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Australian Open Day 9: Kyle Edmund upsets Grigor Dimitrov; Elise Mertens wins; Novak Djokovic done?; Rafael Nadal, Caroline Wozniacki in action

Rafael Nadal is out of the Australian Open - a victim of Marin Cilic and what appeared to be a hip flexor injury.

Rafael Nadal was in a world of hurt.  Picture: AFP
Rafael Nadal was in a world of hurt. Picture: AFP

Welcome to live coverage of Day 9 of the Australian Open from Melbourne Park. Rafael Nadal, Grigor Dimitrov, Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina are among the favourites on court today.

11.01pm: Nadal’s dream shattered by injury

Rafael Nadal has retired hurt in his Australian Open quarter-final with Marin Cilic, going down 3-6 6-3 6-7 6-2 2-0 (ret).

Nadal appeared to hurt his hip flexor and received treatment in the fourth set but his movement was severely hampered.

The Spanish champion appeared set to end the match at 1-0 down in the final set but went round the net and kept going but when Cilic passed him to take the break after Nadal saved four of them, he walked to the umpire shook hands and called it quits, looking shattered.

Cilic felt sympathy for Nadal.

“Unbelievable performance from both of us and really unfortunate for Rafa. He is an unbelievable competitor who always give his best,” Cilic said.

“I was just trying to keep my intensity up and focus on my own game and not let it into my head.”

Nadal throughout the match was standing very deep on the Cilic serve and Cilic felt it helped him out.

“It just gave me a little bit of vision that he is struggling a little bit to return my serve especially the slider and I was using it a lot and it was working most of the time and as the match went further on I was hitting a lot more winners.”

Marin Cilic roars into the semis. Picture: AFP
Marin Cilic roars into the semis. Picture: AFP

10.50pm: Cilic rises to the occasion

Marin Cilic is jacked up after taking the fourth set 6-2 against Rafael Nadal and levelling the match.

Nadal struggled through the fourth, calling the trainer for what appeared to be a hip flexor injury.

The question has to be asked can the Spaniard find a way out? Because the Croat is hitting winners from all parts of the court.

Five set records - Nadal 16-5

Cilic - 15-6

10.10pm: Rafa takes the third

And with an overhead a pumped-up Rafael Nadal takes the third set tiebreak and a two sets to one lead in what is shaping as an Australian Open epic.

The Spaniard had a set point at 5-4 on the Cilic serve but the Croatian star hit a big winner to save it and the tiebreak was a case of who could hold their nerve as points being won by the server were rare.

Still Rafa is now the one defending and the impression is the match is on the racket of Cilic, who has hit a whopping 56 winners in three sets of tennis to 34 from Nadal.

9.55pm: Rafa protected due to status in sport

Some guys take longer than others at most sports but it seems Rafael Nadal, with all his indiosyncracies is never on the clock.

The Spanish world No.1 is rarely pulled up for the time he takes between serves. You know the routine... pick at pants, flip hair behind headband, bounce ball slowly, serve.

Players get 25 seconds to so so and in the second set of his quarter-final it was rather unbelievably a furious Marin Cilic who copped a time violation warning from the chair umpire on break point, double-faulted and then argued the point.

Seven commentator Jim Courier suggested Cilic was right to be furious and that Nadal might just get preferential treatment due to his status as an all-time great of the sport.

“She will know that these guys are going over the line,” Courier said.

“The thing for Cilic is to get one when you are down break point if you have done it so many times. That unfortunately is a pattern we see time and time again with certain umpires. They wait until the absolute worst time. Do it after the first point of a service game.

“Rafa is notorious for stretching the limits and matches take so long. That’s part of the reason.”

9.21pm: Dimitrov devastated after loss

In losing to Kyle Edmund, Grigor Dimitrov, the man once thought to be the heir to Roger Federer has extended his winless streak in slams to 30 with his best performances being a pair of semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2014 and Melbourne last year. At 26 it would seem the Bulgarian is beginning to question himself.

