Australian Open Day 8: Roger Federer, Simona Halep advance; Novak Djokovic in trouble, Thiem suffer upset losses
Tennys Sandgren upset Dominic Thiem but it’s Hyeon Chung who is the toast of Melbourne after shocking Novak Djokovic.
- Kyrgios has reason to smile
- The two sides of Dimitrov
- Kyrgios vs Dimitrov: match report
- Day 8 preview, highlights
Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of Day 8 of the Australian Open, where Hyeon Chung announced to the world tennis’s next generation are well and truly here.
Key events
• Nick Kyrgios is in a ‘good head space’ despite his fourth-round exit
• Former champion Angelique Kerber has advanced
• US Open finalist Madison Keys has knocked out the eighth seed
12am: Upset day at the Open
It was a day of upsets at the Australian Open.
Tennys Sandgren shocked even himself by making the quarters with a win over Dominic Thiem, while Hyeon Chung announced himself on the big stage with a win over Novak Djokovic.
Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych cruised to a showdown with each other in the final eight - each taking straight sets wins.
In women’s action Madison Keys made a statement by flogging Carioline Garcia 6-3 6-2, while Simona Halep did the same to Naomi Osaka. She awaits the winnerr of the all-Czech battle between Barbora Strycova and Karolina Pliskova, and Angelique Kerber was heavily tested by the unorthodox play od Hsieh Su-Wei but prevailed in three sets 4-6 7-5 6-2.
11.10pm: The men’s quarter-finals
Top half:
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs 6 Marin Cilic (CRO)
3 Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Kyle Edmund (GBR)
Bottom half:
Hyeon Chung (KOR) v Tennys Sandgren (USA)
19 Tomas Berdych (CZE) v 2 Roger Federer (SUI)
* Only three of the men left have won grand slam titles - Nadal has 16 in total and one Australian Open, which he won in 2009. Federer has a record 19 and five Australian Open titles, which he won in 2004, 06, 06, 2010 and 2017. Cilic has one slam to his name - the 2014 US Open.
11.05pm: Like a wolf: Novak lauds Chung
“He was a better player on the court tonight and he deserved to win, whenever he was in trouble he came up with some unbelievable passing shots and he was like a wolf at the back of the court,” Djokovic said of Chung before admitting his elbow bothered him during the match.
“It’s not great. At the end of the first set it was hurting and I had to struggle with it for the rest of the match.”
10.35pm: Chung rounds out quarter-finalists
Hyeon Chung has recorded the biggest win of his young career, defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets with a 7-6 7-5 7-6 fourth round win to advance to a quarter-final against unheralded American Tennys Sandgren, who recorded the then biggest upset of the tournament thus far when he beat Dominic Thiem in five sets.
Chung was relentless against the former world No.1 who must have felt like he was playing a younger version of himself as he struggled to penetrate past the 21-year-old from Suwon, South Korea.
Chung erred when in front in the opening set and blew a 4-0 lead but held his nerve in the tiebreak and was steely from there on.
His movement left Djokovic looking visibly shaken, frustrated and in disbelief.
Post match Chung was smiling almost deleriously as he revealed Djokovic had been his idol.
“I am really happy. I didn’t know I was going to win tonight I am honoured to play with Novak again and am happy to see him back on tour.”
Chung explained his extraordinary movement and flexibility with a tribute to the man he sent out.
“I’m trying to copy Novak because he is my idol,” Chung told Jim Courier before admitting he wasn’t worried if he lost the third set breaker.
“(At 3-3) I’m just thinking I am 2-0 up in sets and if I lose I have two more sets and a chance to play two more hours... I am young I don’t care.
“I can’t believe this tonight.”
"When I was young I just tried to copy Novak (Djokovic) because he was my idol."
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2018
- Hyeon #Chung 🌟#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/zeyAjA6Rx0
As for his match with Sandgren, who Chung beat in Auckland just weeks ago he said: “In grand slam everyone is playing so good, so I will recover get a good sleep and be ready for Wednesday.”
9.25pm: Novak on the ropes
Hyeon Chung has broken Novak Djokovic to take a two sets to love lead in their fourth round match.
The rising Korean star maintaining his poise to lead 7-6 7-5 as Djokovic continues to struggle with his troublesome right elbow.
