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Defending doubles champions Murray & Soares lose in first round

  • Posted: Jan 19, 2017
Australian Open 2017
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne Dates: 16-29 Jan
Coverage: Daily live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website; TV highlights on BBC Two and online from 21 January.

Britain’s Jamie Murray and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares have been knocked out in the men’s doubles first round by Sam Querrey and Donald Young.

The defending champions and second seeds lost 6-3 7-6 (7-5) in one hour and 12 minutes on Thursday.

American pair Querrey and Young will face Russians Karen Khachanov and Andrey Kuznetsov in the second round.

Querrey also plays world number one Andy Murray in the men’s singles third round on Friday.

  • Live scores, results and order of play

Britain’s Dan Evans was due to play in the doubles alongside Nick Kyrgios against Dusan Lajovic and Viktor Troicki on Thursday, but the Australian has withdrawn because of injury concerns.

Kyrgios said he sustained a knee injury playing basketball several weeks ago.

The 21-year-old lost to Andreas Seppi in the men’ singles on Wednesday, while Evans progressed to the third round after beating world number seven Marin Cilic.

They have been replaced in the draw by Argentines Renzo Olivo and Guido Pella.

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Raonic All Business Down Under

  • Posted: Jan 19, 2017

Raonic All Business Down Under

Dimitrov, Gasquet also set a 3R match-up

Milos Raonic submitted another business-like performance on Friday at the Australian Open, sending Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller home after a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) second-round win. The third-seeded Canadian struck 21 aces and limited the big-serving Muller’s count to seven.

Raonic also saved all four break points faced and broke Muller just enough – once in each of the first two sets. The third-seeded Raonic had been 0-2 against Muller in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, although the two hadn’t played since 2012. Muller also entered the Australian Open off his best result ever: His first ATP World Tour title at the Apia International Sydney last weekend.

But Raonic needed less than two hours to reach the third round, where he’ll face Frenchman Gilles Simon. The 25th seed needed only 96 minutes to beat Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.

Fifteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov recovered from a set deficit to beat #NextGenATP player Hyeon Chung of South Korea 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Chung, who missed three months last season because of an ab injury, looked fit as he chased balls from side to side, answering everything Dimitrov slapped his way during the first set. Dimitrov hit only three winners to 14 unforced errors in the opener.

Watch Now: Train With Dimitrov, Part One

But the Bulgarian ripped away momentum with a break to start the second set, and improved play followed. Last week’s Brisbane champion won 13/15 net points during the next two sets and broke twice in the fourth set to advance in two hours and 34 minutes.

In the third round, Dimitrov will meet 18th seed Richard Gasquet, who had little trouble beating Argentine Carlos Berlocq 6-1, 6-1, 6-1. The Frenchman has won five of his six FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings against Dimitrov, but Dimitrov won their last meeting, 6-4, 6-4 on the Shanghai Rolex Masters hard courts last October.

Watch Now: Pushing The Limits With Dimitrov, Part Two

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Six-time champion Djokovic knocked out by world number 117

  • Posted: Jan 19, 2017

Defending champion Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat by world number 117 Denis Istomin in the second round of the Australian Open.

The six-time winner struggled for consistency and lost 7-6 5-7 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in four hours and 48 minutes.

It is the first time Djokovic, 29, has lost in the second round of a Grand Slam since 2008 at Wimbledon.

The result leaves world number one Andy Murray as the favourite to secure the title for the first time in Melbourne.

Uzbek Istomin will next face Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat Britain’s Kyle Edmund on Thursday.

It is only the second time in seven years that Djokovic has lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 – his defeat by Juan Martin del Potro, ranked 145th, at the Rio Olympics in 2016 the other occasion.

  • Live scores, results and order of play
  • Konta wins but Watson and Edmund lose

Istomin holds nerve against world number two

Djokovic, who has beaten Andy Murray in four of the Briton’s five final defeats in Melbourne, could not find his rhythm, losing his first service game in 15 minutes and he went on to lose the first set in one hour and 25 minutes.

He won four consecutive games in the third set as his opponent faltered but Istomin came back in the fourth set to take it to a tie break.

Both players served aggressively as they received vocal support from the crowd, with Istomin taking the match to a deciding set with a brutal ace.

Istomin, who broke in game five, remained strong on his own serve and raised his arms to the crowd after Djokovic sliced his final shot into the net.

