyone by what’s happening out there: “He’s lost eight consecutive games. Clearly he needs to do something different if he is feeling flat, maybe he is, certainly it doesn’t look like he is feeling speedy. To start hopping around in between points. Just trying to get some blood flow, start trying to get up a little bit. Emotionally invested, get a shot, pump your fist, artificially stimulate”.

He trails 2-1 in the second.

Alexander Zverev is in a mystifying lack of form. Picture: Mast Irham/AAP
Alexander Zverev is in a mystifying lack of form. Picture: Mast Irham/AAP

Debbie Schipp 3.02pm: ‘Like watching a junior’

This is just … dreadful.

Alexander Zverev just hasn’t turned up for this match. He’s world number 4 and Todd Woodbridge just said this match is “almost like watching a junior”.

He’s double-faulting, his forehand isn’t clicking, and he looks totally lost.

He is still yet to hold serve. Milos Raonic broke him again in the opening game of the second set.

Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts while playing against Canada's Milos Raonic. Picture: Paul Crock/AFP
Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts while playing against Canada's Milos Raonic. Picture: Paul Crock/AFP

Debbie Schipp 3pm: Zverev’s unhappy start

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev is struggling to contain his emotions as big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic takes the upper hand in their last-16 match-up on Rod Laver Arena.

Sverev started well, breaking the Canadian’s serve, but is yet to hold his own serve, and has folded to lose the first set 6-1.

He’s losing his hold on the match, and his racquet as the frustrations boil over.

Not a happy camper.

Debbie Schipp 2pm: No (selfie) love for Osaka

She may have won a US Open and now made her first Australian Open quarterfinal, but comeback queen Naomi Osaka says she’s gone unrecognised around Melbourne as she walks the streets after her matches.

Asked in a post-match interview did she get recognised, the unassuming Japanese champ seems dumbfounded.

“No, she replied. “I’m not like that. Like, I don’t think they care.

Confessing nobody had asked her for “selfies” she said, to laughter: “No. Am I going to the wrong place?

I just walk around and everyone’s like, normal. I’m normal too.”

Osaka admitted her comeback today was inspired by performances like mens singles rising talents Stefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe.

She was “watching all these kids winning”.

“Like, last night Tsitsipas beat Federer and I was like, woe, so I decided I wanted to do well too.

“I was watching him and Tiafoe. I thought they were playing really well. And just the fact that they came out here and played against some of the top players and won and I also want top players and won and I also want to do that. I think that’s everyone’s dream.”

Debbie Schipp 2pm: Osaka through to quarterfinals

Naomi Osaka has survived a first-set scare to defeat Anastasija Sevastova 4-6 6-3 6-4 and progress to her first Australian Open quarterfinal.

Debbie Schipp 1.55pm: Trading breaks

Anastasija Sevastova isn’t done yet, but Naomi Osaka isn’t letting go of that final eight spot.

Sevastova fought hard to break Osaka’s serve — it took six break point chances — and tie it all up at 3-3, but Osaka broke straight back.

Serving for a 5-3 lead, Osaka had to overcome a wayward first-serve game, and a duel at deuce.

She then fired down a 186kmh ace to take advantage, but lost it again before settling enough to leave her just one game short of a quarterfinal berth.

1.35pm: Savour Fed, Rafa while you can

Andre Agassi is urging tennis fans to soak up every opportunity to see Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in full flight as a once-in-a-lifetime era threatens to draw to a close.

Nadal takes on American prodigy Frances Tiafoe in the Australian Open quarterfinals tomorrow in his pursuit of a second title in Melbourne, a decade after his unforgettable five-set final triumph over Federer.

Hopes of the two tennis titans rekindling one of sport’s most enduring individual rivalries in the semi-finals were scuppered by 37-year-old Federer’s fourth-round loss to Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Federer was offering no guarantees he’d return to Melbourne in 2020, but rather signalled the potential end to his colossal career with the revelation he’d return to Roland Garros this year for the first time since 2015.

Agassi won’t predict when the end might come for Federer and Nadal but, with Nadal turning 33 in June, the former world No. 1 knows the 17-times major winner’s battered body can’t play on forever.

“These guys are redefining the bar and expectations,” Agassi told AAP.

“All I can say is that when it comes to an end, it happens fast.

“To say when that’s going to happen, it’s not possible.” Throw in Federer’s 20 majors and Novak Djokovic’s 14 and the superstar trio have amassed 51 grand slam singles titles between them, while sharing the top ranking for a staggering 740 weeks over the past 15 years.

“It’s an incredible generation. It will be sad when it’s gone,” Agassi said during a promotional trip to Melbourne for Lavazza.