The reality is that the younger Korean is moving around the court better and producing the goods when it matters in a battle of two elite movers.
9.05pm: Another huge Open upset
Dominic Thiem is gone. The Austrian fifth seed the latest victim in a tournament that has seen mulitple upsets across the first eight days.
The world No.5 falling 6-2 4-6 7-6 6-7 6-3 to Tennys Sandgren, the American world No.97 who before this tournament had tried to qualify 13 times for grand slams and failed.
A serve out wide and a forehand winner did it on the final point as he delivered what is the biggest upset of the tournament.
Not so long ago, Sandgren was ranked 648th in the world and now he is in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. He has beaten fifth seed Thiem. This is why we love sport. It gives everyone a chance. pic.twitter.com/SqtecO6IRt
— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) January 22, 2018
It is the second huge win of Sandgren’s week after he, in round two, defeated three-time slam champion Stan Wawrinka, but Wawrinka was struggling with injury, making this win even bigger.
He is now in the final eight and set to play the winner of Hyeon Chung and Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals with Chung leading that battle.
Sandgren found it hard to believe that he had made the final eight.
“I don’t know if this is a dream or not, but you guys are here so maybe it’s not a dream,” Sandgren said.
“That’s pretty cool (to beat the world No.5). He played some really great tennis especially in that fourth set breaker. I mean he is gone... but goodnees he deserves a round of applause for that breaker.
“I knew I had to take my chances, he is a heck of a player. I knew I had to serve well.
“I have that advantage where maybe guys aren’t sure of what to expect or how I am going about playing points and I am using that to my advantage.”
8.26pm: Chung takes the first
He may not be nicknamed the ‘Korean Superboy’ but Hyeon Chung is showing he has just as much fight as fellow countryman and UFC fighter Choi Doo-ho.
Chung flew out of the blocks to take a 4-0 lead in the opening set against Novak Djokovic but the former world No.1 came back to force a tiebreak before a nervous Chung found his resolve to take out the set as Djokovic’s serve failed him.
The Serb then went for treatment on the elbow that kept him out of action for much of 2017 at the end of the first set.
8.24pm: Thiem forces a decider
For the second time this Australian Open Dominic Thiem has saved his tournament from the brink. Facing match point at 6-5 down in the fourth set tiebreak and deep into a rally with Tennys Sandgren the Austrian fifth seed risked it all with a violent backhand down the line for a winner.
The same shot then delivered him set point and he made no mistahje taking the tiebreak 9-7 to force a fifth set.
7.30pm: Thiem getting a Tennys lesson
Is Dominic Thiem set to become just another victim of American gladiator Tennys Sandgren?
The man with the name destined for the sport has gone up two sets to one on the Austrian fifth seed to lead 6-2 4-6 7-6.
Sandgren already claimed the scalp of three-time slam winner Stan Wawrinka in round two but a win over a top ten player who is actually fit would be the biggest of his career in what has been an amazing Australian Open for the world No. 97.
If Thiem is to win he’ll have to go to five sets for the second time this tournament after coming from two sets down to beat another American journeyman, Denis Kudla in round two.
6.50pm: Roger reckons Berdych wants revenge
Roger Federer is only all too aware of what Tomas Berdych is capable of and that the in-form Czech presents a clear and present danger to his Australian Open defence as the duo prepare for the 26th battle of their career in the quarter-finals.
“I’ve seen his matches,” said Federer, whose haul of 19 major titles includes five Australian Open crowns
“(Berdych) is standing up in the court hitting the big shots. I’m happy for him. He had some back issues late last year and that slowed him down I think.
“We had a good match here, well, I had a good match against him in the third round last year.
“I’m sure he wants to do it the other way around and make me pay for that one.”
And Berdych is capable of doing just that - this week he’s seen off in-form Aussie teen Alex de Minaur in four sets, Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, perennial threat Juan Martin del Potro and in-form Italian Fabio Fognini.
Whilse Federer leads their career head-to-head 19-6 at the slams Berdych has proven dangerous over the years with Federer leading 7-2.
Berdych has never beat him at the Australian Open but the stats show if the Czech can win a set Federer may be in trouble.
Of those seven wins at slams Federer has only won one match when Berdych took a set, a five-setter in the 2009 Australian Open, any other time and the Czech has won the match.