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria reacts during a press conference following his quarter final defeat by Kyle Edmund. Picture: AAP
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria reacts during a press conference following his quarter final defeat by Kyle Edmund. Picture: AAP

“It hurts - and so it should,” Dimitrov said post match.

“Right now I won’t think too rationally, simple as that.

“I need to give myself a couple of days just to relax a little bit and do things I don’t get a chance to do during the tournament, and reassess the whole Australian trip.

“Overall it wasn’t a bad one, but it certainly wasn’t where I wanted to be.”

8.55pm: Cilic catches fire

Marin Cilic has levelled the match at a set apiece after being a break down in the second set.

At 6-3 3-2 Nadal semed to be crusing but the Croat reeled off four straight games to blitz Nadal and send the match into the third set on an even keel.

Cilic seemed to be upset at getting a warning for a time violation before being broken by Nadal but it seemed to spur him on as he roared into action hitting powerfully and deep, forcing Nadal into errors.

Croatia's Marin Cilic reacts after taking the second set against Rafael Nadal. Picture: AFP
Croatia's Marin Cilic reacts after taking the second set against Rafael Nadal. Picture: AFP

8.10pm: Rafa rolls through first set

Rafael Nadal has taken the first set against Marin Cilic 6-3 to make life just that extra bit tougher for the Croatian sixth seed.

Cilic spent the first set trying to step up the pace on his forehand to cause Nadal problems but was unable to as the Spaniard had an answer to everything that was thrown at him.

7.50pm: Cilic being tested early

His serve might be one of the most vaunted on the ATP Tour but Marin Cilic is being probed often by Rafael Nadal.

Cilic just saved five break points to get the first set to 3-3 but while he is struggling on serve Rafa is rolling. The world No.1 has a high first serve percentage and is taking the baseline away from Cilic making him do all the work, which could take its toll on the 198cm Croat later in the match.

Rafa now leads 4-3 on serve in the opening set.

Marin Cilic is already feeling the pinch in the first set. Picture: AFP
Marin Cilic is already feeling the pinch in the first set. Picture: AFP

6.40pm: Can a favourite win?

As the big guns continue to fall there would have to be some unease for both Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki this evening, especially for the Dane who is looking at her best chance ever to claim a grand slam title but in Carla Suarez Navarro she has an opponent who beat her last time out and will grind out the match.

For Nadal though he should remain confident. In six meetings with Cilic he has only lost once

that match was their first meeting, in Beijing, in 2009. Since then the Croatian has only taken one set off Nadal, in Basel, in 2015.

Spain's Rafael Nadal is a justified favourite against Marin Cilic. Picture: AFP
Spain's Rafael Nadal is a justified favourite against Marin Cilic. Picture: AFP

6.10pm: Andy Murray chimes in

The injured five-time Australian Open finalist has summed up his feelings pretty neatly as the next British star officially arrives on the scene.

Murray was apparently watching from the UK, where it has just gone past 7am, as Kyle Edmund has taken down Grigor Dimitrov.

5.55pm: ‘An amazing feeling’

Kyle Edmund becomes just the sixth British man to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam in the Open era.

He now gets a meeting with either Rafael Nadal or Maran Cilic, who play tonight, for a spot in the final.

“It is an amazing feeling, I’m very happy,” he says courtside. “You get caught up with the emotions, so at the end of the match I tried to enjoy the moment.

“It was my first match on this court (Rod Laver Arena) and it was very special.”

The unseeded Edmund, ranked 49 in the world, said he tried to capitalise on the heavy workload his more fancied opponent had endured in the tournament.

“He has played some hard matches,” Edmund said. “I really just held my nerve in the last game and prayed that the ball (from Dimitrov) was out.

“When you are on this stage it is very special, but you just want to keep going.”

The 23-year-old said he was starting to get a feel for the extra attention British players invariably get from media at home when they are performing well.

“I know what it feels like to be Andy Murray for the last eight years,” he joked. “I try to embrace the pressure as much as possible.”

