Australian Open: Jamie Murray, Heather Watson & Dan Evans earn doubles wins
Britain’s Jamie Murray wins in his Grand Slam return alongside Bruno Soares, while Heather Watson and Dan Evans also claim doubles victories.
Britain’s Jamie Murray wins in his Grand Slam return alongside Bruno Soares, while Heather Watson and Dan Evans also claim doubles victories.
Novak Djokovic took several shots from Frances Tiafoe on Wednesday inside Rod Laver Arena. But like you’d expect from the World No. 1, the Serbian found a way to withstand them and prevail.
Djokovic defeated the 23-year-old American 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 6-3 behind 26 aces to reach the third round of the Australian Open. The top seed wasn’t always at his best, but he played well in key moments to triumph after three hours and 30 minutes.
“It was a very tough match, very warm and a lot of long rallies,” Djokovic said on court. “I want to say that Frances put up a really good fight. The matches are only going to get tougher. I was fortunate to get through the third set today. It was anyone’s game and Frances served great.”
The World No. 1, who is pursuing a record-extending ninth title at this event, had not played Tiafoe before walking onto the court inside Rod Laver Arena for their second-round clash. But Djokovic got all he could handle and then some. However, he showed his champion’s mettle as he pushes for an 18th major trophy.
“When you win a lot on Rod Laver Arena, you feel comfortable,” Djokovic said. “It feels like my living room, although I’m not sitting on my couch – I’m running all over the place. This is the quickest court conditions in the 15 years that I’ve played here.”
Tiafoe, who made a dream run to the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2019, showed how he accomplished that with an inspired performance in front of a raucous crowd. The American had very few lapses of concentration and showed no fear of the moment, instead embracing it and trying to get the crowd involved. There was even a group of young fans holding a sign titled “Church of Frances Tiafoe”.
But while Tiafoe showed stretches of splendid shotmaking and composed play to challenge Djokovic, the few momentary slips of concentration he did have were costly. Djokovic converted five of his 14 break points and went into his trademark “lockdown mode” in the critical third-set tie-break, which made Tiafoe’s prospects of an upset even more daunting.
The final blow came at 3-3 in the fourth set. Facing break point, Djokovic’s forehand return bounced high off the top of the net, and the American rushed in to hit a backhand approach shot. Tiafoe’s problem was that Djokovic guessed the right direction and made the World No. 64 pay by lacing a backhand passing shot up the line for a winner.
The match slipped away from Tiafoe quickly after that. He fought hard throughout, but struck his eighth double fault on match point.
Did You Know?
Djokovic has not lost before the fourth round of a Grand Slam since the 2017 Australian Open. The last time it happened before that was 2008 Wimbledon.
Serena Williams breezes into the Australian Open third round but Petra Kvitova and Bianca Andreescu are the biggest casualties on day three.
Just four days ago, Felix Auger-Aliassime suffered a devastating loss in the championship match of the Murray River Open to fall to 0-7 in ATP Tour finals. But after two straight-sets victories in the Australian Open, that defeat feels like it is in the distant past.
Auger-Aliassime defeated home favourite James Duckworth 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and 45 minutes on Thursday to reach the third round of a major for the third time. Entering the week, he didn’t own a main draw win at the season’s first Grand Slam.
But the Canadian has looked at home on the Melbourne Park hard courts since his arrival. The 20-year-old is now 6-1 on the season, with all seven of his matches coming at this venue. Auger-Aliassime has not lost more than four games in the six sets he has played in the Australian Open, and he will next face countryman Denis Shapovalov or another Aussie, Bernard Tomic, for a spot in the Round of 16.
Auger-Aliassime struck 19 aces and did not face a break point in his victory against Duckworth. The Aussie is a gritty opponent, but the 20th seed used his superior firepower to his advantage, hitting 38 winners to just 23 unforced errors.