Berdych played it low-key when asked about his chances against arguably the greatest of all-time.
“I am going to get myself ready, it’s all I can do, and prepare the best I can. So far I think I’ve done pretty well, I’m feeling good, healthy, so I feel I am on the best base line I can be,” Berdych said.
6.30pm: Halep rolls Osaka
Top seed Simona Halep has hammered the woman who conquered Australia’s Ash Barty, beating rising Japanese star Naomi Osaka 6-3 6-2 in quick fashion.
Where Barty didn’t have an answer to the power-hitting of the 20-year-old, Halep did, and that was to not give her as much pace on the ball.
The world No.1, who is still chasing her first grand slam title constantly changed the pace, depth and weight of her shot to throw off her less experienced opponent and revealed it was the plan all along.
“I knew that she is hitting the ball very strong and I knew I had to move her a lot and I did it pretty well and changed the rhythm,” Halep said.
“Hopefully next round I can play better than today and try to win.”
That next round is a quarter-final against either Barbora Strycova or Karolina Pliskova, with the two Czechs set to battle late tonight on Rod Laver Arena.
5.40pm: Roger goes straight through
Swiss champion Roger Federer takes care of Marton Fucsovics in a tick over two hours on Rod Laver Arena 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
Federer, who has not dropped a set so far, advances to a meeting with Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals.
5.10pm: Federer flying
Roger Federer ups the ante in the second-set tiebreak to win it 7-3 and take a stranglehold on his showdown with Marton Fucsovics.
The 36-year-old defending champion is making a rare day-time appearance, after featuring during prime time in his first three matches.
He has the advantage 6-4 7-6 over his 25-year-old opponent, who is playing in his first Australian Open.
Victory would seal Federer’s place in the last eight at this tournament for the 14th time.
4.50pm: ‘I was running everywhere’
Angelique Kerber says she was relieved to overcome unorthodox opponent Hsieh Su-wei 4-6 7-5 6-2, AFP writes.
The German was run ragged in the first two sets by unseeded Hsieh, a former doubles world number one, as she negated the pace of her power game with a delightful mixture of drop shots, lobs and finessed groundstrokes.
“First of all, credit to her,” said Kerber, the 21st seed who won the Melbourne title in 2016.
“She played an unbelievable match. She was hitting the balls very well.”
In the early stages Kerber was unable handle the variety of world number 88 Hsieh who was bidding to reach her first Grand Slam singles quarter-final.
The Taiwanese was looking for a third big-name scalp in a row knocking out Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza in round two and then former world number two Agnieszka Radwanska.
“I was feeling like I was running everywhere. Inside the court and outside I was everywhere,” Kerber said.
“She was playing a lot of corners and drop shots. I was just trying to run behind the ball and bounce them back.”
Kerber dropped the first set and was clinging on towards the end of the second, serving to save the match at 4-5.
After levelling at 5-5 the former world number one blasted out a scream as she finally got the decisive break to go 6-5 up before holding to love to take it to a decider.
It knocked the wind out of Hsieh’s sails and she immediately surrendered a break at the start of the third. When a second soon followed the end came after two hours and eight minutes of sheer entertainment.
“Very well done how she played,” said Kerber. “And also in her the last three (matches). We will see a lot in 2018 from her.”
Kerber will play Madison Keys for a place in the semi-finals after the American 17th seed steamrollered French eighth seed Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2.
4.15pm: Federer steals an edge
Defending champion Roger Federer has the early edge in his fourth-round match against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, claiming the first set 6-4.
It happens in a hurry at the end of the set as Federer breaks his opponent, ranked 80 in the world, to win it.
3.40pm: More from Berdych
Tomas Berdych has reached his seventh Australian Open quarter-final after easing past Fabio Fognini 6-1 6-4 6-4 in 2hr 8min on Margaret Court Arena, AFP reports.
The Czech, seeded 19 and a two-time semi-finalist in Melbourne, will face either Roger Federer or Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the last eight.
It will be his seventh quarter-final in his 15th Australian Open appearance and opens up the possibility of a 26th encounter with Federer.
“I like your optimism,” Berdych smiled when asked on court about the prospect of facing the Swiss ace yet again.
“What to say? How many times is it going to be? So let’s see who’s going to win. I have no choice to choose the opponent and may the better man win,” Berdych said.
