Australian Open Day 5: Nick Kyrgios takes on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in third round
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fires up at spectator, with commentators saying he ‘wants to rumble’ as Nick Kyrgios wins a classic in four sets.
Welcome to live coverage of Day 5 of the Australian Open as Aussie hope Nick Kyrgios moves into the Round of 16 with a four-set victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Here’s how the day unfolded.
10.38pm: Kyrgios wins it in four
In arguably his best performance at the Australian Open, 17th seed Nick Kyrgios secured a Round of 16 clash against third seed Grigor Dimitrov with a 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 over French 15th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Rod Laver Arena.
Kyrgios came back from a double mini-break down in the fourth set tiebreaker to take it 7-5 as Tsonga struggled with a knee injury.
“It was amazing. I’d never won a match on this court coming here, so you guys (crowd) were amazing tonight,” Kyrgios told Jim Courier in his post-match interview.
Playing Jo I was obviously very nervous. He was the guy I looked up to as a kid, still do. He’s a great guy, a champion of the game and I’m just happy to get through.”
Almost down and out in the fourth set tiebreaker, Kyrgios said he was preparing to go to a fifth set.
“(With Tsonga up 5-2 in the fourth set tiebreaker) I thought he was going to hit two big first serves and I was in a lot of trouble, but I just stayed composed, tried to make returns and fight it out,” he said.
“I’m just happy to get through. I’ve got doubles tomorrow and I've got a tough match against Grigor so I’m looking forward to it.”
Pressed by Courier on whether he would play doubles with his hitting partner Matt Reid, Kyrgios replied sheepishly: “Ah, yeah ... probably. Probably. He (Reid) is a good mate of mine (so) I’ll see how I feel.”
It was then Kyrgios’s turn to get nervous for altogether different reasons, as Courier recalled the Aussie’s recent interview in which he said he’d like actor Will Smith to play him if a movie was ever made about his life.
Smith was courtside for the match and laughed as Kyrgios smiled and replied: “Honestly when I saw him (Smith) out here I was so nervous. I was like, oh my God, people think I’m cool but I just wanted him to think I was the coolest person ever.”
A thumbs up from Smith at Kyrgios’s “coolness” elicited some more confidence from Kyrgios, who told him: “I’ve got to tell him, I’ve got (Smith’s recent movie) Focus on my phone and I watch it every time I have a flight. Best movie ever. But it’s because of (Aussie co-star) Margot Robbie by the way!”
The home crowd erupts 🇦🇺🙌
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
For the 2nd time in his career, @NickKyrgios is through to the 4R at the #AusOpen d [15] Jo-Wilfried #Tsonga 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(6) 7-6(5). pic.twitter.com/wKGDLtB6tG
9.35pm: Kyrgios up, Jo fires up
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has lost his cool at a spectator in the stands, forcing the chair umpire to issue a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct as he issued a disturbing rant after losing the third set against Nick Kyrgios.
As Tsonga remonstrated in French, chair umpire repeatedly told him “you've got to stop”, then finally issuing a code violation when the Frenchman refused to back down.
Channel 7 commentators Jim Courier and Roger Rasheed, who both speak French, then speculated that a spectator was the source of Tsonga’s anger.
“I swear I heard him speak in French and say ‘he’s got to come here’. He might be requesting a supervisor or someone like that to come to the court but it's hard to say what he’s aggravated about,” Courier said.
“It’s easy to see the anger though.”
Jo-Wilfried shouting something along the lines of "Bring him down here and I'll kick his ass" (literally "settle his account.")
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 19, 2018
Jo later added "He said something to me and I do what I want."
Unclear whom in the stands this is directed at.
#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/dz3yIdZHOZ
Rasheed added further context: “Towards the end of the tiebreaker there was someone in the stands saying something to him, and he (Tsonga) was saying ‘come here’ to somebody in the stands,” he said.
Courier: “So he wants to get it on with someone in the stands? Okay. He wants to rumble.”
Rasheed: “100 per cent.”
Courier: “So that’s going to give him a little bit of fire, there’s no doubt about it. He’s got plenty of it.”
Kyrgios leads 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 0-1 in the fourth set.
