Key occasions
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-4): A uncommon brisk routine maintain to fifteen. De Minaur should serve for the set.
Todd Woodbridge is doing a wonderful job on the published explaining how De Minaur’s ball toss is inflicting him difficulties this afternoon. Between them this pair have landed simply 28/71 first serves.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-3): De Minaur collapses from 40-15 to deuce earlier than peeling off a fourth ace. Cerundolo responds with a trademark forehand inside-out winner. A 3rd deuce eventuates when the Australian sends a backhand broad, and a fourth when he sends a backhand lengthy. A blistering backhand winner down the road arms Cerundolo a break level, however deuce 5 follows rapidly after because the eighth seed lands a uncommon first serve. Nonetheless De Minaur can’t see the job via, larruping a forehand lengthy for deuce six. And this time he holds! The thirty first seed returns tamely, then, after dictating phrases from the baseline, executes a gettable drop shot that De Minaur is onto in a flash.
Sheesh, it is a slog. Alex Michelsen, awaiting the winner, is just not quaking in his boots.
Daria Kasatkina (9) beats Yulia Putintseva (24) 7-5 6-1
Three fairly fast straight units wins in a row for the ninth seed. She’s via to face the three-set specialist Emma Navarro (8) in spherical 4.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (4-3): The rallies are beginning to circulation extra freely now, which is working in De Minaur’s favour. The Australian is hitting more durable and extra exactly on each wings, transferring Cerundolo round.
The Argentine has to grind to 30-30, principally as a consequence of his ghastly first serves, then he finds a clear inside-out forehand winner after De Minaur will get too slim. One other missed first serve permits De Minaur to power deuce, however the eighth seed hits a backhand into the online from a place of energy. Cerundolo fails to serve out, slapping a routine forehand miles lengthy, for deuce No 2. However he drags himself over the road, someway, with De Minaur conceding consecutive factors regardless of dictating each rallies.
The thirty first seed has landed simply 7/27 first serves!
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (4-2): De Minaur consolidates the break – and in some fashion. A nondescript sport meanders to 40-15 then the Australian kilos a monstrous crosscourt forehand that whizzes previous an opponent but to really feel such warmth this afternoon.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (3-2): Cerundolo’s serving woes from the far facet return as he presents De Minaur 0-30. Then the purpose of the match thus far unfolds within the Australian’s favour as he defends resolutely on the backhand facet, sliding and stretching to dig out a slice, forcing his opponent into an additional shot, one which results in the online. He can’t convert the primary of two break factors as Cerundolo simply will get away with a drop shot, however the second arrives when the Argentine overhits a regulation backhand throughout a conservative rally. DE MINAUR UP A BREAK AGAIN!
Tumaini Carayol was courtside for Iga Swiatek’s demolition of Emma Raducanu.
Over the previous few years {of professional} tennis, the sight of Iga Swiatek annihilating one other poor, defenceless opponent has change into as certain because the solar will rise. When Swiatek’s sport is flowing and her thoughts is evident, the mixed high quality of her violent ball-striking, athleticism and unrelenting focus is so nice that, sooner or later or one other, she has rendered almost the entire greatest gamers on the planet spectators in their very own match.
On Saturday afternoon at Melbourne Park, it was Emma Raducanu’s flip to endure such an disagreeable expertise. Raducanu reduce a lonely, solemn determine on one of many largest tennis stadiums on the planet as she was fully helpless within the face of a supreme Swiatek, who ruthlessly opened up her bakery to achieve the fourth spherical of the Australian Open with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (2-2): Somebody may have to examine the peak of the online on RLA. De Minaur merely can’t serve it over the barrier in the meanwhile. A fourth double fault at 15-0 invitations Cerundolo into the sport. At 30-30 you possibly can sense the nerves beginning to develop, however a uncommon strong first serve settles these. However not for lengthy because the thirty first seed dominates a strong baseline alternate stuffed with heavy inside-out crosscourt forehands to power deuce.
De Minaur can’t get going. One other missed first serve, one other unforced error in a medium size rally and one other break level to defend. A primary ace of the day is a useful riposte, and it’s backed up by a heavy first serve to maneuver to sport level – and the maintain arrives quickly afterwards as Cerundolo clips a forehand into the online.
The Australia is 100% behind his first serve… however he’s solely serving at 31%!
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (1-2): Neither participant has settled but however Cerundolo holds regardless of double faulting at 40-15. The Argentine’s opening sport ace is the one winner of the match thus far. Simply 4 of a collective 17 first serves have discovered their goal.
