Australian Open 2021 day 3 live: Kyrgios wins in five sets; Aussie Tomljanovic in heartbreaking exit; Nick Kyrgios wins second set
Nick Kyrgios has won his second-round match against Frenchman Ugo Humbert after five sets and 3½ hours.
- Injury drama for Barty
- Former champ out in four hour epic
- ‘Not in Asia’: awkward moment after upset
- ‘It’s a joke’ Sandgren’s final jab
- Aussies in action on day three
Welcome to our rolling coverage of day three of the 2021 Australian Open from Melbourne Park. Follow the latest below.
Agencies 11.09pm Kyrgios wins in five sets
Nick Kyrgios has won his second-round match against against Frenchman Ugo Humbert after five sets and 3½ hours on John Cain Arena.
The Australian rallied from two sets to one down, winning 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
Kyrgios admitted to “dark thoughts” during “one of the craziest matches I’ve ever played”.
“I was thinking about all the shit I was going to cop if I lost that match,” he said.
He said he was inspired by friend and fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, who has battled injuries throughout his career. The pair play doubles together on Thursday.
Kyrgios will face Dominic Thiem in the third round.
Agencies 10.30pm: Kyrgios fights back
Nick Kyrgios has fought back to take his second-round match against Frenchman Ugo Humbert to a fifth set after nearly three hours on John Cain Arena.
Joe Barton 9.15pm: Aussie Tomljanovic in heartbreaking exit
Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic has suffered yet another heartbreaking grand slam exit — as second seed Simona Halep snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The two-time grand slam winner dug deep and called on all of her championship qualities to reach the third round following a gruelling 2½ -hour encounter.
For Tomljanovic, this one will hurt enormously.
The 27-year-old had never beaten Halep, from four previous encounters. Never beaten a grand slam champion, nor a former world No.1 — and it’s been seven years since she’d progressed past the second round of a slam.
It would’ve been the biggest victory of her career. Instead, it will be one which could haunt her.
“Absolute heartbreak for Tomljanovic,” said Casey Dellacqua in commentary.
But on Wednesday night, she could taste it. Playing lights-out tennis, dominating the baseline rallies and mixing in beautiful drop shots, it was to be her night.
After the pair split the opening two sets, Tomjlanovic — who spoke this week of needing to close out tight matches — made her move, surging to a 5-2 lead in the deciding set.
But with the finish line in sight, and her boyfriend — Italian 10th seed Mattero Berrettini — watching on from the stands, Tomjlanovic again stumbled.
In a match that featured a mighty 15 breaks of serve, Tomljanovic lost five straight games — including two more breaks — in a stunning collapse against the mighty Romanian.
“Mentally I think I was a little bit stronger and I had the desire to win the match and I didn’t want to give up,” said Halep.
Agencies 9pm: Kyrgios wins second set
Nick Kyrgios has won the second set against France’s 29th seed Ugo Humbert to make it one set each.
The Australian lost the first set 7-5 in 42 minutes, throwing his racquet to the ground in frustration at the end of the set.
But he fought early in the second set, breaking Humbert’s serve and holding his lead to win 6-4, despite showing signs of an injured knee and some frustrated exchanges with officials.
The pair have been slugging it out for an hour and 23 minutes.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic is one set each in her battle against women’s second seed Simona Halep on Margaret Court Arena.
Agencies 8pm: Aussie Tomljanovic leads against second seed
Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic has won the first set against women’s second seed Simona Halep. Tomljanovic won 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena.
Will Swanton 7.10pm: Tomic should have been dragged off court
This was never going to Bernie Tomic’s finest hour. If it lasted that long. There’s been some mighty efforts from homegrown folks at the Australian Open – Thanasi Kokkinakis’ comeback victory in a cheapo Kmart T-shirt after wrestling injuries and illnesses could have brought a tear to a glass eye – but Tomic’s second-round match against Canadian Denis Shapovalov was never going to be anything more than a swift disappearing act.
He dogged it so badly in embarrassing first and third sets they should have dragged him off the court.
Tomic the tank engine lived on. He engaged briefly in the battle in the second set but was kicked out of Melbourne Park 6-1 6-3 6-2.
“The effort level is about a two out of 10,” said John Fitzgerald in commentary in the first set. In the third set as spectators walked out on Tomic, Fitzgerald added, “This is getting a bit cringe-worthy.
“No-one can tell me he’s trying here … I wonder if we’ll see Bernard Tomic back at the Australian Open? I wonder. That was very disappointing. Bernard is a talent and he’s not fulfilling that talent. Not even close. It’s a shame. It’s a bit sad.”