9.05pm: Rafa through to Round of 16
Serious Rafatude! 🇪🇸@RafaelNadal makes it into yet another 4R at the #AusOpen d Damir #Dzumhur 6-1 6-3 6-1. pic.twitter.com/5o9BG1ddi1
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
8.50pm: Who’s Rod Laver Arena’s big star?
Seems like the fans are enjoying the presence of actor Will Smith as much as they are the tennis being played by Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Rod Laver Arena tonight.
The Prince of Bel Air gets a rousing reception from @RodLaverArena as the Men In Black theme gets played 🎶#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/MqTQBAgmjh
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
8.35pm: Tsonga takes second set
We’re all locked up at Rod Laver Arena, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga taking the second set 6-4 to make it one set apiece against Nick Kyrgios in the pair’s third round clash.
Tsonga didn’t lose a point on his first serve in the second set, with a brilliant first serve percentage of 77% complemented by 7 aces.
The Frenchman also hit 16 winners to Kyrgios’s 4 in a dominant display.
.@tsonga7 levels it up on @RodLaverArena, taking the second set 6-4. The Fresh Prince is happy ðŸ‘#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/d2f3VzdIvc
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
8.27pm: Tsonga steals march in second
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has struck back in the second set, taking an early break as he attempts to level his match against Nick Kyrgios at one set apiece.
Tsonga is serving at 4-3 in the second set as Kyrgios struggles to limit his unforced errors.
Over on Margaret Court Arena, Rafael Nadal has taken a two sets to love lead over Damir Dzumhur.
8.02pm: Kyrgios takes first set
After a first set in which both men served brilliantly, it was a double fault from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga that ultimately handed Nick Kyrgios the opening set in a tiebreaker.
With Kyrgios serving at 6-4, Tsonga was able to save a set point with a brilliant drop shot following a baseline rally.
But he couldn't hold on in the following point, double faulting as he attempted to get the tiebreaker to 6-6.
There it is! 🇦🇺@NickKyrgios takes the first against Jo-Wilfred #Tsonga 7-6(5)#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/50Rp7qt4bq
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
7.50pm: Tie-break looming
We’re headed for a first set tiebreaker, with Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga locked at 5-5.
Kyrgios had an early break in the first set, but with the Aussie serving at 3-2, Tsonga was able to break back.
With Smith in attendance, @NickKyrgios 'Wills' the ball over the line and out... ðŸ˜#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Zh1Zp6YDun
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
7.26pm: Early break for Aussie
Nick Kyrgios is on track to take the first set against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. He’s up 3-2 with a break and about to serve.
Early break for @NickKyrgios!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
👊#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/6KQ6B4bpal
The match between two of tennis’ biggest entertainers has also attracted one of Hollywood’s biggest names — actor Will Smith is courtside at Rod Laver Arena.
7.15pm: Kyrgios sanctioned before match begins
Aussie Nick Kyrgios has fallen foul of the chair umpire before his third round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga even began at Rod Laver Arena.
Kyrgios was issued with a code violation for not being ready to start play within the one-minute time limit issued by the chair umpire after warm-ups.
The Aussie had gone back to his chair to change his shirt and wasn’t ready to resume within the one-minute limit, which earned the wrath of the umpire.
He’s likely to receive a fine for the breach.
7.05pm: Kyrgios, Tsonga ready to rumble
Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have made their way onto Rod Laver Arena for their third round Australian Open clash. We’re just moments away from a start.
💡 Friday Night Lights 💡@NickKyrgios and @Tsonga7 walk out onto a packed @RodLaverArena!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/KUVdipO0dK
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
Nicole Jeffery 6.27pm: Dimitrov has ‘allsorts’ of fun
Nke might have dressed him like a licorice allsort in Melbourne, but third seed Grigor Dimitrov has taken the chocolates again in a tough four-setter against Russia’s Andrey Rublev.
Dimitrov celebrated like he’d won the tournament after vanquishing Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
“I knew what to expect, I knew what I had to do. Certain things of my game are not working at the moment but I am pleased I won the match,” the 26-year-old Bulgarian said, adding that he might go and practice for a bit before putting his feet up.
