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Aussie Duo Lead Third Round Doubles Charge

  • Posted: Jan 21, 2017

Aussie Duo Lead Third Round Doubles Charge

Jan212017

Trio of Aussie teams feature in third round at Melbourne Park

The home nation will be well-represented in the third round of the Australian Open doubles draw, as Sam Groth and Chris Guccione stunned 10th seeds Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi 7-6(10), 7-6(5) on Saturday at Melbourne Park. The unseeded duo, winners of two ATP World Tour titles together, join the Aussie wild card teams of Marc Polmans/Andrew Whittington and Alex Bolt/Bradley Mousley in the Round of 16.

Groth and Guccione needed just under two hours to move on, launching 17 aces, while saving all three break points faced. For Groth, it is the 29 year old’s third straight appearance in the doubles Round of 16 at Melbourne Park, having advanced as far with Eric Butorac in 2015 and Lleyton Hewitt last year. The Aussies will face Marcus Daniell and Marcelo Demoliner next, after the Kiwi-Brazilian pair stunned sixth seeds and ATP Finals runners-up Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram 6-1, 7-6(4).

Also advancing to the third round at Melbourne Park were top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. The reigning Wimbledon champions made quick work of Jerzy Janowicz and Marcin Matkowski 6-3, 6-2, setting a date with 16th seeds Dominic Inglot and Florin Mergea. Six-time champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, seeded third, also needed just over an hour to prevail on Saturday. The American twins downed Nenad Zimonjic and Mischa Zverev 6-3, 6-2.

Fifth seeds Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez set an all-Spanish third round clash against US Open finalists Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, defeating Jonathan Eysseric and Fabrice Martin 6-4, 6-4. The Spaniards advanced after 73 minutes, converting three of six break chances.

Rounding out the Round of 16 field were seventh seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo, 6-4, 7-6(3) winners over Nicholas Monroe and Artem Sitak, as well as the Colombian power of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, who rallied past Serbians Dusan Lajovic and Viktor Troicki 2-6, 7-5, 6-0.

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Australian Open: Andy Murray and Dan Evans in last-16 action on Sunday

  • Posted: Jan 21, 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.

Great Britain’s Andy Murray and Dan Evans will both be playing in the last 16 of the Australian Open on Sunday.

World number one Murray, 29, plays Germany’s Mischa Zverev, who is 50th in the rankings, before Dan Evans faces France’s 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

This is Evans’ best run at a Grand Slam after victories over Marin Cilic and Bernard Tomic in the last two rounds.

“It was a goal to make the fourth round of a Slam this year,” said the 26-year-old, who is ranked 51st in the world.

“It’s satisfying, but I’m not looking back. Whatever happens, it’s been a great tournament, but there’s still some tennis to be played.”

Tsonga, an Australian Open finalist in 2008, is expecting a tough challenge in their match, which will not start before 05:30 GMT.

“He’s very talented, he can do everything,” said Tsonga. “He can play short points or rallies and he’s got a one-handed backhand which isn’t easy to control.”

  • Live scores, results and order of play
  • Who is new tennis star Dan Evans?
  • Feature: Has Djokovic’s desire burned itself out?
  • How to follow the Australian Open on the BBC

Murray is expected to be in action at about 03:00 GMT on Sunday and thinks he will have to change his tactics against Zverev.

“He has a very different game style to most of the guys now, he’s serve-volleying, coming forward as much as possible,” said Murray.

“He doesn’t serve like 220km/h. He serves 185s, 190s, but places it well. People say you can’t play that way any more and be successful, but he’s done that the last few months.”

Zverev, the older brother of 19-year-old rising star Alexander Zverev, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the third round, hopes to frustrate the Scot.

“If he plays his best tennis, obviously I don’t have a lot of chances, but it’ll depend on the day,” said Zverev. “Let’s see if I can annoy him a little bit. If I’m serving well and not missing any volleys, maybe I can do some damage.”

The last time two British men made the quarter-finals of the same Grand Slam tournament was in 1997 when Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski reached the last eight at Wimbledon.

Murray can do ‘remarkable things’ – Agassi

Murray has lost in five Australian Open finals, but the man he lost to in four of those matches, Novak Djokovic, is out of the tournament.

Former world number one Andre Agassi thinks this could be Murray’s year.

“This is a heck of an opportunity for Andy,” said the American. “He’s certainly come into his best years and if he lines everything up he has the runway free to do some remarkable things.”

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Nadal Survives Zverev In Melbourne

  • Posted: Jan 21, 2017

Nadal Survives Zverev In Melbourne

Jan212017

Spaniard sets Monfils clash

Rafael Nadal survived a marathon third-round battle against Alexander Zverev on Saturday at the Australian Open in Melbourne, coming through with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 win on Rod Laver Arena.

“It’s obviously an important result for me,” said Nadal, who had lost his past three five-set contests in Grand Slam action. “So it’s important for me to win a match like this, having been down two sets to one. I’m very happy.”