Kyle Edmund clinches victory over Grigor Dimitrov. Picture: Getty
Kyle Edmund clinches victory over Grigor Dimitrov. Picture: Getty

5.40pm: Dimitrov out

Britain’s Kyle Edmund has stunned third seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam for the first time in his career.

Some unforced errors from Dimitrov in the final two games of the fourth set cruelled his hopes, as he dropped serve and then couldn’t prevent Edmund from serving out the match.

A touch of drama to wrap things up, as a video review is needed to confirm a Dimitrov backhand is long. It is, and the upset isin the books after 2hr 49min.

4.50pm: Dimitrov in trouble

Third seed Grigor Dimitrov has lost the third set against Kyle Edmund and now trails two sets to one.

The 49th-ranked Briton took the first and third sets, 6-4 6-3, while the Bulgarian responded by claiming the second 6-3. The pair has been on court now for two hours in a battle of the big hitters.

Dimitrov has battled with an inconsistent first serve, while his free-swinging rival is showing no signs of nerves as he closes in on the biggest win of his career.

Kyle Edmund fires up against Grigor Dimitrov. Picture: AAP
Kyle Edmund fires up against Grigor Dimitrov. Picture: AAP

4.15pm: Dimitrov bounces back

The first men’s quarter-final is delicately poised at a set apiece between Grigor Dimotrov and Kyle Edmund.

The Brit started superbly, with his big forehand a factor as he claimed the first set.

But the Bulgarian was able to work back into the match in the second set, with an improvement in his first serve percentage (from 57 per cent in the opening set to 76 per cent in the second) a factor.

The score stands at 4-6 6-3 with Edmund to serve to begin the third set.

It is scarcely a surprise that little separates the pair based on their two ATP Tour outings to date.

Dimitrov has claimed both matches, the first in Washington last year and the most recent in Brisbane in the opening week of this season.

But both matches went the distance and Edmund expressed confidence in his ability to test the third seed despite playing in the biggest match of his individual career to date.

Grigor Dimitrov shows his backhand style on Rod laver Arena. Picture: Getty
Grigor Dimitrov shows his backhand style on Rod laver Arena. Picture: Getty

3.30pm: Another boilover brewing?

Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund makes a great start in his quarter-final against third seed Grigor Dimitrov, pocketing the first set 6-4 in 42 minutes.

A break of serve in the ninth game is enough for the world No.49, and he seals the set with a typically strong service game.

Over to you, Grigor.

3pm: Tribute to ‘Aussie Kim’

Belgian Elise Mertens has sent a shout-out to compatriot Kim Clijsters after her stunning 6-4 6-0 victory over world No.4 Elina Svitolina.

The 22-year-old has reached the final four in her first crack at the Australian Open, which Clijsters won in 2011.

Mertens is a product of Clijsters’ tennis academy in Bree, Belgium.

“I’m without words, I don’t know what to say,” Mertens said after the match. “I gave it all I had today. It got a little stressful at the end of the match but I played my game and it went well today.

“She is a great mover, a really strong player. I tried to play aggressive and make her move. And come to the net a bit more.”

Mertens is on a run of form that includes a tournament win in Hobart, and straight-sets wins in every round at Melbourne Park.

A bout of nerves meant she struggled to close out her fourth-round match, but there was no such trouble this time around.

She was helped by some encouragement from Clijsters, via text message.

“She sent a message before the match and said ‘don’t be too stressed’,” Mertens said. “She was also stressed in my last match.

“I just want to say hello to Kim, thanks for watching and I’m trying to follow in your footsteps.”

Elise Mertens and Elina Svitolina at the net after their match. Picture: Getty
Elise Mertens and Elina Svitolina at the net after their match. Picture: Getty

2.30pm: Upsets continue

Elise Mertens has reached her first grand slam semi-final at her first crack at the Australian Open, demolishing fourth seed Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-0 on Rod Laver Arena.

The unseeded 22-year-old needed just 1hr 13min to become the first Belgian to reach the semi-finals of this tournament since Kim Clijsters in 2012.

She will face either second seed Caroline Wozniacki or unseeded Carla Suarez Navarro for a place in Saturday’s final.