He’s had a tough road this week. He fought his way through a five-setter to win 8-6 in the fifth in his previous match, and it doesn’t get any easier from here.
He next plays the winner of tonight’s feature match between Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
“I’m going to be watching that match from the ice bath,” Dimitrov said.
"Two great tennis players... What can I say?"
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
[3] @GrigorDimitrov on facing either [17] @NickKyrgios or [15] @Tsonga7 in the 4R ðŸ¿#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/xAcp5k1DlG
Nicole Jeffery 5.59pm: Cool change finally arrives
The predicted cool change has arrived at Melbourne Park.
At 5.38pm, the temperature had dropped to 28.2 degrees, from a peak of 40.2 degrees just after 2pm, with a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature of 31.1, just short of the level required to enact the Australian Open’s extreme heat policy.
“We did come close to implementing the Extreme Heat Policy today,” Australian Open referee Wayne McKewen said.
“Although we did reach the 40.2 degree mark at 2.25 pm, the WBGT reading was 31.1. We had our weather experts from the Bureau of Meteorology regularly providing updates on the temperature and the timing of the forecast cool change. We were fully prepared to stop play once the WBGT climbed to 32.5, but the temperature dropped 4.9 degrees within 26 minutes when the cool change began as predicted.”
Nicole Jeffery 5.55pm: ‘It’s meant to hurt’
Kyle Edmund is a pale-faced, red-haired Yorkshireman who was forced to battle it out over five sets and three hours and 34 minutes in near-40 degree temperatures against Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili for a prized place in the fourth round today.
Edmund eventually triumphed 7-6, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 7-5 and unlike some of his fellow players had no complaints about the conditions beyond acknowledging that it was tough out there.
“It’s a professional sport. It’s meant to hurt, it’s not meant to be easy at some point of it,’’ he declared, explaining exactly why he’s heading for the second week of the grand slam.
Nicole Jeffery 5.36pm: ‘I got a free one-hour lesson’
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, 15, made her grand slam debut in Melbourne this week but she’s already quite a character.
After losing her third round match to compatriot and fourth seed Elina Svitolina, 6-2 6-2, she arrived at the press conference with a one-liner ready.
“How much you have to pay Svitolina to have one-hour lesson, so I got it for free,’’ she joked.
However Svitolina returned serve saying that the lesson had been “expensive, because we play for prizemoney’’.
The difference in prize money between the third round ($142,500) and fourth round ($240,000) is almost $100,000.
Kostyuk still made by far her biggest payday in her young life as the first 15-year-old since Martina Hingis in 1996 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
But it will be less $2500, because she was fined for a code violation after her second round match, where the umpire saw her mother coaching her by demonstrating a shot.
4.58pm: Players wilt in sweltering heat
Australian Open organisers have again decided against enacting the extreme heat policy as players battled through a second straight day of sweltering conditions at Melbourne Park.
The temperature peaked at 40C just after 2pm today, with the situation made tougher for players by hot, gusting northerly winds.
Frenchwoman Alize Cornet became distressed early in the second set of her third- round encounter with Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
Cornet slumped to the court behind the baseline on Hisense Arena serving at 1-1 and was attended to by medical staff during an injury timeout after she lost the game.
Ice was applied to her neck, shoulders and legs as her blood pressure was taken after she hobbled to her chair.
She recovered to play out the match but was beaten 7-5 6-4.
The drama comes after French star Gael Monfils became distressed during his second-round loss to six-time champion Novak Djokovic on Thursday. Monfils claimed he had put his health at risk by remaining on court and urged players not to feel ashamed to walk off court if they felt similarly affected.
The Australian Open’s extreme heat policy can be enacted by the tournament referee when one of two triggers are reached — when the ambient temperature reaches 40C or when the wet bulb index (a measure of heat and humidity) passes 32.5C.
Also today, Croatian Petra Martic revealed she needed to take painkillers during her three-set win over Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum.
Martic prevailed 6-3 3-6 7-5 in her third-round match on Rod Laver Arena where court temperatures soared during the hottest part of the day.