De Minaur (8)* v Cerundolo (31) (1-1): De Minaur additionally struggles with the serving facet on the far facet, sending down THREE double faults of his personal, together with two in a row, to reward Cerundolo an instantaneous break again. An inauspicious begin to the headline match on Centre Court docket.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31)* (1-0): A ropey begin from the Argentine, starting with a weak double fault then dumping a few unforced errors into the online handy De Minaur three break factors. He seems to be to be combating the solar throughout his ball toss on the far facet of the courtroom as we have a look at issues on TV. Cerundolo slaps an ace to get on the board, however a medium-length rally ends when he hits a forehand lengthy. De Minuar with an instantaneous break!
De Minaur and Cerundolo are simply warming up on a Rod Laver Enviornment bathed in scorching sunshine. The mise en scène is gorgeous: the blue of the courtroom, the crisp traces of the shadows of the open roof, the packed stands, and Cerundolo’s eye-catching scorching pink ensemble.
Daria Kasatkina (9) has taken the opening set 7-5 in opposition to Yulia Putintseva (24). It’s a good contest however Kasatkina’s forehand is proving the distinction.
I’ll hold you up to date on these matches, in addition to a pair extra which are about to get underway: Taylor Fritz (4) v Gael Monfils, and Elena Rybakina (6) v Dayana Yastremska (32).
However the focus will probably be on Australian No 1 Alex de Minaur (8) in opposition to Francisco Cerundolo (31).
Talking of Putintseva (24) and Kasatkina (9), they’re on serve within the opening set on Kia Enviornment.
Whereas on Court docket 3, Jaqueline Cristian has taken the opening set in opposition to Eva Lys of their battle to change into the unseeded outsider to face Iga Świątek in spherical 4.
Emma Navarro (8) beats Ons Jabeur 6-4 3-6 6-4
One other American is thru to the fourth spherical, this time within the ladies’s singles, with Emma Navarro prevailing in a tough fought contest with Ons Jabeur. It was the 2024 US Open semi-finalist’s third three-setter in a row. Yulia Putintseva (24) or Daria Kasatkina (9) await.
Alex Michelsen beats Karen Khachanov (19) 6-3 7-6 6-2
The 20-year-old American is thru to the fourth spherical of a significant for the primary time after systematically unstitching the nineteenth seed on John Cain Enviornment. This may appear to be a bolt from the blue however Michelsen consists, performs inside himself and has all of the photographs. His early profession development has been easy and he seems to be set for a protracted spell on the high of the sport. His backhand slice was efficient at organising courtroom place and he had no hesitation opening his forehand wing and pounding winners.
After comfortably outplaying Stefanos Tsitsipas within the opening spherical, Michelsen now looms as an unseeded landmine. Within the fourth around the seed which may should defuse him is Alex de Minaur, who’s up shortly on RLA.
Jonathan Howcroft
Thanks very a lot Martin. On a wonderful Saturday afternoon with the temperature within the excessive 20s this grand slam is coming to the simmer properly. De Minaur would be the headline act over the subsequent few hours, however there is no such thing as a scarcity of motion elsewhere on the Melbourne Park precinct.
Martin Pegan
I’ll now go away you in essentially the most succesful arms of Jonathan Howcroft as he follows Alex de Minaur and the eighth seed’s conflict with Francisco Cerundolo that’s developing very quickly on RLA. Thanks for monitoring alongside thus far …
Ons Jabeur breaks Emma Navarro and they’re again on serve at 3-3 within the battle to face both Daria Kasatkina (9) or Yulia Putintseva (24) within the fourth spherical. That pair are beneath manner on Kia Enviornment with Putintseva making a quick begin to lead 3-0 as she goals to achieve the spherical of 16 at Melbourne Park for the primary time in her thirteenth look right here.
To shock of nobody, Emma Navarro (8) and Ons Jabeur are into a 3rd set. The American took out the primary set 6-4 earlier than the three-time grand slam runner-up Jabeur fought again to take the second 6-3. Navarro is now up a break and serving for a 4-2 lead within the third.
Whereas Iga Swiatek was actually outclassing Emma Raducanu on Rod Laver Enviornment, the motion has been heating up on the opposite present courts.
Alex Michelsen is closing in on one other upset victory, this time over nineteenth seed Karen Khachanov, because the American leads 6-3, 7-6(5), 4-1. The winner may play Alex de Minaur within the spherical of 16, although the Australian eighth seed will first should navigate a conflict with Francisco Cerundolo – that match up is beginning in little greater than half an hour.
Iga Swiatek beats Emma Raducanu 6-1 6-0
The second seed may hardly have been extra spectacular as she breezes into the fourth spherical with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Emma Raducanu. Iga Swiatek simply had an excessive amount of firepower for the younger Brit although Raducanu did herself no favours together with her serve shaky from the beginning. The Pole seems to be in ominous type as she chases a sixth grand slam title.