A single break of serve was all that was needed in each of the first two sets. Neither player faced a break point in the third set, ultimately forcing a critical tie-break. Nadal gave the crucial mini-break to Zverev with a forehand error at 5/5, and the German took advantage by hitting a backhand winner on set point to earn a commanding lead.

But Nadal refused to go away. He raced out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set and appeared to finally wear down Zverev with the long baseline rallies that highlighted the match. The young German hit 12 winners to 16 unforced errors in the fourth set while Nadal shored up his game considerably, holding onto the lead to force a deciding set.

The final stages of the match ultimately came down to fitness, with Zverev appearing to cramp at 2-2 in the fifth set. Sensing his opportunity, Nadal sprinted through the final four games of the match to prevail in four hours and five minutes.

Nadal improves his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Zverev to 2-0, having last defeated the German at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells in 2016, saving a match point.

“It was a tough match,” reflected Nadal. “He’s a player that has an amazing potential. He is able to produce great shots. He’s already one of the best players in the world. He can be even better. He can be fighting for the most important things. So I think he will do it.

“For the confidence, for lot of things, it is very important to win these kind of matches. I worked a lot during all of December to have the chances to compete well in these kind of moments. Even if I started the match with some nerves, I think I was able to came back well.

“Mentally I have been very positive during the whole match. In terms of physical performance, I felt great, ready for run for every ball. In terms of level of tennis, I think I finished the match playing much better than how I started the match. That’s a very important thing.”

Nadal goes on to face sixth seed Gael Monfils, who recorded a 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-4 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber in just under two hours. Monfils has dropped only one set in reaching the last 16 and will look to overturn a 2-12 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Nadal when the pair meets on Monday. Monfils’ last victory over Nadal came five years ago in Doha.

The 30-year-old Monfils is looking to reach a second successive Grand Slam quarter-final, after making the semi-finals at the US Open in New York, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.    

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Australian Open: Johanna Konta praises support from her family and friends

  • Posted: Jan 21, 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.

Great Britain’s Johanna Konta says her family and coaches were crucial to her progress after the Lawn Tennis Association cut her funding in 2015.

Konta, 25, has reached the last 16 of the Australian Open, after playing in the semi-finals in Melbourne last year.

In 2015, the LTA reduced Konta’s funding, as part of wider cuts in support for emerging players, which saw Konta relocate her training to Spain.

“That period of time was very difficult,” said the world number nine.

“When the organisation decided to stop funding me it wasn’t in my benefit. It’s not a cheap sport and whether through a federation, a private sponsor or a family, no-one gets there without help.

“I don’t believe tough love is the answer and I was very fortunate to have very good people around me.

“My family, my support system, also my coaches at the time did a tremendous job in pulling together and making sure our focus remained on the work and not on external situations out of our control.”

Sydney-born Konta has previously said she was grateful for the support the LTA has offered since she became a British citizen in 2012.

Konta plays 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the last 16 in Australia after a convincing 6-3 6-1 win over Danish former world number one Caroline Wozniacki.

“I was very happy with the way I was able to assert myself from the beginning and maintain my level to the end,” said Konta.

“Against someone like Caroline, she’s not going to give it to you – you really have to earn it.”

Konta beat Makarova 4-6 6-4 8-6 in last year’s Australian Open and the winner of their match on Monday could face six-time winner Serena Williams in the quarter-finals.

On Makarova, Konta added: “Every time we play, we have a battle. That match last year was a high-level match from both of us. She always seems to do well on these courts and I’m looking forward to it.”

Johanna Konta’s rise up the world rankings
Time Ranking Time Ranking
Now Ninth End of 2016 10th
End of 2015 47th End of 2014 150th
End of 2013 112th End of 2012 153rd
End of 2011 305th End of 2010 248th
End of 2009 360th End of 2008 668th

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Gordon Reid loses Australian Open warm-up tournament final

  • Posted: Jan 21, 2017

Britain’s Gordon Reid lost his final warm-up match before next week’s Australian Open wheelchair events.

The Rio 2016 Paralympic singles gold medallist and world number one was beaten 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 by world number four Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina in the final of the Melbourne Open.

But compatriot Alfie Hewett was a winner in the men’s doubles.

Hewett and Fernandez beat top seeds Joachim Gerard of Belgium and France’s Nicolas Peifer 6-3 6-4.

Reid and Hewett are among four British players involved in the wheelchair tennis events at the first Grand Slam of the year, which start on Wednesday, with Lucy Shuker (women’s singles and doubles) and Andy Lapthorne (quad singles and doubles) also in action.

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Australian Open 2017: Rafael Nadal beats Alexander Zverev in five sets

  • Posted: Jan 21, 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.

Former champion Rafael Nadal overcame rising star Alexander Zverev in a gripping contest to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The Spaniard, who won the title in 2009, came through 4-6 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 in four hours and six minutes.