“It was really ugly ... I think we were lucky to play on Rod Laver because we had some shade behind so you could hide for a few seconds in between the points,” Martic said.
“I got some blisters and I took painkillers after the second set, because it really made it difficult for me to move. It’s really tough on your feet to play in these conditions.”
Roger Federer said the heat was part and parcel of the Australian Open and believes organisers are doing their best to put player welfare before profits.
4.30pm: Pablo busts a move into Round of 16
Spanish 10th seed Pablo Carreño Busta has booked himself a Round of 16 showdown against either sixth seed Marin Čilić or unseeded American Ryan Harrison with a 7-6 4-6 7-5 7-5 victory over Gilles Muller.
The life of Pablo is a good one 💪🔥@pablocarreno91 punches his ticket into 4R d #Muller 7-6(4) 4-6 7-5 7-5.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/QA6ekRD3lA
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
3.45pm: Heat bites in Melbourne
A cool change is setting in, but spare a thought for the players, officials and specatators who were forced to suffer through 40 degree heat during Australian Open action at Melbourne Park earlier today.
A doctor was called to Hisense Arena after French star Alize Cornet fell to the ground in searing heat. Her blood pressure was taken and ice towels were used to reduce her body temperature during a three-minute injury time out in her match against Belgian Elise Mertens.
Cornet was eventually able to continue, losing in straight sets, 7-5 6-4.
🌞🌞🌞
— 7Sport (@7Sport) January 19, 2018
WATCH: Scary scenes as Alize Cornet breaks down in scorching heat at #AusOpenhttps://t.co/kj73VzmDwS @7tennis pic.twitter.com/44g659kKhP
3.18pm: Svitolina’s experience shines
The experience and consistency of No.4 seed Elina Svitolina have proved far too much for the precocious talent of teen sensation Marta Kostyuk in an all-Ukrainian third-round encounter at the Australian Open.
Svitolina — the only seeded player remaining in her quarter of the draw — won 6-2 6-2 on another searing hot day in Melbourne.
Her next opponent will be Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova, who moved into the last 16 at a major for the first time with a commanding 6-1 6-4 win over Poland’s Magda Linette.
Pre-tournament title favourite Svitolina won Brisbane two weeks ago and is among five women in contention to replace Simona Halep as world No.1, depending on results at Melbourne Park.
She needed only 59 minutes to end the campaign of 2017 Australian Open junior champion Kostyuk, who committed 31 unforced errors, compared with only 11 from the racquet of Svitolina.
“It is very special for me,” said the 23-year-old Svitolina, after reaching the last 16 at the Australian Open for the first time.
“It’s sad that it was against a Ukrainian girl. That’s always tough. “(Kostyuk) always fights until the end.
“She has a very bright future and you’re definitely going to hear a lot more about her.”
3pm: Edmund survives scare
Brit Kyle Edmund is the first man through to the last 16 of the Australian Open after surviving a torrid five-set battle with Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Playing on shadeless show court 2 in temperatures nudging 40 degrees, Edmund prevailed 7-6 (7-0) 3-6 4-6 6-0 7-5 after three hours and 34 minutes of toil.
Edmund’s reward is a fourth-round clash on Sunday with either veteran Croat Ivo Karlovic or Italian Andreas Seppi.
2.45pm: Svitolina ousts 15yo countrywoman
The dream run of 15-year-old qualifier Marta Kostyuk has come to an end at Melbourne Park, the Ukrainian beaten by her fourth-seeded countrywoman Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-2.
In temperatures around 40 degrees, Kostyuk was no match for the 23-year-old, who showed the kind of form that has many pundits tipping her to go all the way to her first Grand Slam victory.
2.05pm: Mercury rises in Melbourne
We’ve reached 40 degrees in Melbourne as players — and spectators — do everything they can to stay cool during Australian Open action at Melbourne Park.
1.43pm: That pretty much says it all
🇺🇦 vs 🇺🇦@ElinaSvitolina: 23-years-old, world No. 4@marta_kostyuk: 15-years-old, world No. 522
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
Up now on @RodLaverArena! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/gjO5ef0Fzw
1.29pm: Martic overcomes Thai fighter
Croatian world number 24 Petra Martic will play the winner of the Alize Cornet/Elise Mertens match for a place in the quarter finals after overcoming Thai world number 124 Luksika Kumkhum in their third round clash.