When he lost in Sunday’s Murray River Open final against Daniel Evans, Auger-Aliassime was consistently misfiring. But since the start of the Australian Open he has kept his game under control, and he finished off Duckworth with a forehand winner and a fist pump.
The tears said it all.
He tried his best to suppress them, but Thanasi Kokkinakis could only do so much to contain the emotion; all that it meant for him to be through to the second round of the Australian Open. Now 24, he hadn’t won a main-draw match at his home Slam since 2015, the year he first cracked the Top 100 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, as part of a promising crop of countrymen — Kokkinakis, Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic, James Duckworth, etc. — that was collectively positioning itself to take the baton from Hall-of-Famer-to-be Lleyton Hewitt.
Hewitt was already familiar with his fellow South Australian’s firepower by then, encouraged by his obvious talent. The green-and-gold Davis Cup roster was suddenly looking stacked.
But those tears shed after the wild card’s 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win over Soonwoo Kwon of Korea on Tuesday were manifestation of the heartbreak, all the setbacks that Kokkinakis has experienced since that early breakthrough a half-dozen years ago.
“It’s been a while,” said Kokkinakis, No. 267 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, his lowest showing since 2017. “It was just so much stuff behind the scenes to get back to that point. Not a lot of people realise that, apart from my team and friends and family. I definitely got a bit emotional.”
Beset by injuries, Kokkinakis has struggled to stay on the court in recent years. He would play just one match in 2016 after having surgery on his right shoulder, falling to Portugal’s Gastao Elias, 7-6(4), 7-6(3), at the Rio Olympics. That same year, he would withdraw from both Winston-Salem and the US Open with a pectoral strain. He missed 18 weeks in 2017 with an abdominal injury.
There were some good days, too, like the time he stunned Roger Federer at the Miami Open in 2018 — at No. 175 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, the lowest-ranked player to beat a World No. 1 in a decade-and-a-half. It was a moment for all to celebrate. But later that year, his body would betray him again. He suffered a left ankle injury at an ATP Challenger in Mexico and withdrew from Istanbul qualifying due to a knee injury.
He would play only six matches between 2019 and 2020, his right shoulder repeatedly letting him down. Things got so bad that Kokkinakis says he considered retiring from the sport altogether. But an inner voice told him to keep pushing.
“It’s definitely good to just persist,” said Kokkinakis. “There’s definitely been ups and downs, for sure. It’s been very, very challenging the last few years. It always is. It’s a massive, massive journey. And I know my team and family know exactly what I go through. It’s been really hard. But look on the moments where I’ve had success and the feelings I got from being on court and having good wins. I use that to fuel me for as long as I can. I know I can’t do this forever. So even if I’m just struggling at certain moments, I kind of hang on those moments to kind of push me through.”
The way Kokkinakis figures it, 90 per cent of the fans in the Court 3 stands for his win over Kwon were from his camp.
“I’m so appreciative of that,” he said. “Just playing with that energy and that crowd and being able to win — so much work behind the scenes, so much pain. [It’s] just a massive relief.”
It doesn’t get any easier from here for Kokkinakis, whose self-described “blue-collar” approach has seen him fend for himself when it comes to his on-court apparel. (“It’s tough out here, man. It’s not what it used to be!”) For his efforts, he’s earned a shot at fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, with whom he shares Greek roots.
“It’s going to be exciting,” said Kokkinakis. “[He’s] a phenomenal player, one of the favourites for this tournament. It’s going to be fun. I just can’t wait to get out there. I’m not sure what court we’ll play on, but I’m sure it will be a pretty big one. I’m hoping there’s a decent crowd that will get rowdy, have some Greek fans, Aussie fans. Hopefully, it’s pretty loose.”
It will be his first encounter with Tsitsipas, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals in 2019, defeating then-third-ranked Federer along the way. But don’t look for Kokkinakis to be intimidated by the moment; he’s just happy to be healthy and competing again on the biggest stages in the sport.
“I can’t wait to get out there and have another crack.”