Emma Raducanu pulls out her greatest service sport since her maintain early within the match to save lots of a break level then win at deuce with a chic cross-court backhand. However Iga Swiatek’s energy is one thing to behold because the Pole finds a pair of cross-court winners from the baseline. Raducanu drops her head, double faults to surrender one other sport, and Swiatek will serve for the match.
Iga Swiatek has arrived with a plan and continues to focus on Emma Raducanu’s backhand together with her serve. It’s a technique that’s paying dividends as a 3rd double fault of the day for Swiatek is Raducanu’s solely pleasure whereas the second seed strikes to 6-1, 4-0.
Emma Raducanu stated earlier than this third spherical conflict with the second seed that she ‘has nothing to lose’ and would have the ability to play freely. Solely half of that seems to be true now as Iga Swiatek breaks her once more to take a 3-0 lead within the second set.
Emma Navarro (8) wins the primary set in opposition to Ons Jabeur 6-4 because the American goals to achieve the fourth spherical at Melbourne Park for the primary time. However Navarro has been taken to a few units within the first two rounds and Jabeur is a famend fighter, so count on extra to come back from MCA.
Emma Raducanu pressures the second seed on her service sport for the primary time however can’t fairly make the break. Iga Swiatek drops simply the third and fourth factors on her serve right this moment (and two have been double faults!) to fall behind 15-30, however then drops a blistering forehand winner onto the baseline to attract degree and works Raducanu across the courtroom twice extra to seal the sport.
Iga Swiatek picks up the place she left off within the first set, breaking Emma Raducanu to make it six video games on the trot. Raducanu was in a position to keep within the sport with some looking out winners on both facet however Swiatek is chasing down something and every little thing. It’s onerous to see how the younger Brit can flip this round.
A tense battle is brewing over on John Cain Enviornment after Alex Michelsen claimed the primary set from Karen Khachanov 6-3. The nineteenth seed responded rapidly to race out to a 4-1 lead within the second however now it’s the younger American’s flip to struggle again as he serves to attempt to degree the set at 4-4.
Iga Swiatek wins the primary set 6-1 in simply 31 minutes. The second seed is holding her serve with ease whereas Emma Raducanu is initially struggling to land her first serve usually sufficient (13/25) after which cope with Swiatek’s highly effective returns. Raducanu’s second serve is proving to be too timid as nicely, taking simply 3/12 factors from it. The younger Brit must rapidly settle into the second set or this may very well be performed and dusted inside an hour.
The primary set is slipping away rapidly for Emma Raducanu as Iga Swiatek breaks her once more. The second seed takes a 5-1 lead.
Iga Swiatek holds to like once more. The second seed has solely dropped one level in her three service video games thus far, as her powers – and pace – of restoration are proving an excessive amount of for Emma Raducanu even when she is ready to works some angles.
Iga Swiatek breaks Emma Raducanu. The second seed has been devasting together with her returns as Raducanu is discovering it onerous to work into rallies even when she does land a primary serve. Swiatek seals the 3-1 lead with a pinpoint backhand that beats Raducanu on the web in ominous indicators for the younger Brit.
Emma Raducanu beats off a pair of break factors and two deuces to carry serve. The 22-year-old might want to land extra first serves if she is to genuinely problem the second seed right this moment. Iga Swiatek breezes via one other service sport, this time solely dropping the one level as she nets a forehand with a uncommon unforced error.
Iga Swiatek serves first and holds to like. Emma Raducanu took a while to get getting in her second spherical conflict together with her good buddy Amanda Anisimova, however there will probably be little time to waste in opposition to the second seed.
Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have accomplished their warm-ups on Rod Laver Enviornment and we’re about to get beneath manner. However grasp on, the second seed is have a phrase to the match official and appears to be involved a few lack of towels. Properly, I suppose that units the tone for what ought to be a heated conflict in steamy circumstances.
There’s loads of motion on the courtroom to maintain us entertained however it may be straightforward to neglect the influence that tennis can have on households within the current day, not to mention throughout generations.
Ruaridh Nicoll has a ravishing story to inform about his grandmother Esna Boyd’s induction into Australia’s tennis corridor of fame and studying extra concerning the trailblazer that impressed ladies internationally. The phrases are nicely value your time, however the outdated photographs will take you again to a different age.
It’s been an odd expertise. Esna died in 1966 so has at all times been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted lady with Princess Leia buns in an ageing {photograph} who my mom would chide me with when asking why I used to be so horrible at sport.
Alex Michelsen and Karen Khachanov (19) can’t be separated early with each holding serve thus far. Khachanov is tossing the balls within the air now whereas the American leads the primary set 4-3.