Martic won 6-3 3-6 7-5 in an entertaining match on Rod Laver Arena, which will now play host to the intriguing clash between Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina and her 15-year-old countrywoman, qualifier Marta Kostyuk.
1.21pm: Bryan brothers are through
Doubles legends Bob and Mike Bryan remain on course for their 17th Grand Slam doubles title after a hard-fought 6-7 6-4 6-4 over Philipp Oswald and Max Mirnyi.
It could set up a mouthwatering Round of 16 clash against Australia’s Nick Kyrgios and Matt Reid, who first must overcome French pair Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin in their second round clash, scheduled for tomorrow.
12.45pm: An upset looming?
The Australian’s tennis writer Courtney Walsh believes an upset could be about to unfold on Margaret Court Arena, where Spanish 10th seed Pablo Carreño Busta has just taken to the court against Luxembourg’s world number 28, Gilles Muller.
Here’s what Walsh wrote earlier today:
“ Look for Gilles Muller to do what Gilles Simon could not do for us on Wednesday, namely bring an end to Pablo Carreño Busta’s tournament. The Luxembourg lefty revels in Australian conditions and looks as knockout chance against the Spaniard in the second match on Margaret Court Arena.”
.@pablocarreno91 🇪🇸 vs Gilles #Muller 🇫🇷 up now on Margaret Court Arena!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
Who do you think will win?#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/GLEVvvzRvn
12.30pm: Qualifier advances to Round of 16
The first woman through to the Round of 16 is a qualifier, with world no.130 Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic defeating Polish world number 74 Magda Linette in straight sets on Margaret Court Arena, 6-1 6-4.
Allertova will face the winner of the duel of the Ukrainians — fourth seed Elina Svitolina and 15-year-old qualifier Marta Kostyuk.
On Court 2, British world number 49 Kyle Edmund has taken the first set against Georgia’s world number 61 Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Denisa #Allertova through to R4!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
The qualifier from 🇨🇿 plays winner of Svitolina vs Kostyuk...#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/sp1tV7owdo
12pm: Crowd factor crucial for Kyrgios
Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios makes his first appearance on Rod Laver Arena at this year’s Australian Open when he takes on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the third round tonight.
And he’ll be relying on the crowd to help get him over the line against the man he grew up idolising.
.@NickKyrgios will be looking to people power to help carry him over the line against childhood hero Jo Wilfried Tsonga tonight.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/pOWS7GfWKs
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2018
11.30am: Trolls target Dasha
Australian star Daria Gavrilova has been forced to block users on Instagram after copping abuse from punters who’d backed her to beat Belgian Elise Mertens in her second round match at the Australian Open this week.
Gavrilova looked to be cruising to a one set to love lead when ahead 5-0 in the first set in a match that got underway just before midnight on Wednesday.
But she lost seven straight games to surrender the set, ultimately going down 7-5, 6-3 in a match best remembered for a controversial decision by the match umpire to not allow Gavrilova to challenge a call in the second set.
After the match, Gavrilova revealed she had been targeted by punters who’d backed her to win the match, but lost money.
“Thanks everyone who keeps supporting me and for all your sweet messages! And ... shhh to all the betting people ... I copped it hard last night. Only people I follow can comment on my posts now..so my family doesn’t see all the ‘love’ I get.”
11.00am: Tennys the winner
Do not adjust your sets: There is a tennis player named Tennys and he hails from Tennessee. And he plays tennis rather well, having just knocked out world number nine Stan Wawrinka in straight sets, after handing out a similar thrashing to Jeremy Chardy in his first match.
Will Tennys keep winning? Only minnow Maximilian Marterer stands in the way of Tennys making it into the quarter finals and a guarantee of at least a $750,000 pay day.
10.34am: Greatest of all time
Tennis fans who also like a spot of art house cinema might chuckle when they see one of today’s matches features Andrey Rublev of Russia. Not to be confused with the eponymous hero of Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1966 cult classic, Andrei Rublev.