Mertens dominated, moving her opponent around the court at will and overpowering the Ukrainian with a powerful serve.

Elise Mertens celebrates her win over fourth seed Elina Svitolina. Picture: AAP
Elise Mertens celebrates her win over fourth seed Elina Svitolina. Picture: AAP

2.10pm: A warning to Kyrgios

Mark Philippoussis agrees Nick Kyrgios should continue flying solo until he’s ready to commit to a fulltime coach, AAP reports.

Kyrgios is vowing to continue going it alone - ala Roger Federer early in his career - after reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open and winning the season-opening Brisbane International to regain a place in the world’s top 15. “I’ve lost one match this year, so I’m doing alright,” Kyrgios said after bowing out of the Open with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) loss to world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov.

“I like kind of doing things on my own terms. I just like the freedom.”

Philippoussis, a two-time grand slam runner-up who also endured endless scrutiny during his unfulfilled grand slam career, says Kyrgios is doing the right thing. For now.

“It’s important to surround yourself with a team to give yourself the best opportunity (to succeed),” Philippoussis said as debate rages at Melbourne Park around Kyrgios’ decision to continue going coachless in 2018. “I definitely think at some stage he’s got to look at one.

“But it’s got to be on his terms and when he’s ready because that means believing in that person and listening to that person and believing that that person can take him to the next level.

“He has the game to go all the way, but there’s certain steps he needs to take in order to get there.” Philippoussis was super impressed by Kyrgios’ fighting spirit against Dimitrov. “He has taken one major step on his own in getting there already and that’s the way he’s competing,” Philippoussis said.

Nick Kyrgios has been urged by Mark Philippoussis to choose a coach wisely. Picture: AAP
Nick Kyrgios has been urged by Mark Philippoussis to choose a coach wisely. Picture: AAP

“Yes, he’s still going to be vocal about certain things. But that’s his personality and we’ve got to accept that.

“And, hey, if he’s vocal but he’s fighting the way he’s fighting and he’s believing the way he’s believing, then beautiful. That’s no problem at all.” But, “going forward”, Philippoussis believes Kyrgios needed to employ a fulltime coach in order to challenge for grand slam spoils.

“But it has to be his call and I believe he’s got to be that person to reach out to that person instead of the agents and the managers,” said the former Wimbledon and US Open finalist.

Federer spent almost 18 months coachless after winning his first grand slam crown at Wimbledon in 2003 a month shy of turning 22, Kyrgios’s age now. “At one point, it’s good to have coaches,” Federer said.

“They remind you day by day the little things if that’s what you’re looking at. “Other guys do an entire organisation for you. Some guys are really there to inspire you and motivate you.

“Everybody needs different type of coaching. That can come from any angle. Doesn’t almost necessarily need to be a tennis coach, per se. “But I’m sure Nick has got some people in his team that where he gets what he needs for the matches.

“It’s not one match or one week. It’s every week of the year. “I’m excited to see what’s next for Nick now.”

1.55pm: Mertens motoring

Unseeded Belgian Elise Mertens claims the opening set 6-4 against fourth seed Elina Svitolina.

Mertens breaks her Ukrainian opponent twice and sails out to a 5-2 lead, before Svitolina claws her way back into the set.

But 22-year-old Mertens holds her nerve and closes it out. She uses powerful groundstrokes to rack up 16 winners to eight for Svitolina, who sprays a forehand wide to concede the opener.

She continues to roll with an early break in the second set and a 2-0 lead.

Elise Mertens turns on the power in the first set against Elina Svitolina. Picture: Getty
Elise Mertens turns on the power in the first set against Elina Svitolina. Picture: Getty

1.35pm: Net gain

Elise Mertens secures an early break of serve against fouth seed Elina Svitolina, and everything appears to be falling the underdog’s way early in the match.

1pm: Kyrgios cops another fine

Nick Kyrgios has been fined over a tardy start to his third-round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Kyrgios was hit with a code violation before the match even started for not being ready to play within a minute of the warm-up on Rod Laver Arena.