Jack Draper will face Carlos Alcaraz within the spherical of 16 after his trio of five-set victories have shaken off any doubts round his health and physicality. Tumaini Carayol spoke to the British No 1 after his newest five-setter completed simply earlier than 1am native time.
I nonetheless have a protracted option to go, however it is a large drive ahead, the truth that I’ve come via three five-set matches, mentally and bodily, it doesn’t occur usually. That’s a testomony to the work I’ve performed and the place I’m in. So very, very happy with that.
In one other piece of intelligent scheduling – the organisers are on a little bit of a roll in nailing their late-night match-ups – Jack Draper pulled off one other five-set triumph in opposition to a neighborhood hope. Aleksandar Vukic would have gained loads of new followers because the late bloomer pushed the fifteenth seed all the best way throughout three hours, 58 minutes, earlier than a heartbreaking 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8) defeat.
I left all of it on the market. Jack’s an unbelievable competitor who I’ve lots of respect for. Sadly, certainly one of us needed to win.
A fast catch up the ladies’s singles on day six when defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka, was challenged by Clara Tauson earlier than finally coming away unscathed with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory.
However there was heartbreak for comeback queen and two-time champion Naomi Osaka retired in the course of the third-round match in opposition to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic after dropping the primary set in a tie-break.
Emma Raducanu is but to beat Iga Swiatek, and even take a set from the world No 2, of their earlier three conferences. However she will take some solace from solely a type of matches being performed on hard-court when the Brit was at the least considerably aggressive in defeat again in 2023.
Tumaini Carayol is at Melbourne Park and spoke to Raducanu about what has gone flawed in her previous clashes with Swiatek, and the way she will flip it round this time.
I actually relish [big occasions]. I like the large stadiums, the large matches. It’s one thing that I simply actually get pleasure from doing. And it’s so good to additionally simply go a spherical additional than I did within the final three years that I performed right here. Australia is someplace the place I actually like taking part in. I just like the circumstances, I like the gang and the assist right here has been wonderful, with lots of union jacks within the crowd as nicely, which is nice. It’s a match that I’m trying ahead to.
The primary match of word this morning is about to begin on John Cain Enviornment the place Alex Michelsen is dealing with nineteenth seed Karen Khachanov (19).
The large-serving American is trying to find one other large scalp after beating eleventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas within the opening spherical, whereas additionally hoping to achieve the fourth spherical in a grand slam for the primary time. It may very well be the primary of many for the 20-year-old.
Khachanov will probably be no pushover and he enjoys the hardcourts of Melbourne Park, reaching at the least the third spherical right here for seven consecutive years together with a run to the final 4 in 2023.
The winner may very well be assembly a sure Alex de Minaur within the spherical of 16, although Francisco Cerundolo might need one thing to say about that.
Now for the climate. The solar is belting down at Melbourne Park with temperatures already at 22 levels and anticipated to hit a excessive of 29. Supreme circumstances for a cracking day of tennis.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Howdy and welcome to dwell protection of day seven on the 2025 Australian Open.
We’re deep into the third spherical of the boys’s and ladies’s singles at Melbourne Park with a mouth-watering morning headlined by a conflict between Emma Raducanu and second seed Iga Swiatek. The pair of grand slam winners will probably be tossing balls on Rod Laver Enviornment at 11.30am earlier than Australia’s favorite bundle of vitality Alex de Minaur takes to the identical stage round 2pm.
De Minaur is but to drop a set on this dwelling grand slam however this time faces a giant-killer in Francisco Cerundolo (32) who has 11 wins in opposition to top-10 seeds since 2022. The afternoon may also soak up extra of these highly-seeded varieties in Fritz, Rybakina, Navarro and Kasatkina as we shut in on the sharp finish of the event, with prime time put aside for the likes of reigning males’s champion Jannik Sinner and the glad slam’s newfound pantomime villain Danielle Collins.
My fingers will probably be bashing away to maintain up with Raducanu and Swiatek’s pace across the courtroom, however consideration shall even be turned (be at liberty to assist me out utilizing the hyperlinks under) on these match-ups:
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11am: Alex Michelsen v Karen Khachanov (19)
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11.30am: Emma Raducanu v Iga Swiatek (2)
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11.30am: Emma Navarro (8) v Ons Jabeur
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1pm: Taylor Fritz (4) v Gael Monfils
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1pm: Daria Kasatkina (9) v Yulia Putintseva (24)
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2pm: Alex de Minaur (8) v Francisco Cerundolo (31)
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2pm: Elena Rybakina (6) v Dayana Yastremska (32)
Our discovered buddy Jonathan Howcroft will take the instruments across the time that De Minaur ought to be warming up on RLA, however till then please get in contact on electronic mail, or @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
