Day 4 highlights
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Lleyton Hewitt bows out in defeat to David Ferrer
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Andy Murray made light work of Sam Groth
- Johanna Konta convincingly advanced to the third round
- A pile of seeds in the women’s draw have fallen, while Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, who beat his compatriot Rafael Nadal in the opening round, bowed out to Dudi Sela of Israel.
Thanks for reading. Bye!
Pliskova wins 7-6, 6-1 to reach the third round. And that’s the end of today’s play.
And while I was watching the concluding moments of that Pliskova has broken Görges again, making it 5-1 in the second set.
Tomic has three match points on Bolelli’s serve … and he needs only one, hitting a sweet forehand winner to advance 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5.
Görges has pulled a game back but Pliskova responds to make it 4-1. Tomic has held for 6-5.
Tomic has a match point on Bolelli’s serve but the Italian saves it and then holds for 5-5. This is going all the way, isn’t it?
Heading for midnight local time and Tomic and Bolelli are now 5-4 with the Italian to serve. Pliskova has broken Görges early in the second set and is 3-0 to the good.
Tomic and Bolelli’s fourth set is going to serve – it’s now 4-3.
Pliskova takes the first set tiebreak! And is about to serve first in the second.
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Görges and Pliskova have gone to a tiebreak on Laver, while Tomic leads Bolelli 3-2 on Court.
Bolelli wins the tiebreak 7-5 to pull a set back. Görges and Pliskova are going point for point, never mind game for game, and are stuck at 4-4 in the opening set.
Tomic and Bolelli have gone to a tiebreak in the third set. Görges and Pliskova are tied at 3-3 in the first.
Tomic is 4-3 down in the third but leads by two sets in the only remaining men’s game. And Karolina Pliskova, the ninth seed, is just about to take on Julia Görges in the final women’s game of the day.
Better news for Australian tennis: Millman seals his five-set win over Muller – 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 – while Tomic leades 6-4, 6-2 and the third is going with serve.
Hewitt reacts!
Ferrer asked Hewitt to swap shirts in the locker room after. “I left nothing in the locker room, something to be proud about. I’ve always given 100%. I’m so fortunate to have had this opportunity [to play at Melbourne Park] for 20 years in a row.”
They’re now showing a video clip from some of the world’s best players describing how important he has been to the sport. Murray says: “You’re an idol to me. You’ve put in so much, good luck. Kyrgios: “It’s a sad time to retire … Don’t go, mate, you’re still playing well”
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David Ferrer speaks touchingly on court: “I only have good words for him, he is an idol and an amazing player. It is special for me to play in Lleyton’s last match. He is unbelievable and tonight is for him, not for me.”
Ferrer knocks out Hewitt!
The Australian bows out full of pride after a spirited showing against the tireless Spaniard, who moves on to the third round thanks to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
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Hewitt will just not give in and they both hold service games. However it’s 5-4 and Ferrer is about to serve for the match. Millman is 5-4 up in the fifth against Muller.
Ferrer breaks back immediately!
Cruz Hewitt sending good vibes to his dad as Lleyton battles in 3rd set #ausopen https://t.co/d2UwtFt3SV
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2016
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Hewitt breaks back for 3-3! Have we read the riot act too soon?
Hewitt holds and the arena rises to applaud. Ferrer still leads by a break, though. Tomic has sealed that first set 6-4.
Ferrer holds his service game to love and it’s 3-1. The length of points have shortened considerably and we’re witnessing the end of a 20-year career. Tomic is serving for the first set against Bolelli and the deciding set between Millman and Muller is going with serve.
Ferrer breaks for 2-1 in the third. Does Hewitt have anything left in the locker to fight back? Or is this his final few moments in the limelight?
Muller has reined Millman back and they head into a fifth set. Bernard Tomic, another Australian, leads 4-2 against Simone Bolelli.
Rosol has made short work of Sock, winning the third set 6-3 after edging tiebreaks in the opening two.
Ferrer closes the second set 6-4 and Hewitt is receiving medical attention to what looks like his IT band.
Hewitt holds for 5-4 but Ferrer will serve for the second set after they knock back some of their energy drinks. Wawrinka has completed his rout of Stepanek, advancing to third round 6-2 6-3 6-4. Kuznetsov has sealed his straight sets win over Chardy in a tiebreak, completing the 6-4 7-6 7-6 win. And Beck wins 6-3, 6-3, meaning another seed in the women’s draw has fallen at the second hurdle.
Ferrer and Hewitt play a gruelling, mammoth game that ends at deuce nine (!) with a forehand down the line finally making it 5-3 to the Spaniard. Rosol is two sets to the good against Sock and Beck has resumed control and is presently serving for the match at 5-3
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Hewitt pulls a game back for 4-3. And I might have put a hex on Beck, who has now lost three straight games. Let’s hope she is not going to be a Loser. (Sorry)
A couple of seeds in the women’s draw have advanced! Kerber has completed her simple straight sets win over Dulgheru 6-2 6-4, Makarova has beaten Maria 6-4 6-2. Not such good news for Bascinszky who is a set and 3-0 down to Beck.
Ferrer holds for and now it’s more like: I. I believe. I believe that. I believe that Hewitt. I believe that Hewitt will not win.
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Ferrer holds, then breaks for 3-2. Hewitt is on the ropes. All is not lost Australian friends – Millman has won the third set against Muller 6-2, to take a 2-1 lead overall.
Hewitt hold again for 2-1 but Ferrer is making him work on every point.
Hewitt’s fans are now chanting this. Is it more irritating than Ferrer’s grunting?
