Well, what a day it’s been in Melbourne, with the top seeds defeated in both singles draws. Andy Murray lost to Mischa Zverev in four serve-and-volley-filled sets, before Angelique Kerber was quite simply hit off the court by Coco Vandeweghe. Roger Federer also got in on the act, taking down Kei Nishikori, the fifth seed, in three hours and 23 minutes of often pulsating tennis. Amid the mayhem, it fell to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to uphold the honour of the established order, the Frenchman beating Britain’s Dan Evans in four tight sets. That’s all from me, so thanks for all your emails and tweets and enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
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“She’s a tough opponent, different to the one I played today,” says Vandeweghe, looking ahead to a quarter-final against Garbiñe Muguruza. Could she win that one? If she plays like that again, you bet she could.
“I believe this is my first No1 win, so I’ll take that,” says Vandeweghe. “I was feeling like crap out there … but you’ve just got to keep out there and keep going. I had to trust my game to beat her and I did.” Sounds simple, no? If only hitting a tennis ball like that were so straightforward. If only.
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Vandeweghe wins 6-2, 6-3!
Second set: Kerber 2-6, 3-6 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server)
Angelique Kerber – the top seed, defending champion and world No1 – is out! True to form, though, Vandeweghe keeps us guessing right up to the death. The new balls should favour the big-serving American, but she struggles to control a backhand on the opening point and it flies long. She rallies with some penetrating serving, but at 30-15 she gets a dose of her own medicine, Kerber climbing all over a short second serve. No matter. Another big delivery carries her to match point, Kerber can’t cope with the stinging serve that follows, and it’s all over!
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Second set: Kerber* 2-6, 3-5 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
This is exhilarating play from Vandeweghe. Forehand, backhand – it matters not. She’s going for everything and it’s all going in. It’s earned her another break – she treated the Kerber second serve with contempt in that game – and she’ll now serve for the match. Extraordinary.
Second set: Kerber 2-6, 3-4 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server)
As the clock hits the hour mark, Vandeweghe slams down her fifth ace of the evening. She’s now within two games of deposing the reigning champion. If she can see it through, this could be a transformative win for the American in terms of self-belief. But can she sustain this level of all-out agression? We’ll soon see.
Second set: Kerber* 2-6, 3-3 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
Shoulder turn, did I say? Forget that. Struggling at 0-30, Kerber leathers the ball into Vandeweghe’s forehand corner. The American lunges to her right, all open stance and loose wrist, and flicks an absolute bullet of a shot past the stunned Kerber. It’s a brilliant piece of improvisation from Coco, who completes a love break by slamming another return deep to Kerber’s feet. I’ve lost count of the number of times she’s done that today.
Second set: Kerber 2-6, 3-2 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server)
She gets lovely shoulder turn off both wings, does Vandeweghe, and Kerber feels the full force of that exaggerated torque in this game. It’s a return to the lights-out tennis of the first set from Vandeweghe, who will hope that her big hitting induces a renewed sense of uncertainty in Kerber.
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Second set: Kerber* 2-6, 3-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
Kerber has cast off the mental shackles and is producing her best tennis of the night. A superb exchange at 15-15 culminates with Vandeweghe coming in deep to the German’s backhand, only to see the ball rifled past her. Kerber, now hitting the ball with real power and intent, sees out the game to 15.
Second set: Kerber* 2-6, 2-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
Now we’re cooking. In what is arguably the highest-quality game of the match so far, the players trade some huge blows from the back. But it’s Vandeweghe who comes out on top, belting away an unanswerable forehand to hold. Consider her firmly back in the fray.
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Second set: Kerber* 2-6, 2-0 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
Sure enough, Kerber consolidates the break with a convincing hold. The match starts here for Vandeweghe.
Second set: Kerber 2-6, 1-0 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server)
The second set begins inauspiciously for Coco, who belts a sitter way beyond the baseline. She laughs that one off, but she’s not laughing when she double-faults at 15-40 to hand Kerber the cheapest of breaks. That was a much-needed lifeline for the world No1. For Vandeweghe, however, it could prove costly in the extreme.
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Vandeweghe wins the first set 6-2
First set: Kerber* 2-6 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
Could we be about to lose the top seeds in the men’s and women’s draws on the same day? We could, you know. Kerber drives a backhand long at 15-30 to bring up two set points, and another netted ball off that wing hands Vandeweghe the first set. She was simply blown away by the American in that set.
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First set: Kerber 2-5 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server)
Tremendous movement and tenacity allied with one of the best defensive games in the business were central to Kerber’s rise to No1 last year, but you have to wonder how heavily the pressure of being top dog is weighing on the German. She looks cowed, nervous, uncertain – and Vandeweghe is taking full advantage. A double-fault at 40-30 betrays signs of nerves, but the American steadies the ship with an ace and sees out the game convincingly. She’s a game away from the set.