“I am going to get myself ready, it’s all I can do, and prepare the best I can. So far I think I’ve done pretty well, I’m feeling good, healthy, so I feel I am on the best base line I can be.” Federer leads the big-serving Czech 19-6 in their matches going back to 2004 at the Athens Olympics.
Berdych was in little trouble against the maverick Fognini, breaking the Italian’s serve six times, hitting 37 winners and offset with 20 unforced errors.
“He’s a very tough opponent, you especially have to stay very focused from the first point to the last because you never know what’s going to come up,” Berdych said.
“He can always come up from the back of the court with amazing shots and turn the match around so being focused was the best thing I could have done today.”
Berdych went into the match holding the record for the most number of Australian Open round of 16 appearances by a Czech man with 10 ahead of Ivan Lendl’s eight.
He improved his record to 44-14 at the Australian Open, representing his most successful major tournament in terms of matches won and quarter-finals reached.
Berdych has reached the semi-finals twice in Melbourne, losing to Stan Wawrinka in 2014 and against Andy Murray the following year.
3.25pm: Kerber through
Angelique Kerber has kept her hopes of a second Australian Open title alive with a battling come-from-behind 4-6 7-5 6-2 victory over Taiwan’s tenacious Hsieh Su-wei, AFP reports.
Germany’s Kerber, the 21st seed, will play Madison Keys for a place in the semi-finals after the American 17th seed crushed French eighth seed Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-2.
.@angeliquekerber is on her way to an #AusOpen quarterfinal for the second time!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2018
And we all know what happened the last time she made it... 🆠pic.twitter.com/TDUdII7kT9
3.10pm: Tomas too good
Czech 19th seed Tomas Berdych eliminates Italy’s Fabio Fognini in straight sets to advance to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Berdych, a two-time semi-finalist, downed the 25th seeded Fognini 6-1 6-4 6-4 and will face either Roger Federer or Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the last eight.
2.50pm: A deciding set
Angelique Kerber has sent her match against Su-Wei Hsieh into a third set, snatching the second 7-5 after breaking her opponent in the 11th game. This is a fascinating contest, as Kerber tries to keep her composure against an opponent who mixes up her game to great effect.
Watch this with the sound ON 🔊
— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 22, 2018
This is the sound of an almighty competitor.
🇩🇪 @AngeliqueKerber is back.#AusOpen #7Tennis pic.twitter.com/iOiRTXdxwp
2.20pm: Czech cashing in
Czech Tomas Berdych is control against Italy’s Fabio Fognini as the pair hunt a quarter-final berth.
Berdych adds the second set 6-4 after collecting the first 6-1. The winner of this match will probably get a meeting with Roger Federer, who is in action today against 80th-ranked Marton Fucsovics.
1.50pm: Kerber cracks
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei has taken the first set 6-4 in an absorbing duel with 21st seed Angelique Kerber.
Former world No.1 Kerber is being given the run-around by the 88th-ranked Hsieh, who manages to find some incredible angles on court. Her use of the drop shot is something to behold — her control of a difficult and low-percentage stroke is impeccable.
1.30pm: ‘I went down swinging’
Nick Kyrgios says he’s in a much better “head space” than this time last year when he was booed off court at the Australian Open, and looking forward to what comes next, AFP writes.
Twelve months ago the combustible Australian was in a bad place after being jeered and accused of giving up as he crashed out in the second round in a stormy five-set defeat to Italian Andreas Seppi.
Tennis great John McEnroe labelled him as “mentally (ranked) about 200 in the world” and said he was giving the sport a “black eye”.
But a year on and Kyrgios seems to have turned a corner.
He remains an exciting and unpredicable talent, but with a calmer persona. “I gave my best efforts this week,” he said after losing in four gripping sets to world number three Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round at Melbourne Park late on Sunday.
“I came up short but I beat three quality opponents. I lost to one of the best players in the world but I went down swinging.
“Obviously I feel a lot better this time around,” he added. “Last year I really didn’t know what I was going to do after the Australian Open. I feel like I have more of a vision and goal for this year. I think I’m in a good head space.”
‘Awesome’ on Laver
His run to a maiden ATP title on home soil at the Brisbane International and fighting performances without any tantrums at the Australian Open have won him new-found admiration in his homeland and from former greats.