Hewitt saves two break points to take the first game of the second set. The No30 seed, Jeremy Chardy, is two sets down to Andrey Kuznetsov. In the women’s draw Makarova has won the first set against Maria 6-4 and another seed is in trouble as Beck takes the first against No11 Bacsinszky 6-2.
David Ferrer wins the first set against Lleyton Hewitt 6-2 in 37 minutes. And that’s all you really need to know. Hewitt held his first two service games but once Ferrer forced a break for 3-2 it was all one way traffic. Elsewhere Wawrinka has taken the second set without much bother against Stepanek, winning 6-3.
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Oh dear! Ferrer breaks again. That’s four games in a row for 5-2. Suddenly it looks like this could be wrapped up quickly.
Ferrer confirms the break by holding for 4-2 – but his delayed grunting ain’t half irritating. In better news for Australia Millman has levelled with Muller, taking the second set 6-4.
Ferrer breaks! Perhaps we’ve jinxed the five setter. Kerber has taken that first set of her match, while Ekaterina Makarova leads Tatjana Maria 4-2 on Court 7 and Timea Bacsinzky, the No11 ssed, trails Annika Beck 2-1 early on in their duel.
Yep, we’re here for the long haul!
Hewitt is one five-set match away from tying Lendl's record of 58 played. This is only going one way... #AusOpen
— Leigh Walsh (@LeighWalsh87) January 21, 2016
Ferrer holds for 2-2. We could be here for hours with this one – but you do sense Hewitt will run out of fuel first and the longer the point the more it plays into Ferrer’s hands. Rosol took that tiebreak against Sock, while Stepanek has won a game (!) and is now 3-1 down to Wawrinka in the second set on Hisense. Kerber leads 5-2 in the opening set of her match with Dulgheru.
It’s sticking with serve on Laver – Hewitt holding for 2-1. Millman has levelled at 4-4 in the second set of his match with Muller, and Wawrinka is an early break up in the second of his meeting with Stepanek.
On Laver Ferrer holds his serve against Hewitt and he has already got his grunt on. On Court 2, Jack Sock and Lukas Rosol are gone to a tiebreak in their first set.
Gilles Muller is a set and a break to the good against home player John Millman on Court 3. And I’ve just spilled coffee down my jumper. D’oh!
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Wawrinka has taken the first set 6-2. In the women’s draw, Angelique Kerber, the No7 seed, leads Alexandra Dulgheru 2-1.
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Hewitt saves a break point to take the first game against Ferrer. The Australian looks to his box, squeezes his fist and yelps “C’mon!”
Stan Wawrinka, the No4 seed, is leading Radek Stepanek 4-2 in the first set of their match on Hisense.
Lopez has beaten Pella in the fifth set, 6-4, after the previous four went to tiebreaks. No need for a Isner-Mahut like battle there.
The court, meanwhile, is only a little more than half full. Hewitt will serve first.
David Ferrer and Lleyton Hewitt are making their way on court at Rod Laver. Is this the Australian’s last appearance at Melbourne Park? He will need something absolutely sensational to get past the No8 seed.
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On that same TV feed Annabel Croft is raving about Jo Konta’s performance today. The Sydney-born Briton will play Alletova in the next round – with lots of seeds already out how far can she go in this tournament?
There’s a little lull between now and the evening session, so a minor point of note that you can forget about once you’ve read it: every single time Sam Groth has been mentioned on the TV feed I’m watching he has been Big Serving Sam Groth.
Nicolas Mahut was celebrating his birthday too, except Gael Monfils made it an unhappy one for his compatriot by winning in straight sets. He did give him a birthday hug after, though, which obviously made up for defeating him,
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In the women’s draw Shuai Zhang, celebrating her 27th birthday today and winner against Simona Halep in the first round, has taken another scalp by beating Alize Cornet, 26 years old tomorrow, 6-3 6-3.
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Pella wins the tiebreak 10-8 to take the match to a fifth set. Lopez wasted two match points.
Feliciano Lopez and Guido Pella are headed for their fourth tiebreak. Lopez leads 2-1 in sets before this, and has won 161 points compared to the Argentinian’s 160. It’s close, then.
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Dudi Sela puts out Fernando Verdasco, the conqueror of Rafa Nadal, in four sets! For the second year in a row he is through to the third round at Melbourne Park. The Spaniard looks absolutely shattered.
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Sela steadied and held his serve to make it 6-5 and gave Verdasco some trouble in the next, but they are heading for a tiebreak.
Fernando Verdasco is at it again! Having won the first set 6-4, the Spaniard lost the second and third 6-3. He is deep in the fourth against Dudi Sela and has come from 5-2 down to level at 5-5.
Ana Ivanovic’s 6-3 6-3 win over Anastasija Sevastova was not as straightforward as it looks. The match was halted for almost half an hour after a spectator was injured and needed treatment. Ivanovic, a former No1, looked shaken but pulled it together to progress. Full story here.
It has all gone to form in the men’s draw so far, all the seeded players advancing. In the women’s draw, however, Sabine Lisicki (30) and Jelena Jankovic (18) have been turfed out by Denisa Allertova and Laura Siegemund respectively in three sets. Johanna Konta, the up and coming Briton, advanced in straight sets against Saisai Zheng.
No doubt the big news from today so far has been Andy Murray’s ruthless defeat of Sam Groth, losing just five games on his way to teeing up a third round meeting with Joao Sousa. Read Kevin Mitchell’s report below!
Preamble
Hello. Are you ready for a bumper few hours of coverage from the evening matches on day four at the Australian Open? Of course you are. So much has happened already today and we will recap on all the main results in a jiffy but the focus of our attention for much of this evening session will be on Lleyton Hewitt’s match with David Ferrer, served with a pick n mix fron around the rest is of Melbourne Park. How very exciting.
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