It carries a $US2000 fine and adds to the $US3000 fine he copped for swearing at a spectator in his opening-round victory.

Nick Kyrgios has been given another fine. Picture: Getty
Nick Kyrgios has been given another fine. Picture: Getty

12.30pm: Life of Bryans

Bob and Mike Bryan complete a 6-1 6-4 victory in just 66 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to move into the semi-finals. Next up on court is a women’s quarter-final featuring fourth seed Elina Svitolina against Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

Mertens, 22, has been in red-hot form in this tournament, having progressed to the last eight without dropping a set. She upset local hope and 23rd seed Daria Gavrilova in the second round.

Svitolina has been forced to three sets just once in her four matches so far.

Bob and Mike Bryan set off for a ball during their doubles match on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Getty
Bob and Mike Bryan set off for a ball during their doubles match on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Getty

12pm: On the double

The first match on centre court features doubles legends Bob and Mike Bryan, who have won a record 16 grand slam events together.

Their haul includes six Australian Open titles, starting in 2006 and most recently in 2013.

Today, the sixth-seed Americans face Marcin Matkowski and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in a quarter-final. They could end up taking on Australians Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt, if the locals can get past Colombian duo Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, who are seeded 11 here.

11am: What now for Novak?

Novak Djokovic’s brief campaign has raised more questions than answers about his future, after he was unseated in the fourth round by world No.58 Hyeon Chung.

The six-time Australian Open champion arrived in Melbourne underdone after missing half of 2017 with an elbow injury. It clearly hindered him during last night’s match, and he needed treatment on it after the first set.

Djokovic was downcast after his 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 7-6 (7-3) loss as he pondered an uncertain future, which will include scans on his elbow.

He admitted he was unsure if he would need more time away from the game.

“I really don’t know,” Djokovic said. “I have to reassess everything with my team, medical team, coaches and everybody. Scan it, see what the situation is like.

“Last couple weeks, I played a lot of tennis. Let’s see what’s happening inside.”

When he ended his season in July last year, Djokovic said elbow soreness had been bothering him for the previous 18 months.

Novak Djokovic gets running repairs in his fourth round match. Picture: Getty
Novak Djokovic gets running repairs in his fourth round match. Picture: Getty

The 30-year-old has been forced to tinker with his serve to compensate for the ailment, but it has clearly diminished his power. Penetration on his groundstrokes was also reduced and he struggled when the right arm was fully extended.

A compression sleeve on the right arm appeared to have little effect.

So where to from here?

The Serb opted to rest his elbow injury rather than opt for surgery, but that plan doesn’t appear to have worked.

He hooked up with new coach Andre Agassi before last year’s French Open but the pair has had limited opportunity to plot Djokovic’s return to the summit of the game.

“It’s not great,” he said of his injured money-maker. “End of the first set it started hurting more. So I had to deal with it until the end of the match.

“I felt the level of pain was not that high that I need to stop the match, even though it was compromising my serve.”

With a career grand slam and 12 majors under his belt, Djokovic already has the numbers of an all-time great.

He’s fifth on the list of grand slam winners but now well behind peers Roger Federer (19) and Rafa Nadal (16).

He hasn’t won one of the big four since the 2016 French Open and unlike Roger Federer, his style of play has taken a serious physical toll.

It remains to be seen if he can get back to the Djokovic of old, or if we’re simply seeing a painful, irreversible decline.

Djokovic answers questions about his future after the match. Picture: AP
Djokovic answers questions about his future after the match. Picture: AP

10.30am: In case you missed it ...

In the late, late show last night, Karolina Pliskova rallied from a set down to beat 20th seed Barbora Strycova 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals, AFP writes.

In a match that finished at 1.35am local time on Tuesday, the sixth seed beat her compatriot in 2hr 41min.

“In the first set it was very close so I knew I needed to step up,” said Pliskova, who reached her second last eight at the Australian Open. “I needed to play more aggressive.”

The contrast between the two Czech women is striking.