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Evans Picks Out Winning Style In Melbourne

  • Posted: Jan 19, 2017

Evans Picks Out Winning Style In Melbourne

Brit faces Aussie Tomic in 3R

Daniel Evans, No. 51 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, needed some tennis clothes before playing in his next tournament, the Australian Open.

His contract with his previous clothing supplier, Nike, had ended last December. So Evans, much like a recreational tennis player or even a beginner would do, visited a clothing store – in his case, Uniqlo – and picked up some clothes for his matches.

“I just went to the store and bought a load of clothes the other day, plain clothes,” Evans said on Wednesday when asked about his fashion. The Brit had just beaten seventh seed Marin Cilic in the second round in Melbourne for the biggest win of his career.

The shirts cost him $19.99, Evans said. He didn’t recall how much the shorts were. “I didn’t look. I just picked the shorts up. I was more worried about the shirts,” he said.

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Evans bought 18 shirts this past weekend and returned to buy some more on Wednesday before his match against Cilic. He doesn’t think he’ll have to run that errand again, though.

“No, I only wore one shirt today,” he said on Wednesday. “I’m good till Friday. We’re good.”

Evans’ tennis has also been very good. The 26-year-old Brit matched his best Grand Slam result by beating Cilic and advancing to the third round Down Under.

Before this week, the Birmingham native had never won a match at the season’s first Grand Slam. Last year, during his debut as a qualifier, Evans fell to Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in straight sets.

“It was really good,” said Evans, who faces Aussie Bernard Tomic in the third round. “I think I played as well as I can play today. I was really pleased with how I played especially towards the end of the match… Definitely the biggest win.”

Moet and Chandon off-court news 

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Confident Konta shows her quality but Edmund loses

  • Posted: Jan 19, 2017
Australian Open 2017
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne Dates: 16-29 Jan
Coverage: Daily live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website.

Johanna Konta made it three British players through to the third round of the Australian Open with an assured 6-3 6-2 victory over Japan’s Naomi Osaka.

The 25-year-old ninth seed produced a confident all-round display to see off the promising 19-year-old.

She follows Andy Murray and Dan Evans in making the last 32 and could be joined there by Heather Watson, who plays Jennifer Brady on Thursday.

But Kyle Edmund was beaten 6-2 6-4 6-2 by Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

The British number two produced an impressive victory to reach the second round but was unable to maintain that form against the 30th seed.

Edmund, 22, made too many errors and could not match the power and accuracy of his opponent’s serve, as he lost in an hour and 46 minutes.

  • Live radio and text coverage of Edmund and Watson
  • Live scores, results and order of play
  • Andy Murray column: Dan Evans’ exciting form, injury worries and inspiring the next generation

Clinical win for in-form Konta

Konta, who will face Denmark’s 17th seed Caroline Wozniacki on Saturday, faced an opponent rated one of the most talented players in the women’s game.

The big-serving Osaka, ranked 48th, had a chance to break Konta in the eighth game but missed a forehand and then looked on helplessly as the Briton fired down two aces to hold serve.

Konta took advantage of her opponent’s loss of focus to break to love and then served out the opening set in clinical fashion.

The Briton dominated the second set to secure her 10th win of 2017.

“I love playing on these amazing courts and I’m looking forward to staying here as long as possible,” she said.

Analysis – Konta a serious contender

Former Fed Cup coach Judy Murray on Radio 5 live sports extra

Johanna Konta is looking every bit the contender. She has one of the best serves in the women’s game, moves well, defends much better and plays well off both sides.

She looks confident, determined and focused. She has a strong team in her corner and is in a very good position to go far in this competition.

Edmund outclassed by Carreno Busta

Edmund started by winning the first game of the match on serve but proceeded to lose the next five.

At 5-2 the 22-year-old called the trainer for treatment on his left foot, but it did not affect the momentum of the match as he netted a forehand on set point in the next game.

Inspired to play tennis?

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Edmund had his first break point in the second game of the second set, but failed to take it, and then he double-faulted to hand Carreno Busta a break in the seventh game.

Edmund had a couple of chances to level the set in the 10th game, but Carreno Busta produced two big serves and eventually took the set after surviving two further break points.

Two unforced errors and a double fault handed the Spaniard a break in the fifth game of the third set and the contest was effectively over when Carreno Busta got a second break two games later.