The latter was voted by The Guardian as the greatest art house film of all time. Like the phenomenon of female players grunting and screaming, the film is something many people don’t get, but must be experienced and wondered at.
Unlike a tennis match, few characters are clearly identified, little actually happens, and what does happen isn’t necessarily in chronological order. Its subject is a 15th-century icon painter and national hero, yet we never see him paint, nor does he do anything heroic.
For fans who would bet on two flies crawling up a wall, a punt on Andrey Rublev might be a good omen bet.
8.33am: ‘You’re only 15, how could you do that?’
Remember the name Marta Kostyuk ... because you’re going to be hearing a lot more about her in the years to come.
The Ukrainian sensation became the first 15-year-old since Martina Hingis in 1996 to reach the third round of the Australian Open when she defeated local hope Olivia Rogowska in straight sets on Wednesday.
Even if she loses to fourth-seeded countrywoman Elina Svitolina on Rod Laver Arena today (second match on), Kostyuk is poised to jump from world no.491 to somewhere in the top 250 when rankings are updated post-tournament.
She’s also guaranteed a minimum $142,500 prizemoney — not a bad summer job for a teenager at all!
In a video for the Australian Open, Kostyuk opened up on how her run at the tournament was changing her life.
The reaction from fans? “Like, you are only 15, how could you do that?” she says.
“I got plus 15,000 followers and I got my Instagram account verified. I feel like people are starting to be interested in me.”
You know you've made it when...your Instagram account gets verified.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2018
Meet teen sensation Marta Kostyuk. She's 2nd on RLA today#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/7HBKxPkFHy
8am: Tickets more important than players?
World no.2 Roger Federer says the heat is part and parcel of the Australian Open and believes organisers are doing their best to put player welfare before profits.
Six-time Open champion Novak Djokovic, who played in searing temperatures in Melbourne yesterday, said a big-business approach was pushing players to the limit at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic said he had struggled to draw breath at times in his win over Gael Monfils, where 67C was recorded at ground level on Rod Laver Arena.
And it’s not going to get any better for the players today, with a maximum temperature of 42 degrees forecast for Melbourne. It could lead to the tournament’s extreme heat policy — in which matches on outside courts are halted and roofs are closed on all three indoor-capable venues — being enforced for the first time since 2014. The policy is triggered when the ambient temperature surpasses 40C and a wet-bulb reading of more than 32.5C is recorded.
As players struggled with temperatures in the high 30s yesterday, Djokovic said tournament organisers should consider waiting until temperatures dropped before sending players out on court.
The superstar Serb hinted that ticket sales were viewed as more important to increasingly corporate-minded tennis bosses.
But Federer, who himself has won five Open titles, said there had been worse conditions in Melbourne and players must prepare as best they could for the heat.
“You do know when you come to Australia the heat can sometimes be problematic but everyone faces similar issues,” Federer said after his round two night match, when the temperature was still about 30 degrees.
“Sure I was watching the other players suffer but as long as nothing bad happens it’s all good.”
Federer said there was no easy solution for tournament organisers, with roof closures and match delays also presenting unfair circumstances across the field.
“On a day like today, what do you do — do you stop all matches?” the world No.2 said.
“Lucky guys on the big courts, do they get to play under the roof? Do the other guys get postponed to the next day and is that great?
“I honestly can’t complain — the ATP is doing a nice job and there’s a lot of physios and communication going on from officials towards us players.”
7.45am: Kyrgios ready to climb
A top 10 world ranking will be within Nick Kyrgios’s reach should he overcome his childhood idol, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in the third round of the Australian Open tonight.
Victory over Viktor Troicki unofficially propelled Kyrgios to number 15 in the world, up from 17 ... but with the likes of David Goffin, Jack Sock, Kevin Anderson, Stan Wawrinka and Sam Querrey already eliminated, there is much to gain for the Australian.
Having been eliminated by Andreas Seppi in the second round in 2017, Kyrgios has few points to defend — a luxury that many of his contemporaries don’t have. Swiss star Wawrinka, eliminated in the second round by US rookie Tennys Sandgren, is a prime example: he is likely to fall from world no.8 to around world no.15 when the rankings are updated post-tournament after failing to match his semi-final appearance from 2017.