We dare not suggest Tomic’s alleged coach, the X-rated internet identity Vanessa Sierra, had not poured over footage of Shapovalov and come up with a masterful game plan for her charge. She would have performed her duties diligently.
Listen, Bernie, she would have said, keep swinging your serve wide to his backhand on the deuce court. Skid it low, drag him sideways. He’ll slice his return, and you can to pounce on that. Slap a winner from your second ball or come in behind something deep and flat. It’ll get him off-balance run and keep the points short.
Adrian McMurray 6.32pm: Djokovic through to third round
Novak Djokovic has progressed to the third round, overcoming Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-7(7-3) 7-6(7-2) 6-3 in 3hr 30min.
The American gave the World No 1 a stern test, and at times it looked like this one was going to go the distance. But Novak’s class won out, and he was quite complimentary post-match.
The number 1⃣ gets it done! 💪
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 10, 2021
Fair play to Frances Tiafoe for giving him a hard time, but Novak Djokovic is moving on!
WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/TYsz5RZN3Z#9WWOS #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/60zwLAbuAZ
“Frances played great. It was high quality tennis. He gave it all,” he said of Tiafoe.
Djokovic will next face the winner of the all-American clash between Opelka and Fritz that’s currently being played.
Chris Cavanagh 6.10pm: Tomic crashes out
Bernard Tomic is the latest local hope to exit the Australian Open after suffering a straight-sets defeat to 11th seed Denis Shapovalov.
Tomic looked largely disinterested in the opening set, before putting up a fight in a second set arm-wrestle.
But Shapovalov had too many tricks in his bag and ran away with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 victory in 1hr 47min.
Shapovalov had labelled Tomic “no joke” going into the contest and suggested the crowd would be behind Tomic.
However, support in a small afternoon crowd on Court 3 was largely split.
Shapovalov will face fellow Canadian young gun and 20th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in his third-round match.
Adrian McMurray 5.59pm: Injured Venus out, Djokovic battles on
Venus Williams is out of the Australian Open, downed 6-1 6-0 by Sara Errani. Venus rolled her ankle in the first set, and had strapping on her knee, but she played on – hobbling around the court. It was a courageous effort but sad to see such a champion struggle with an injury and bow out like that.
Heartbreaking scenes for @Venuseswilliams. 😢
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 10, 2021
WATCH: @9now
STREAM: https://t.co/7uAf53PWTv #9WWOS #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/Mc9LaW3ZqA
Meanwhile on centre court Djokovic has won the third in another tie-break 7-6(7-2), Tiafoe leading 3-2 in the fourth set. This is a really entertaining contest – they’re treating us all to some great tennis.
Chris Cavanagh 5.48pm: Tomic set for straight sets exit
A relaxed Bernard Tomic has fought back against frustrated opponent Denis Shapovalov, but is still staring down the barrel of a straight-sets exit from the Australian Open.
After a first set that lasted only 23 minutes and went in favour of Shapovalov 6-1, Tomic fought back strongly in a second set arm-wrestle.
The opening three games of the second set lasted 24 minutes alone, frustrating Shapovalov who struggled to hold serve.
But the Canadian hit back strongly to take the second set 6-3, leaving Tomic in serious trouble.
Russell Gould 5.41pm: Injury drama for Barty
Less than 24 hours after her barnstorming opening to the Australian Open world number one Ash Barty has thrown a potential injury curveball in to her campaign.
Barty took to the courts for her opening doubles match on Wednesday with a heavily strapped thigh.
It came the day after she blitzed her opening round opponent with a 6-0,6-0 victory.
Barty played out her doubles match with American partner Jennifer Brady, with the pair winning 6-2, 6-4 in just over an hour.
While she played out the match, Barty did look restrained on court 13.
Barty is scheduled to play fellow Aussie Daria Gavrilova on Thursday in their second round clash.
Adrian McMurray 5.08pm: Not all going Novak's way
Is Djokovic in trouble here? Tiafoe has taken the second set in a tie break 7-6(7-3). And it’s currently 4-all in the second. We couldn’t see another upset … could we?!
😲 "We've got ourselves a match!" 😲
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 10, 2021
Frances Tiafoe has taken the second set against Djokovic! 😱
WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/TYsz5RZN3Z#9WWOS #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/iz1kBMI410
Things aren’t looking good for Bernie. Shapovalov won the first set 6-1 in just 23 minutes … You can’t see Tomic coming back here against the 11th seed.
Thiem has wrapped up his match with Koepfer in 1hr 39min 6-4 6-0 6-2.
Meanwhile Venus Williams is in trouble. She’s rolled her ankle, has strapping on her knee and is struggling to move around the court. Sara Errani is up 5-1.