Kyrgios, still only 22, has credited the team structure of the Davis Cup, and the influence of captain Lleyton Hewitt, with helping him deal with some of his gremlins.
“I just feel like I’m trying to get better,” he said. “You know, there was periods where I stepped on the court last year where I was just doing it for the sake of doing it.
“In the off-season I didn’t really have a coach but I was working on two things that I thought I needed to work on -- my volleys and transitioning, and my forehand return.
“I think it paid off. I’m trying to get better.”
In the past, Kyrgios has played on Hisense Arena at the Australian Open, but as his profile rises and demand to witness his exploits soars, he was this year elevated to the Rod Laver Arena centre court in prime-time.
It was an experience he relished, with Rod Laver in the stands watching on Sunday and Hewitt and McEnroe in the commentary box.
“It was awesome,” he said.
“I saw Rod there and Johnny Mac commentating in the box and we smiled a couple of times. It was obviously a massive experience.
“I had my first win (on Rod Laver Arena) a couple days ago against (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga. So I feel a lot more comfortable on that court now.”
1.10pm: Former champ’s challenge
One-time world No.1 Angelique Kerber is on court against Taipei’s Su-Wei Hsieh, as they chase a place in the quarter-finals.
Kerber, 30, is in fine touch as she looks to repeat her 2016 feat, when she beat Serena Williams in the final here.
She was ruthless in dismissing Maria Sharapova in the third round, destroying the Russian 6-1 6-3 in a little over an hour. Following a forgettable 2017, the German is enjoying herself on court again which she said was half the battle.
“I’m just trying to go out there, take all the experience I’ve had, from what I learned, and enjoy it again,” she said before today’s match. “I’m just enjoying my tennis, fighting for every single ball.”
In the men’s draw, 19th seed Tomas Berdych has taken the first set of his fourth-round match against Italy’s Fabio Fognini, the 19th seed, 6-1 after just over 30 minutes of play.
12.30pm: Keys hits a winning note
After missing last year’s Australian Open due to a wrist injury, Madison Keys is making strong inroads in Melbourne this year.
The American was sidelined last January with a wrist injury, but continue her stellar form this year with a strong win over Caroline Garcia in just 68 minutes.
The powerful American, who was a finalist in the US Open last September, was dominant in winning 6-3 6-2.
“I am really excited. I think I am playing well, especially in tight moments,” she said.
Keys said her time on the sidelines was difficult, saying she shunned watching matches as it depressed her.
“It definitely made me realise how much I love it and how much pressure I put on myself,” she said. “I am very happy to be back out here and not at home in a cast.”
The 17th seed will play the winner of a clash between 2016 Australian Open winner Angelique Kerber and Su-Wei Hsieh for a spot in the semi-finals.
Will Swanton 12.10pm: Open season
Twelve women were still in the Australian Open draw as of this morning. Only one of them has won a major championship. Which means the other 11 have the opportunity of a lifetime and the nerves that go with it. Defending Australian Open champ Serena Williams is changing nappies rather than changing ends. French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko has been knocked out. So has Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza. And US Open champion Sloane Stephens. Madison Keys is one of the players capable of grabbing a maiden grand slam. She’s on Rod Laver Arena now, leading Caroline Garcia 6-3 3-0. Angelique Kerber is up next against Su-Weih Hsieh. In the women’s draw, only Kerber isn’t fighting the nerves that come from such an open tournament ... and open door.
11.50am: A key development
Last year’s US Open runner-up Madison Keys pockets the first set against Caroline Garcia 6-3 in 36 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. It was a nervy start for both players, as they dropped serve in consecutive games by double-faulting. Keys breaks her opponent again in the sixth game and then closes out the set. The American banged down six aces to the eighth seed’s one in the opening stanza, and she notched 20 winners compared with Garcia’s seven.
10.45am: Weather watch
After a burst of hot weather, conditions at Melbourne Park have settled down considerably. We’re looking at a top of 26C, with some scattered cloud and just a slight chance of rain.
9.56am: A personality? Shock, horror
Touché, Betoota Advocate...