Tattoed Pliskova, 24, stands 1.86m tall and used her height to serve more aces than any other player on the WTA Tour last year.

Veteran Strycova, 31, is just 1.64m and scampers around the court sliding and diving to retrieve balls other players would have given up.

Karolina Pliskova shakes hands with Barbora Strycova after last night’s match. Picture: AFP
Karolina Pliskova shakes hands with Barbora Strycova after last night’s match. Picture: AFP

But there was nothing to separate them in the first set where neither’s serve could be broken.

In the tiebreak Pliskova netted a backhand on Strycova’s second set point to concede it 7-5 after 69 minutes of attritional tennis.

It served to fire up Pliskova who made the first service break in the first game of the second set and began to negate Strycova’s all-action approach before securing the set 6-3.

“The quick break at the start of the second set helped me,” said Pliskova.

As the clock ticked past 1am in Melbourne it was Pliskova who made the move, going up 3-1 in the decider as Strycova’s first serve deserted her, and she secured a date with the world number one.

“The last we played in Paris I think it was very close,” Pliskova said of the prospects of meeting Halep for a place in the semi-finals.

A pair of hardy fans watch the women’s fourth-round match on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: AFP
A pair of hardy fans watch the women’s fourth-round match on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: AFP

9.30am: Day 9 preview

After emerging star Hyeon Chung produced an outstanding win over six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, the tournament reaches the quarter-final stage today.

Legendary doubles pair Bob and Mike Bryan kick off proceedings on Rod Laver Arena before Elise Mertens tackles 4th seed Elina Svitolina in the opening singles match.

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1-Rafael NADAL vs 9-Marin CILIC (Rod Laver Arena, first night match)

Marin Cilic’s serve is a huge weapon. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Marin Cilic’s serve is a huge weapon. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Spaniard was forced to work particularly hard against Diego Schwartzman in his fourth round win and backs up against another quality opponent here.

Cilic, who won the US Open in 2014, was a finalist at Wimbledon last year and has become a consistent threat at grand slam level.

The angular Croatian has performed soundly in his opening four matches and poses a threat.

Nadal has won five of their six outings to date, with their most recent outing a tight affair in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters last October.

The court in Shanghai is particularly slick, so Nadal did well to win there.

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3-Grigor DIMITROV vs Kyle EDMUND (Rod Laver Arena, not before 14:30)

After struggling for his best form early in the Australian Open, the Bulgarian performed superbly against Nick Kyrgios on Sunday night.

His movement, in particular, is sublime, which has made him a most consistent player off the ground.

Edmund is emerging as a player of quality, with his grand slam results over the past 16 months solid.

But this is a career-best effort for the Englishman, who has shown great toughness the entirety of the tournament.

He toppled US Open finalist Kevin Anderson in five sets, thrashed Denis Istomin, went to five sets against Nikoloz Basilashvili in his third round and overwhelmed Andreas Seppi after dropping the first set.

He is yet to win in two outings against Dimitrov, but Edmund was extremely competitive in those matches in Washington last year and Brisbane a fortnight ago.

Expect another tight encounter here.

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria celebrates his victory over Nick Kyrgios on Sunday night. Photo: Getty Images
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria celebrates his victory over Nick Kyrgios on Sunday night. Photo: Getty Images

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2-Caroline WOZNIACKI vs Carla SUAREZ NAVARRO (Rod Laver Arena, second night match)

Wozniacki endured a massive fright in her second round when trailing Jana Fett 5-0 in the deciding set.

But the Dane has performed admirably since and looks to have recaptured the form that saw her claim the season-ending championships in Singapore last October.

Suarez Navarro has been a quality player for a long-time. Now a three-time quarterfinalist in Australia, she has rediscovered her best form after a lean 2017 at major level.

The Spaniard did defeat Wozniacki in Madrid last year, but expect the former world No. 1 to take a step towards winning her maiden grand slam title here.