Comeback complete! In his first match of 2021, Andy Murray made a winning return at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Biella, Italy. The former World No. 1 rallied from a set down to defeat Maximilian Marterer 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3 on the indoor hard courts of the Biella Challenger Indoor 1.
Murray was made to work as he kicked off his 2021 campaign in the scenic surroundings of northern Italy. The 33-year-old arrived at the Palasport Biella in search of matches, as he competed in his first tournament since October. He would seal the victory over Marterer after two hours and 10 minutes, striking a sublime lob winner that landed smack on the baseline.
Looking to rediscover his rhythm on the court, Murray was tested by the former World No. 45 Marterer from the start. But after dropping the first-set tie-break, he would raise his level as the match wore on. The Scot seized the first break of the match for 2-1 in the second set and cracked the German’s serve three more times before crossing the finish line.
Murray, who scored his first victory since the 2020 US Open (d. Nishioka), won 82 per cent of first-serve points and did not concede a break opportunity during the encounter. This marks his second appearance on the ATP Challenger Tour in three years. In 2019, he reached the quarter-finals in Mallorca, Spain, in the early stages of his comeback from hip surgery.
This time, as he seeks to build confidence and momentum to start the season, Murray is slated to compete in Biella I and Biella II this month. He will face Italy’s Gian Marco Moroni in the second round on Thursday.
The 28-year-old Palasport Biella will host four Challenger tournaments in the coming months, with a 125-level event slated for the week of 15 February. Located in the Italian Alps, the Piedmont region is also the new home of the Nitto ATP Finals in 2021, in nearby Turin.
Andy Murray begins his season with victory over Germany’s Maximilian Marterer in the ATP Challenger in Biella, Italy.
He’s only 25, but Nick Kyrgios says he already feels like a golden-ager.
“I feel old,” Kyrgios confided after his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 ousting of Portuguese qualifier Frederico Ferreira Silva in his Melbourne Park opener. “This sport has stressed me out. I feel like an old soul.”
The enigmatic Aussie looked youthful enough against Ferreira Silva on Monday. Despite playing just nine matches in 2020, opting out of both Roland Garros and the US Open amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyrgios shook off some rust to smack 14 aces and win 84 per cent of his first-serve points (46/55). Along the way, he clocked service holds of 46 and 52 seconds. However, Kyrgios says the effort didn’t come without some early-season jitters. Sure, he’d won a pair of matches at the lead-up Murray River Open, but this was a whole different level.
“I haven’t been nervous like that for a tennis match in a long time,” said Kyrgios, No. 47 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. “Not competing for a while at a Grand Slam level, I was doubting my confidence a little bit.
“I’m extremely lucky to even be in my position,” said Kyrgios, who reached a career-high No. 13 in the FedEx ATP Rankings in October 2016. “I’m taking every day as a blessing at the moment. I’m healthy. I have great friends, great family, an amazing girlfriend back home. I’m blessed. I’m a wise man now.”
Kyrgios, who’ll next face tricky 29th-seed Ugo Humbert of France, is one of four Australian men who have their work cut out for them on Day 3 in Melbourne. Wild card Alex Bolt meets 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov; James Duckworth takes on 20th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime; and qualifier Bernard Tomic goes up against 20th seed Denis Shapovalov, who is coming off an impressive 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 triumph over Great Ocean Road Open titlist Jannik Sinner.
“He’s one of the most improved players on Tour,” said Kyrgios of the 22-year-old Humbert, who last year claimed his first two ATP titles in Auckland and Antwerp. “He’s found his form. He’s a good player. I played him in Acapulco. I wasn’t near 100 per cent [Kyrgios retired with a wrist injury], but I could sense he was a young up-and-comer. To be seeded at a Slam, you’ve got to put a pretty good year together.”
As someone who loves the big stage, Kyrgios has extra incentive to win Wednesday. Victory would set a likely prime-time showdown with third seed and 2020 finalist Dominic Thiem in the third round.