Australian Tennis Fans Slowly Warming To Idea Of A Player Having A Personality: https://t.co/n0dSB6C7rD pic.twitter.com/GcMX5NzkyS
— The Betoota Advocate (@BetootaAdvocate) January 21, 2018
9.35am: Federer still the favourite
With just 12 players remaining in the men’s singles draw, Swiss maestro Roger Federer remains the favourite to win the Australian Open.
Federer, who today takes on Hungary’s Márton Fucsovics for a spot in the quarter-finals, is a $2.63 outright favourite to win the tournament with online bookmaker Sportsbet.
Top seed Rafael Nadal is the $3.50 second favourite ahead of Novak Djokovic ($6), Grigor Dimitrov ($8), Marin Čilić ($21) and Dominic Thiem ($26).
In the women’s draw, it’s wide open, with six players under double figures. In-form German Angelique Kerber is the $4 favourite ahead of fourth seed Elina Svitolina ($4.50), Caroline Wozniacki ($5), Karolína Plíšková ($6.50), world no.1 Simona Halep ($8) and American Madison Keys ($9).
8.15am: Buckle up, tennis fans
The Day 8 schedule on @RodLaverArena is all kindsa ðŸ¿
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
Day: M. Keys v C. Garcia; S. Hsieh v A. Kerber; M. Fucsovics v R. Federer.
Night: N. Djokovic v H. Chung; B. Strycova v Ka. Pliskova.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/0VVF2fDgM0
8am: Kyrgios has reason to smile
Nick Kyrgios may have bowed out of the Australian Open against Grigor Dimitrov, but this cloud does have a silver lining.
Kyrgios is closing in on a career-high world ranking after his fourth round effort at the Australian Open. When rankings are updated at the conclusion of the tournament, he will rise to at least no.15 in the world — just one position off his career-high ranking — although he could also find himself even higher at no.14 should Tomas Berdych fall to Italian Fabio Fognini later today.
And there are much bigger things to come. Defending just a second round appearance at the French Open and a first round exit at Wimbledon, Kyrgios has a golden opportunity to push well into the top 10 in the world rankings by midyear.
Should get through the first few rounds at the French Open and go deep into Wimbledon, as he no doubt has the ability to do on grass, a top five ranking is not out of the question for the explosive Aussie.
And as Kyrgios said last night following his loss: “I’ve lost one match this year, so I’m doing all right,” he said.
Ranking points, though, will be the furthest thing from Kyrgios’s mind at his next challenge ... a crucial Davis Cup tie against Germany in Brisbane from February 2, in which Kyrgios will lead the Australian team and in the process renew his rivalry with 20-year-old world no.4 Alexander Zverev.
Rafael Nadal’s fourth round victory over Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman yesterday means that no matter what happens in the rest of the tournament, the Spaniard will leave Melbourne Park as the world no.1. Switzerland’s Roger Federer will stay no.2, even if he wins the tournament, while Bulgarian Dimitrov will retain the no.3 ranking.
ICYMI @NickKyrgios tipped his 🎩 to @GrigorDimitrov after their epic duel last night.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
"He hasn't even found his best form yet and he's still getting through, which is pretty frightening."#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/wFfzb8j4qu
7.45am: The two sides of Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitov’s Australian Open campaign finally hit high gear when his sputtering game roared to life against local favourite Nick Kyrgios.
The No.3 seed progressed to the quarter-finals, 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-4), after an intense struggle against Kyrgios on Rod Laver Arena last night.
The Bulgarian’s superb all-round performance was a far cry from the disjointed, error-riddled displays in the first three rounds that forced him to scrap his way to the fourth round.
“I learned that I can switch to another gear when I really need it,” Dimitrov said after he dismissed the local hope.
“This is something that I have been struggling with obviously in this tournament.
“The first couple of rounds or even the three first rounds I was not striking the ball well. I know that, but I was still clutch in the important moments, which was good.
“But (against Kyrgios) I was just able to overtake my game completely differently, having a high percentage in the first serve, high percentage on the return.
“Being able to play my game a little bit more, counting a little bit more on my strongest weapons.
“I think that was a good step forward for me.”
Dimitrov will battle unseeded British surprise packet Kyle Edmund for a place in the semi-finals.
Courtney Walsh 7.40am: Kyrgios vs Dimitrov match report
Shortly before Grigor Dimitrov took to Rod Laver Arena for his sensational performance against Nick Kyrgios, he was pictured staring intently at a white wall.