Debbie Schipp 1.24pm: ‘A player with layers’

Jelena Dokic says Naomi Osaka has become “a player with layers’.

Certainly she’s laying the pressure on Anastasija Sevastova right now.

Osaka served out the second set to win 6-3 and send there match to a decider, and has sounded a stark warning to her opponent, breaking her serve immediately in the third.

She now leads 2-0 and has found her groove — ramping up the aggression and the intensity.

The fightback is almost clinical.

Debbie Schipp 1.07pm: Osaka fires up

Naomi Osaka has found her feet to take control in the second set against Anastasija Sevastova, breaking the Latvian to take make it 4-2, then holding serve to open up a 5-2 lead.

Debbie Schipp 12.55pm: Whiff of an upset

US Open champion Naomi Osaka is on the back foot as she takes on No. 13 seed Anastasija Sevastova for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Sevastova has taken the first set 6-4 over the more-fancied Osaka, troubling the Japanese champ as she mixes up her shot play.

Osaka has made it harder for herself with 17 unforced errors in the first set.

It’s currently 2-1 to Osaka in the second.

Naomi Osaka of Japan is struggling against Anastasija Sevastova. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Naomi Osaka of Japan is struggling against Anastasija Sevastova. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Debbie Schipp 12.50pm: Svitolina triumphs

Elina Svitolina has claimed her spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals with a win in three sets over American Madison Keys.

Svitolina stole a double break in the third set to close out Keys, taking the upper hand on the back of an incredible game which saw her stave off five break points in a game which lasted more than a quarter of an hour.

The No. 6 seed broke Keys in the next game, held serve, then broke Keys again to get the chance to serve for the match — and seal her quarterfinal spot 6-2 1-6 6-1.

Debbie Schipp 12.36pm: Svitolina’s big break

Elina Svitolina has notched up the pressure, breaking Madison Keys’ serve in the fourth. She has doubled down on her service to consolidate the break and lead 4-1.

Keys looks rattled, her backhand going amiss.

Svitolina is on a roll, having won the past three games.

Debbie Schipp 12.30pm: Power play

Madison Keys has unlocked every bit of the power which has seen her reach the semi-finals or better at three of the past five Grand Slam tournaments, and is smashing her service returns past Elina Svitolina.

In the third game of the final set, it’s been a ding dong deuce battle, with Keys so close to the break she can almost taste it.

The intensity has lifted, and both players are choosing aggression over safe shot play to gain the upper hand.

The game third game soared past 16-and-a-half minutes as the deuce battle continued — a marathon when you consider the first two sets each took less than 30 minutes in their entirety.

Keys failed to convert five break points, but a desperate Svitolina would not concede.

She desperately threw herself into the longer rallies to save her service match and deny Keys the break. It’s 2-1 to Svitolina.

Debbie Schipp 12.29pm: Osaka, Sevastova on court

Over at Rod Laver Arena Naomi Osaka and Anastasija Sevastova have opened their match, with Sevastova leading 3-2.

Debbie Schipp 12.05pm: Keys turns tables

Suddenly Madison Keys has switched on. And Elina Svitolina seems to have shut up shop.

Keys has sent the match into a decider set, closing out the second set at 6-1 to level the ledger.

Debbie Schipp 11.50am: Keys finds her feet

Here comes Keys.

The American has found her rhythm at last, her service game and forehand kicking in nicely. She broke Svitolina in the second game, and has held serve to now lead 3-0.

Debbie Schipp 11.35am: Shoes off, then take the set

Elina Svitolina has taken the first set 6-2 over Keys, but had to pull her shoes off first.

Leading 5-2, Svitolina called her trainer to the court and took a medical time out, removing both shoes.

She had a blister or two treated before returning to the court and closing out the first set.

Debbie Schipp 11.25am: Keys switches on

Keys has finally held serve to get on the scoreboard. She trails 4-1 in the first.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina has taken control early in her match against Madison Keys. Picture: David Gray/AFP
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina has taken control early in her match against Madison Keys. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Debbie Schipp 11.20am: Svitolina skips away

Keys looks in trouble as the first set slips away.

She was broken in the opening game, then again in the third. An ice-cool Svitolina has now skipped to a 4-0 lead on Margaret Court Arena.

The winner of this match will meet the winner of the Naomi Osaka/Anastasija Sevestova clash later today.

Debbie Schipp 11.15am: Keys, Svitolina opening salvos

World number 6, Elina Svitolina has made a barnstorming start to her match against Madison Keys, breaking the US star’s serve in the opening game.

The Ukrainian star held serve to lead 2-0 over the number 17 seed.