Victory in the tournament could see Kyrgios on the cusp of the top five in the world. But that’s not going to be an easy task, as a win over Tsonga today presents another tough task in the fourth round against either third seed Grigor Dimitrov or rising Russian Andrey Rublev.
Courtney Walsh 7.30am: Day 5 preview
After Ash Barty again showed great composure to beat the talented Camila Giorgi last night, Nick Kyrgios picks up the burden of shouldering national expectations in the Australian Open today.
The 22-year-old faces former Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a highly anticipated third round clash on Rod Laver Arena.
World No.1 Rafael Nadal returns to action, so too French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, Grigor Dimitrov and Caroline Wozniacki.
AUSSIE WATCH
* 17-Nick KYRGIOS vs 15-Jo-Wilfried TSONGA (Rod Laver Arena, 7pm): The Australian has been in strong form all summer. He followed an impressive effort when claiming his first title on home soil in Brisbane with solid victories over Rogerio Dutra Silva and Viktor Troicki in Melbourne. But this is another step up against a player of true quality whose best grand slam results have come in Melbourne. Tsonga is now firmly in the veteran category but he has made at least the semi-finals on four occasions in Melbourne, including his appearance in the 2008 decider. He produced an inspired comeback to topple Denis Shapovalov, a star of the future, in his second round match. Tsonga also won his only clash against Kyrgios in a semi-final in Marseille last year. But the Frenchman cited an issue with his calf during his most recent victory.
MATCHES OF INTEREST
* 3-Grigor DIMITROV vs 30-Andrey RUBLEV (Rod Laver Arena, not before 2.30pm): It will be fascinating to see how Dimitrov recovers after his massive scare against Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday night. It was a taxing affair and with wickedly hot weather predicted again in Melbourne today, it will be a test for Dimitrov. And that is without considering his talented opponent. Rublev, 20, is another of the band of impressive Russian players emerging. He demonstrated that he is a star of the future when reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open last September. And he caused a massive surprise when upsetting David Goffin en route to the last eight in New York, so he will fancy his chances here.
* Ivo KARLOVIC vs Andrea SEPPI (third match on Hisense Arena): This is off-Broadway, but it is worth noting purely as a shout out to Karlovic, who is the oldest player since Ken Rosewall to reach the third round in Melbourne. Those with a long memory might remember Karlovic as the bolter from nowhere who upset Lleyton Hewitt in the opening round of his Wimbledon defence dating back to 2003. The 38-year-old is blessed with a remarkable serve and clearly remarkable resilience.
* 4-Elina SVITOLINA vs Marta KOSTYUK (Rod Laver Arena, second match on): Kostyuk has emerged as an incredible talent and is the first 15-year-old since 2005 to make it to the 3rd round of a grand slam. The Australian Open girls winner last year, she is on an incredible winning streak at Melbourne Park. That will almost certainly end today against Svitolina, who is considered a contender to win the Open, but the teenager is likely to be a player to watch for years to come.
AN UPSET?
There was a bounce back on Day 4 with all three upset tips posting memorable victories.
Tennys Sandgren was too strong for the former champion Stan Wawrinka, who is in the infancy of a comeback from knee surgery.
Naomi Osaka demonstrated her talent with a strong win and is the next opponent for Ash Barty, while Hyeon Chung was too fresh for Daniil Medvedev, as expected.
In regards to today, Rublev is definitely worth looking at given his prior victory over Dimitrov and the test the Bulgarian endured in his second round.
Elsewhere, look for Gilles Muller to do what Gilles Simon could not do for us on Wednesday, namely bring an end to Pablo Carreño Busta’s tournament. The Luxembourg lefty revels in Australian conditions and looks as knockout chance against the Spaniard in the second match on Margaret Court Arena.
Elise Mertens rallied remarkably against Dasha Gavrilova in the early hours yesterday, but effectively has to play just 24 hours later. It is unlikely she was asleep before 4am yesterday, so she will do a good job to back up against Alizé Cornet today in the second match on HiSense Arena.
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