The Bulgarian was deep in concentration, his gaze unbroken. Then, abruptly, he turned on a dime and dashed like a startled gazelle up an internal corridor.
And for much of a sublime display that culminated in a 7-6 (3) 7-6 (4) 4-6 7-6 (4) victory over the Australian, a blip when serving for the match aside, he epitomised those attributes.
To win three tiebreakers against a player who boasts a serve as exceptional as Kyrgios is phenomenal, yet that is what the Bulgarian managed in a clash of the highest quality and intensity.
Read the full story here.
Courtney Walsh 7.30am: Day 8 preview
After Nick Kyrgios’s Australian Open came to an end in a match of the highest order last night, there are no locals left in the draw for the second week.
But that does not mean an end to clashes of intrigue, with several on the card today at Melbourne Park.
MATCHES TO WATCH
* 8-Caroline GARCIA vs 17-Madison KEYS (Rod Laver Arena, first match on): Andy Murray nominated the Frenchwoman as one of his favourite players to watch a few years back and she is beginning to deliver on her promise. But Garcia faces a difficult test here against Madison Keys, who was a finalist in the US Open last September. The American is expected to become a major champion at some stage and this should be a fine match if they play to their capacity.
* 14-Novak DJOKOVIC vs Hyeon CHUNG (Rod Laver Arena, first night match): The six-time Australian Open champion has performed admirably given his lack of match play heading into the tournament. But the concern is that he showed signs of soreness in his most recent match against Albert Ramos-Vinolas. And there is a question over that form given the Spaniard was subsequently forced to retire from a doubles match with a sore wrist. Chung is an exciting young talent who claimed the Next Gen title in Milan last year. And he showed he was more than a match for the best of his generation when too strong for Alexander Zverev in his third round match. Should he manage to string together two strong matches in succession, he is certainly a chance to upset the King of Melbourne Park.
* 1-Simona HALEP vs Naomi OSAKA (Margaret Court Arena, not before 1700): It is a testament to the quality of matches on offer today that this fourth round match has been shunted to Melbourne Park’s second court. Both women are coming off outstanding, if contrasting, performances on Saturday. Osaka was breathtaking when ending Ash Barty’s Australian Open hopes and is an exciting talent to watch when performing at her peak.
Halep was incredibly brave against Lauren Davis when winning a match that equalled the record for the most games played in an Australian Open women’s match. To perform as she did while playing on an ankle she rolled badly a few days earlier is commendable. Should Osaka bring her best form today, the world no.1 will face a significant challenge.
AN UPSET OR TWO?
Osaka is more than capable of continuing her fine form, while Chung is also a strong chance of pulling off the upset. But they need to bring their best form for a second match in succession.
Tomas BERDYCH has been an elite performer for a long time without winning a grand slam. But the former Wimbledon finalist has been in strong form in Melbourne and, while it will not be an upset, he shapes as a likely winner against Fabio Fognini.
This is despite the pair sharing their four outings to date but the Czech was extremely strong when beating Juan Martin del Potro, while Fognini was forced to the brink against Frenchman Julien Benneteau.
7.15am: Svitolina through to quarters
Ukraninan fourth seed Elina Svitolina is breaking new ground at the Australian Open, advancing to the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for the first time.
The 23-year-old booked a quarter-final berth with a comprehensive straight-sets win over Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova in the early hours of this morning. Svitolina had her serve broken once but was largely untroubled on her way to a 6-3 6-0 win in just under an hour on Rod Laver Arena.
“My intensity was the same throughout the match ... it was very high,” Svitolina said.
“At the beginning she was matching my intensity and then I was just trying to raise my level, trying to go more for my shots.
“In the end I was probably stronger with my game because she start a little bit missing here and there and I think this was the key.
“I was more patient and was more solid.”
Svitolina, whose previous best performance at Melbourne Park was a third-round appearance, will meet Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the last-eight.
“I have my plan ... what I have to do on court to just go out there and fight until the last point and just give my best,” she said.
“I know her game because I played against her once and I know what to expect from her.
“I’m going to have few things from my coaches. But the main thing for me is to be there be ready.”
Svitolina, who won the Brisbane International in the lead in to the Australian Open, defeated Mertens in the final in Istanbul last year on clay.
Additional reporting: AAP/AFP
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