Zverev, 19, had recovered a break early in the final set before requiring treatment for cramp.

Nadal, 30, goes on to face France’s Gael Monfils or Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the last 16.

  • Watch highlights of day six on BBC Two from 15:05 GMT on Saturday.

Belgian 11th seed David Goffin impressed with a 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic, setting up a clash with Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Denis Istomin, the qualifier from Uzbekistan who stunned Novak Djokovic in round two, produced another superb effort to beat Spanish 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-2.

Thirteenth seed Roberto Bautista won the all-Spanish battle with 21st seed David Ferrer 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.

More to follow.

  • Live scores, results and order of play
  • How to follow the Australian Open on the BBC

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Serena powers through at Australian Open

  • Posted: Jan 21, 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.

Six-time champion Serena Williams eased past fellow American Nicole Gibbs to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The world number two, chasing a 23rd Grand Slam singles title, won 6-1 6-3 in 63 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams, 35, goes on to face Czech 16th seed Barbora Strycova, who beat France’s Caroline Garcia 6-2 7-5.

“She’s human, and she is beatable,” Strycova said of facing Williams in the last 16.

“This is a Grand Slam, and we are talking that she already won, but I don’t like these talks.”

  • Live scores, results and order of play
  • How to follow the Australian Open on the BBC

Russian 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova came through a dramatic match to beat Slovakian sixth seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-3.

Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni also advanced to the fourth round for the first time with a 3-6 6-2 6-3 win over Greece’s Maria Sakkari.

Before this year, the 34-year-old Lucic-Baroni’s only previous win at the Australian Open came back in 1998.

She next faces American qualifier Jennifer Brady, the world number 116 who followed up her second-round win over Heather Watson by defeating 14th seed Elena Vesnina 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

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Federer Lets His Hair Down

  • Posted: Jan 21, 2017

Federer Lets His Hair Down

Jan202017

Swiss maestro enjoys himself on and off court in Melbourne

Nothing looked out of place in Roger Federer’s game during his third-round win on Friday over No. 10 seed Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open in Melbourne, and the same can also be said for his hair.

Taking part in an on-camera interview, Federer had some fun as a loose strand of his hair was adjusted by a producer. “Is it a grey hair?” joked Federer, before it was ripped out at his insistence.

The No. 17 seed and four-time Australian Open champion next plays fifth seed Kei Nishikori on Sunday for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Video courtesy Tennis Australia

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He bought own kit & was snubbed by Pietersen – meet GB's new star

  • Posted: Jan 21, 2017

Four days ago, Dan Evans was not exactly a household name.

The British tennis player had just reached his first ATP final and moved to number 51 in the world rankings.

But that was not enough to get a photograph with former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen, who turned down Evans’ request when they met outside a restaurant in Melbourne this week.

However, the 26-year-old might soon be the one getting asked for selfies after his stunning start to the Australian Open.

Evans caused a shock when he reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-3) win over Australian 27th seed Bernard Tomic on Friday.

The Birmingham-born player will pocket at least $130,000 (£79,000) for reaching the fourth round, regardless of whether he beats France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

But the British number three was a little rankled by the snub from the batsman, 35, who is in Australia to play for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.

“There was some serious rage for about 20 minutes after that happened,” said Evans.

“He didn’t want me to have my picture with him. Quite funny, isn’t it, how things work out? He was my favourite cricketer until that point.

“I think he was worse for wear, That was his excuse when he replied [on Twitter]. It was so embarrassing, as well. He didn’t even just say, ‘No’. He handed me off, as well.”

Evans’ career in stats

Best Grand Slam results
Australian Open: Fourth round (2017) Wimbledon: Third round (2016)
French Open: First qualifying round (2014) US Open: Third round (2013, 2016)
Click to see content: Evanstennis

‘He would have been proud of my efforts’

Immediately after winning the final point of the match against Tomic, Evans was overcome with emotion and was seen pointing up to the sky.

He later revealed it was a tribute to his former coach Julien Hoferlin, who died of cancer last year.

In 2014 Hoferlin criticised Evans, saying tennis was just a “brief interlude in his life”.

Speaking after his victory on Friday, Evans told the BBC: “When he [Horferlin] coached me I didn’t give 100% at the time and there was off-court stuff he wasn’t happy with.

“I wish he could have seen what happened tonight, he would have been proud of my efforts. He always said I could do it and that I should be playing top-40 tennis. Tonight was for him.”

Evans deals with nuisance spectator

Evans managed to overcome being distracted by an unruly spectator at the Hisense Arena.

“This guy was coughing as I was throwing the ball up, as well as screaming at me when I was losing points,” he said.

Evans was also asked about comments from Tomic’s father and coach, John, who once told him he was not good enough to train with his son.

The British number three said Tomic Sr congratulated him in the changing room after the match.

“It was nice of him,” added Evans. “I didn’t have a problem with him at all, to be honest. It was his opinion.”

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