The two-time defending champion Djokovic will be the marquee attraction in Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. The Serb, seeking a record-extending ninth Australian Open trophy, is poised for a first-time matchup with 64th-ranked American Frances Tiafoe. If his form in his first-round, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 victory Jeremy Chardy is any indication, the 17-time major titlist is finding his zone.
Asked if it’s possible to summon that level match in, match out, Djokovic likened it to “muscle memory”.
“I think every time you experience something, it’s there,” he explained. “It’s up to you whether you are able to bring it out from the box again in the next encounter. But each day brings something new, and it’s not always possible to feel aligned, in the zone every single match.”
Third seed Thiem will also take the court on Wednesday. The 2020 US Open champion will meet 70th-ranked left-hander Dominik Koepfer of Germany. The new-look Alexander Zverev, seeded sixth, shed his sleeves for a 6-7(10), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2 victory over one-time collegiate star Marcos Giron in the opening round, setting the stage for a Day 3 clash with another former UCLA standout, qualifier Maxime Cressy.
It will feel like old times when No. 27 seed Taylor Fritz faces longtime junior foe Reilly Opelka. Fritz boasts a 3-1 ATP Head2Head advantage in tour-level encounters between the Americans, including a 7-6(5), 6-1, first-round victory last year in Antwerp.
Elsewhere, it’s eighth seed Diego Schwartzman vs. lucky loser Alexandre Muller; No. 14 seed Milos Raonic vs. Corentin Moutet; 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka vs. Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics; and Jiri Vesely vs. No. 15 seed Pablo Carreno Busta.
World number two Rafael Nadal begins his bid for a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title with victory over Laslo Djere at the Australian Open.
Stefanos Tsitsipas made the perfect start to his Australian Open title bid on Tuesday, as he cruised past Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.
The fifth seed produced a dominant serving performance, winning 82 per cent of his first-serve points (27/33) to overcome the 2009 quarter-finalist in one hour and 32 minutes. Tsitsipas limited his opponent to six winners and did not face a break point throughout the match.
Tsitsipas has won all three singles matches he has contested this year in straight sets. Prior to the Australian Open, the 22-year-old represented Greece for the second straight year at the ATP Cup. Tsitsipas claimed a 6-3, 7-5 win against Alex de Minaur and beat Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 7-5 to help his nation finish second in Group B.
Tsitsipas started strongly on Rod Laver Arena, as he dropped only five points in the first five games of the match. The Greek held serve comfortably and attacked with his forehand to gain back-to-back breaks en route to a 5-0 lead.
After wrapping up the first set, Tsitsipas increased his grip on the match with two more service breaks in the second set. The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion continued to dictate rallies with his forehand and rushed Simon with regular visits to the net. Through the opening two sets, Tsitispas won 72 per cent of his net points (13/18).
Simon had struggled with double faults in key moments during the first two sets, and that trend continued in the third set. Tsitsipas stepped in on his return and attacked Simon’s forehand to earn three more breaks and his spot in the second round.
“My level is good so far,” said Tsitsipas, in an on-court interview. “I feel good with my service games and I think I am returning really well. I have a clear picture of where I want to return and start the point, so I think I get the upper hand from the very beginning of the rally, which gives me a lot of confidence.
“I know I can press a lot with my forehand and also create damage on my backhand side, with my down-the-line backhand, which is my favourite shot. It has been giving me a lot of points and once it is there, I honestly feel very comfortable playing anyone.”
Earlier in the day, Kokkinakis defeated Soonwoo Kwon 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 on Court 3. The 24-year-old landed 19 aces and converted six of seven break points to defeat the South Korean in one hour and 33 minutes.
Borna Coric earned his place in the second round with a 6-3, 7-6(5), 7-5 victory against Guido Pella. The 22nd seed, who reached the fourth round in 2019, ripped 52 winners to earn his third win of the year (3-1). Coric will next face Mackenzie McDonald, who beat 2018 Roland Garros semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and 12 minutes.