Adrian McMurray 4.18pm: ‘I’m dying’: Former champ out in four hour epic
Fucsovics has won in the most incredible fashion 7-5 6-1 4-6 2-6 7-6(11-9). Wawrinka had a total of 18 match points – including three straight in the tie-break, but Fucsovics got the win on his fifth match point. Wawrinka fought back from two sets down but it wasn’t to be. That’s the 17th seed gone, that match went just shy of four hours. After that one, Fucsovics says he’s (understandably) spent.
What. A. Match. 😱
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 10, 2021
Fucsovics survives multiple match points for Wawrinka in the fifth set tiebreak to triumph in a classic ðŸ‘ðŸ‘
7-5 6-1 4-6 2-6 7-6(11) #AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/rbpJM337nU
“I feel like I’m dying, I’m really tired,” he says.
“I work out a lot in the gym and I have a very good team around me. We were training very hard for this.
“This is my favourite grand slam. I reached the fourth round twice, never lost in the first round … I want to enjoy this moment.”
While he won the first set Novak trails Tiafoe 6-5 in the second.
And Dominic Thiem is in action, up 6-4 2-0 against Dominik Koepfer.
Adrian McMurray 3.25pm: Another upset: Kvitova out
Kvitova is out! The ninth seed lost to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 4-6 6-1 1-6 in just over two hours, the 2019 finalist sent packing in the second round. The women’s singles draw is really opening up after Bianca Andreescu, the eighth seed, lost earlier today.
Better news for Wawrinka who’s fought back to send his match with Fucsovics to a fifth. He’s down 2-3 though – one to watch.
Novak meanwhile has won the first set against Tiafoe 6-3.
Adrian McMurray 2.38pm: Duckworth departs, Serena through
Duckworth is gone! Auger-Aliassime wins through to the next round 6-4 6-1 6-2 in 1hr 45min. He’ll face fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov or Bernard Tomic in the next round. Another Canada-Australia battle to look forward to.
🇨🇦 3-0 🇦🇺
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 10, 2021
Felix Auger-Aliassime is through to the third round!🎾
WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/upUGNmzlsS #9WWOS #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/OZQynX0q6F
Serena had little issues with Stojanovic, taking just over an hour to cruise to the 6-3 6-0 win.
Superb form from @serenawilliams.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 10, 2021
Our 7 time champion moves into the round of 32, dismantling Stojanovic 6-3 6-0.#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/hbacPSA5qJ
Wawrinka is battling back against Fucsovics. After losing the first two, he’s won the third 6-4 and is up 3-0 in the fourth. I’d say we’re going the distance on John Cain Arena!
Novak Djokovic isn’t far off on Rod Laver Arena: he faces Frances Tiafoe shortly.
Courtney Walsh 2.01pm: The Queen from the King of Prussia
Strict quarantine may have tripped champions including Bianca Andreescu, Angelique Kerber and Victoria Azarenka in Melbourne in recent days.
But spending a fortnight in her hotel room certainly has not harmed young American Ann Li, who reached the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Li, who progressed when defeating Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-2 7-6 (6), may well boast the best-named birthplace of any Australian Open competitor this year.
Should the 20-year-old rise through the ranks, she may well one day be hailed as the Queen from the King of Prussia. You read right. Li was born in the Pennsylvanian town which sits on the edge of Philadelphia.
Its name stems from a pub in the town dating back to the 18th century called the King of Prussia Inn.
Li will tackle Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the seventh seed, for a spot in the last 16.
Adrian McMurray 1.53pm: Duckworth struggling
Auger-Aliassime is well and truly on top of the Australian, up 6-4 6-1 after getting the break early in the second set and running with it.
Wawrinka meanwhile is in all sorts, down 7-5 6-1. Looks like we’re in for another upset.
Serena Williams is on court and this is one match we doubt we’ll see an upset in, she’s up 5-2 in the first over Stojanovic.
Adrian McMurray 12.50pm: ‘Not in Asia’: awkward moment after upset
Andreescu is gone! Hsieh upsets the eighth seed 6-3 6-2 to move to the third round.
No issues for fellow top 10 player Sabalenka though, she’s through after beating Kasatkina 7-6(7-5) 6-3.
Hsieh was asked post-match about success in her 30s, and her response was quite good.
“Just to remind you, in Asia we don’t say a girl’s age in public,” she told Brett Phillips. Bit of an awkward moment during the on-court interview, but it was all in good humour.