Debbie Schipp 10.47am: Li Na, Pierce, Kafelnikov into Hall of fame

Li Na has become the first player from Asia elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

She joins Mary Pierce and Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the Class of 2019, which was unveiled this morning at the Australian Open, AP reports.

All three players won a pair of Grand Slam singles titles — one at Melbourne Park and the other at Roland Garros.

Li retired in 2014 at age 32 because of recurring knee injuries.

She won the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open, making her the first tennis player born in Asia to collect a major singles title and helping grow the sport in her native China.

Kafelnikov won the 1996 French Open and 1999 Australian Open, while Pierce was the champion at the 1995 Australian Open and 2000 French Open.

Li Na, playing her first legends event in Melbourne since winning the women’s singles title in 2014 — and giving this epic speech that people still remember fondly.

Li Na of China poses with the trophy after winning the Australian Open women's singles final in 2014. picture: William West/AFP
Li Na of China poses with the trophy after winning the Australian Open women's singles final in 2014. picture: William West/AFP

Courtney Walsh 7.30am: Legends takes to courts

We enter the second week of the Australian Open with an action-packed day of Rd of 16 matches, headlined by women’s legend Serena Williams and six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.

—

1- SIMONA HALEP (Romania) v 16-SERENA WILLIAMS (US)

• When: 7pm, Rod Laver Arena

• Head-to-head: 1-8

• Preview: The American superstar has dominated this rivalry but there is a caveat — they have not played for three years and Halep has become a grand slam champion and worthy No. 1 in that time.

This match will rest on the Williams’ racquet, though that is scarcely a surprise as most of her outings do. She has been particularly impressive to date, both in Perth during the Hopman Cup and now in Melbourne, having dropped just nine games to date in three matches.

But Halep is a clear step up in class and the reigning French Open champion showed impressive fight in her opening two matches before thrashing Serena’s sister Venus on Saturday. An intriguing match awaits.

Simona Halep celebrates after defeating Venus Williams. Picture: AAP.
Simona Halep celebrates after defeating Venus Williams. Picture: AAP.

—

4-ALEXANDER ZVEREV (Germany) V 16-MILOS RAONIC (Canada)

• When: 2nd match on day session, Rod Laver Arena.

• Head-to-head: 1-1

• Preview: This is another intriguing match-up. Raonic has been impressive throughout the Australian Open and looks to be reclaiming the form that made him a genuine contender at grand slam level a couple of years ago.

But he faces the leading candidate of the young generation in Alexander Zverev, who was particularly impressive against Australian Alex Bolt on Saturday night. It is only a matter of time before Zverev, the winner of the ATP Tour finals and three other Masters series events, carries the form into grand slams. He is seeking to make his second major quarter-final after reaching the last eight in Paris last year.

It will be a big-serving affair, so whomever is able to seize the few opportunities that present on return will emerge the victor.

Alexander Zverev waves after winning his first round match against Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene last week. Picture: AP.
Alexander Zverev waves after winning his first round match against Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene last week. Picture: AP.

—

4-NAOMI OSAKA (Japan) V 13-ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA (Latvia)

• When: Not before midday, Rod Laver Arena.

• Head-to-head: 2-2

• Preview: This is another intriguing match-up between the US Open champion and tough Latvian. When they played in Brisbane a fortnight ago, Osaka emerged the victor in a tight three-set affair, but it is clear that Sevastova causes the Japanese star some problems.

As with Williams, the match will rest on Osaka’s racquet given how prodigious a ball-striker she is. She was tested by the tricky Su-Wei Hsieh in her last round but dominated once she had found a solution. Sevastova, a semi-finalist at the US Open last year, has been in sound form against talented rivals and poses a real threat.

Naomi Osaka. Picture: AFP.
Naomi Osaka. Picture: AFP.

—

1-NOVAK DJOKOVIC (Serbia) V 15-DANILL MEDVEDEV (Russia)

• When: Second on night session, Rod Laver Arena.

• Head-to-head: 2-0

• Preview: The six-time champion has been in strong form to start the Australian Open, a third set blip against Denis Shapovalov aside. But that served only to make the Serbian angry, with Djokovic dealing out a bagel against the emerging Canadian star.

Medvedev is a rapidly improving Russian who, despite being a regular winner, does not seem to draw the profile of other emerging youngsters. But the 22-year-old is a significant talent and is a far stronger player than when they met twice in 2017.

Novak Djokovic. Picture: AAP.
Novak Djokovic. Picture: AAP.

7am: How the Aussies fared on day seven

WOMEN’S SINGLES, FOURTH ROUND

Ash Barty bt Maria Sharapova (Russia) 4-6 6-1 6-4

More Coverage

Sharapova’s grunts silenced
WILL SWANTON
Changing of the guard as King Roger ousted
Courtney Walsh

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