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Bryans Begin Bid For Seventh Melbourne Crown

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2017

Bryans Begin Bid For Seventh Melbourne Crown

Fourth seeds Kontinen/Peers also advance

Third seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan made a speedy start at the Australian Open on Wednesday as the men’s doubles draw action kicked off. The six-time champions did not face a break point to beat the all-French duo of Paul-Henri Mathieu and Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-0 in 43 minutes.

Fourth seeds and reigning ATP Finals champions Henri Kontinen and John Peers fired seven aces to defeat Santiago Gonzalez and David Marrero 7-6(1), 6-4. They next face Marcos Baghdatis and Gilles Muller, 6-1, 6-4 winners over Cheng-Peng Hsieh and Tsung-Hua Yang.

Fifth seeds Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov and Gerald Melzer, while No. 9 seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcel Granollers, a new team for 2017, won 6-3, 6-4 over Malek Jaziri and Stephane Robert. Dodig/Granollers next play Robert Lindstedt and Michael Venus, 7-6(6), 7-6(2) winners over Andre Begemann and Jan-Lennard Struff.

Other seeds to advance to the second round: No. 11 seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau defeated Philipp Petzschner and Mikhail Youzhny 7-6(5), 7-6(3), fifteenth seeds Rohan Bopanna and Pablo Cuevas beat Thomaz Bellucci and Maximo Gonzalez 6-4, 7-6(4) and Dominic Inglot and Florin Mergea, the No. 16 seeds, advanced 6-2, 7-5 over home hopes Luke Saville and Jordan Thompson.

Aussies Matthew Barton and Matthew Ebden scored an upset in front of their home crowd, a 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 12 seeds Vasek Pospisil and Radek Stepanek.

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Nishikori's Dream Selfie

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2017

Nishikori's Dream Selfie

Japanese star picks a certain Florida neighbor

If given the chance for a dream selfie, some ATP World Tour pros might opt for pictures with other famous athletes, such as David Beckham or Kobe Bryant.

But not Kei Nishikori. Who would Nishikori want to take a selfie with?

“Mickey,” he said on Wednesday after his second-round win against Jeremy Chardy at the Australian Open.

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“Who is that?” the reporter asked.

Nishikori, apparently befuddled by the question, simply repeated his one-word answer. “Mickey,” he said.

The reporter still did not understand, though. “What’s Mickey famous for?” the reporter asked.

“Disney World,” Nishikori said to laughs.

To be fair, the Japanese star should know Mickey Mouse and other Disney World characters better than most. Nishikori trains at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, which is about 160 kilometers from Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Watch Now: Off-Season Training With Nishikori

Nishikori will hope to be the star of his third-round match on Friday. The 27-year-old faces Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko, who beat Dudi Sela of Israel 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Moet and Chandon off-court news 

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Kyrgios, Cilic Suffer Early Exits In Melbourne

  • Posted: Jan 18, 2017

Kyrgios, Cilic Suffer Early Exits In Melbourne

Local hope and former Grand Slam champion are upset

Andreas Seppi silenced Australian supporters on Hisense Arena when he saved one match points in a comeback victory over local No. 14 seed Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open on Wednesday night.

World No. 89 Seppi fought back from an 0-2 sets deficit and saved one match point at 7-8, Ad-out, in the deciding set to triumph 1-6, 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 in three hours and 12 minutes. It was his fifth comeback from 0-2 sets down and his first win over Kyrgios, who had previous beaten Seppi at the 2014 US Open and 2015 Australian Open (8-6 in the fifth set).

Seppi now challenges Steve Darcis, a 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 winner over Diego Schwartzman.

Just five days on from appearing his first ATP World Tour final, Briton Daniel Evans recorded the biggest win of his career in beating World No. 7 Marin Cilic of Croatia.

Evans, who is currently at a career-high No. 51 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, won 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 in just under three hours, hitting 29 winners to Cilic’s 55 winners. It was the first time Cilic had lost to a player ranked as low as Evans at the major since falling to No. 126-ranked Ilija Bozoljac as a qualifier in 2007.

The 26-year-old Evans is through to the third round of a major championship for the fourth time in his career and will now face Australian No. 27 seed Bernard Tomic or Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic.

He beat No. 8-ranked Dominic Thiem en route to the Apia Sydney International final last week, when he lost to Gilles Muller in the title match.

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