Hsieh: ''Just a reminder, in Asia we normally don't say the girls age in public'' 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I love her! pic.twitter.com/CN0Qs0rgnQ
— LorenaPopa 🕵ï¸â€â™€ï¸ðŸŽ¾ (@popalorena) February 10, 2021
Wawrinka has fought back to take a 5-4 lead over Fucsovics in the first, and Australian James Duckworth has hit Court 3, up 2-1 over Canadian 20th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Adrian McMurray 12.25pm: Eighth seed in strife
It took a tie break but Sabalenka took the first set over Kasatkina 7-6(7-5), and is up 3-1 in the second.
Meanwhile Andreescu is in trouble. Hsieh took the first 6-3 and is up 4-2 in the second.
A HUGE break point for Hsieh! 🔥😱
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 10, 2021
WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/TYsz5RZN3Z#9WWOS #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/j0QybV4Udh
Former champion Stan Wawrinka is down against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, the world No 55 up 3-1 on John Cain Arena.
Out on Court 8, Ann Li – who was part of the hard lockdown crew – is leading Alizé Cornet 6-2 5-4.
Adrian McMurray 11.30am: Big names in action on day three
Plenty of big names in action today.
Serena Williams will take on Serbia’s Nina Stojanovic on centre court, and they’ll be followed by Novak Djokovic and Frances Tiafoe this afternoon. Kvitova, Thiem, Wawrinka and Venus Williams are all to come today, with Osaka, Zverev, Halep and Kyrgios featuring in the night session.
On court now eighth seed Bianca Andreescu is struggling against Su-Wei Hsieh, down 4-0 in the first. And seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka is also down 4-2 to Daria Kasatkina. Could we have more upsets on the cards?
Emily Benammar 11am: ‘It’s a joke’: Sandgren’s final jab
Tennys Sandgren – a name you will be familiar with from about 3.5 weeks ago when he live tweeted his positive COVID-19 result before getting on a charter flight to Australia.
Well, after everything he has had to say about life in Melbourne and lockdown, he was ousted last night by our own Alex de Minaur.
Somewhat surprisingly, the American was quite tactful in his presser.
Asked if he agreed with Benoit Paire’s notion that the tournament was “s..t”, he said: “I don’t know if the whole tournament is a joke.
“The tournament from my perspective might be. I’ve never walked on to a court in a Grand Slam knowing that I’m probably not going to be able to win.
“I’m physically not in shape enough to play with my opponent. I mean, my five-set record is pretty good when I get to a fifth set, I’m in great shape. And today I’m tired after an hour and 10 minutes.
“Like that to me is — and it’s a bit out of my control, and there’s 75 other players in the men’s and women’s field that are in the same boat.
“It’s a hefty number of people, and very good players.
“I don’t know, I wouldn’t say the whole tournament is a joke, but for some players it’s not feasible. It’s just not feasible.”
The top 50 player said the lead-up events had left him in agony and unable to walk.
“How would you imagine prepping for a hot kind of muggy day, three-out-of-five sets against a player like that, that caliber, when you can’t play tennis? You can’t go outside? You can’t. It’s impossible. It’s impossible.
“So I played last week’s event, which probably wasn’t a good idea. It wasn’t hot, it was very mild conditions, and I played two hard three-set matches and I’ve never been more sore in my life after the second round, and I took two days off because I couldn’t walk, and then I hit a couple times before today.
“I mean, it’s just kind of a joke of preparation. But yeah. What are you going to do?”
Courtney Walsh 10.44am: Brutal Barty’s opening statement
After a phenomenal return to the tour last week, Ash Barty opened her Australian Open campaign in ruthless fashion with an astonishing triumph on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night.
Barty demonstrated why she is a clear contender to end a local drought at the Australian Open that dates back to Chris O’Neil’s success in 1978 when she demolished Danka Kovinic 6-0, 6-0.
Despite the scoreline, the world No.1 did not play the perfect match. But nor was she rattled through her first-round match in just 44 minutes after losing just 10 points.
Leading into her return to tennis after a sabbatical of nearly a year, the Australian said she was looking forward to rediscovering “the thrill of the fight”.
But this encounter was more a mismatch than a fair fight as Barty blasted winners regularly against her outclassed rival.
“I still feel (nervous), for sure. I try to come out here and stick to the processes, stick to my routines and just have fun,” she said.
Courtney Walsh 10.30am: Aussies in action on day three
Kyrgios confronts painful Aus Open ‘reality’ after injury, defeat
Playing his first competitive singles outing in 18 months, Nick Kyrgios’ comeback has started in defeat and with a startling admission about his Australian Open fears.
Rival giving Djokovic extra edge as he eyes Grand Slam redemption
Novak Djokovic started his new singles season in style, beating Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata 6-3 6-3. But he knows he has bigger fish to fry — and hopes he has the coach to help him.