Caroline Wozniacki has a chance to break through for a maiden Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open. Photo: AAP
Caroline Wozniacki has a chance to break through for a maiden Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open. Photo: AAP

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Elise MERTENS vs 4-Elina SVITOLINA (Rod Laver Arena, 13:00)

Svitolina has moved through the Australian Open with a minimum of fuss but reaches a hurdle she is yet to surpass at grand slam level, namely winning a quarterfinal in a major.

The 23-year-old has been in good form though, dropping just one set to date, and was dominant against Denisa Allertova in a match that started late on Saturday night.

But Mertens has been equally impressive this year. She was in fine fettle in the Hopman Cup, defended her Hobart International title and has performed strongly since.

In a second round clash against Daria Gavrilova, she managed to overcome a 5-0 deficit in the first set to post a comprehensive win.

Svitolina was a strong winner in their only encounter to date in a final in Istanbul last year but Mertens has been very good all summer in Australia.

Surprise packet ... Belgium's Elise Mertens. Photo: AP
Surprise packet ... Belgium's Elise Mertens. Photo: AP

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AN UPSET OR TWO?

The opportunities to find an outsider are dwindling as we reach the quarterfinals.

Naomi Osaka was unable to produce a similar performance to that which ended Ash Barty’s run when overwhelmed by Simona Halep yesterday.

But Hyeon Chung delivered in fine fashion again last night against Djokovic, while Tomas Berdych was an easy winner, as predicted, against Fabio Fognini.

Mertens is certainly capable of reaching her first grand slam semi-final provided she holds her nerve, while Cilic and Edmund are playing well enough to extend Nadal and Dimitrov in their respective quarterfinals.

TUESDAY FORECAST: Mostly sunny, high of 26 degrees

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SCHEDULE

Rod Laver Arena (from 1100):
* 6-Bob Bryan (USA)/Mike Ryan (USA) v 15-Marcin Matkowski (POL)/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK), followed by
* Elise Mertens (BEL) v 4-Elina Svitolina (UKR), followed by
* 3-Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Kyle Edmund (GBR)
Evening session
* 1-Rafael Nadal (ESP) v 6-Marin Cilic (CRO), followed by
* Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v 2-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

Gabriela Dabrowski plays both women’s and mixed doubles on Margaret Court Arena today. Photo: Peter Wallis
Gabriela Dabrowski plays both women’s and mixed doubles on Margaret Court Arena today. Photo: Peter Wallis

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Margaret Court Arena (not before 1300):
* 1-Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Marcelo Melo (BRA) v Ben Mclachlan (JPN)/Jan-Lennard Struff (GER), followed by
* 6-Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN)/Yifan Xu (CHN) v 2-Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)/Elena Vesnina (RUS), followed by
* 6-Andrea Sestini Hlavackova (CZE)/Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) v Nadiia Kichenok (UKR)/Marcel Granollers (ESP), followed by
* 8-Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN)/Mate Pavic (CRO) v Demi Schuurs (NED)/Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)

She was defeated by Karolina Pliskova in singles yesterday, but Lucie Safarova is still in action in doubles. Photo: AAP
She was defeated by Karolina Pliskova in singles yesterday, but Lucie Safarova is still in action in doubles. Photo: AAP

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Show Court 2 (from 1100):
* Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)/Marcelo Demoliner (BRA) v 7-Hao-Ching Chan (TPE)/Michael Venus (NZL), followed by
* 10-Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)/Monica Niculescu (ROU) v Jennifer Brady (USA)/Vania King (USA), followed by
* 4-Lucie Safarova (CZE)/Barbora Strycova (CZE) v 8-Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)/Shuai Peng (CHN), followed by
* Vania King (USA)/Franko Skugor (CRO) v 5-Timea Babos (HUN)/Rohan Bopanna (IND)

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Show Court 3 (not before 1230):
* 1-Latisha Chan (TPE)/Andrea Sestini Hlavackova (CZE) v 5-T Babos (HUN)/K Mladenovic (FRA).

Additional reporting: AAP/AFP

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open-day-9-rafael-nadal-grigor-dimitrov-caroline-wozniacki-in-action/news-story/0872d73b69cd5b7f2d1d4ac931285650