First set: Kerber* 2-4 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
Kerber looks tense beside the free-swinging Vandeweghe, and well she might. Some punishing returns from the American bring up two break points at 15-40, with Kerber repeatedly caught out by the depth and penetration of her opponent’s shots. The top seed pulls it back to deuce, but a scorching backhand winner brings up another break point and this time Kerber succumbs to a relentless baseline barrage. Fearless hitting from Vandeweghe.
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First set: Kerber 2-3 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server)
She’s nothing if not expressive, Vandeweghe. The match may be only a few games old, but she greets a wayward groundstroke with a frustrated bounce of her racket. She’s bounding into the net, finessing away drop volleys, dominating the forecourt and she wraps up the game with a lovely two-fisted winner.
First set: Kerber* 2-2 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
Kerber hits back with some big shots of her own to stay level with the American. It’s statement tennis and that’s what she needs early on here, because Vandeweghe will relish any suggestion of timidity on the part of her opponent.
First set: Kerber 1-2 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server)
Big, big hitting from Vandeweghe, who backs up some hefty serving with a real willingness to open her shoulders from the back.
First set: Kerber* 1-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server)
With eight minutes gone, it’s all even at a game apiece. The early signs are that Vandeweghe will look to put pressure on the German’s second serve, which is certainly among the more vulnerable areas of her game. It’ll take a strong mindset to keep doing that throughout, but there’s no doubt Vandeweghe is at her best when taking the ball on.
First set: Kerber 0-1 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server)
Looking ahead to this match, Kerber said: “Coco is a tough opponent. I know I have to move good, being ready, bring a lot of balls back, but also being aggressive, as well, like I can play.” On the evidence of the first game, that looks about right. Vandeweghe is quickly out of the blocks and, although the top seed extends her to deuce, the American wraps up the game with some good serving and a firm overhead.
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Next up, in the final match of the night session, world No1 Angelique Kerber takes on Coco Vandeweghe. It’s been a chequered start to the year for Kerber. The defending champion arrived in Melbourne on the back of early defeats to Elina Svitolina in Brisbane and Daria Kasatkina in Sydney, and was taken the distance by Lesia Tsurenko and compatriot Carina Witthoeft in the opening two rounds. Normal service was resumed in her third outing, however, Kerber defeating Kristyna Pliskova, twin sister of US Open finalist and world No5 Karolina, with something to spare. She’ll certainly need to be somewhere near her best against Coco Vandeweghe. The 35th-ranked New Yorker will be full of confidence after beating Eugenie Bouchard 7-5 in the third in the previous round, and will no doubt relish the opportunity to claim the scalp of the top seed and reach the last eight in Melbourne for the first time in her career. They’ve played twice before, with Kerber winning on both occasions.
“I like Mischa a lot, he’s got a really nice game,” says Federer of the prospect of playing Andy Murray’s conqueror, Mischa Zverev, in the next round. It’ll be different, that’s for sure, what with two attacking players going head to head. Endless baseline rallies will most certainly not be the order of the day.
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“He was playing his heart out and I thought it was a great match,” says Federer. You can say that again, Roger. “It was hard not to win that first set after all the effort … he was serving well and hanging tough on all the big points [in the fourth].”
Game, set and match Federer! He wins in five sets
Fifth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 3-6 Federer* (*denotes server)
What more can you say about this man? He finishes off with a love game – of course he does – and he’s through to the last eight of a major for the 49th time in his career. That’s ludicrous.
Fifth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 3-5 Federer (*denotes server)
“I’ve got 18-month-old twin boys and I’m fit for the knacker’s yard,” reflects John McEnerney. “Federer has two sets of twins.” Point taken, John. Well, maybe he’s slowing down in his old age, as he couldn’t prevent Nishikori from holding here. I guess we’ll soon see. Federer to serve for the match.
Fifth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 2-5 Federer* (*denotes server)
What can I tell you? Federer holds with something to spare. He generally does. Nishikori will have to serve to stay in it.
Fifth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 2-4 Federer (*denotes server)
Nishikori’s limbs may be aching, but his spirit remains undiminished. Living dangerously once again on serve at 15-30, he races on to a drop shot that conjures memories of Michael Chang in his prime. He gets there in time to deliver a forehand of such ferocity that it threatens to cleave Federer in two. It gives him the platform for another hold that should keep Federer honest, if nothing else.
Fifth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 1-4 Federer* (*denotes server)
A stat just flashed up showing that Federer has hit 75 winners to Nishikori’s 36. That tells its own story. Federer has really carried the fight to the Japanese – he had no choice once he’d lost the opening set – and it’s an approach that has reaped dividends for the Swiss. He adds to the tally further en route to another hold so emphatic that it must feel like a dagger through the heart to Nishikori.
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Fifth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 1-3 Federer (*denotes server)
At 0-30 down and staring at the prospect of a double break that would surely make defeat inevitable, Nishikori produces a sublime topspin backhand lob. It might just be the best shot he’s hit all night, and it gives him a platform to win the game despite a ferocious push by Federer. But what does it say about his chances that he’s having to conjure such strokes simply to stay within a break of the Swiss?
Fifth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 0-2 Federer*(*denotes server)
At 30-15, Federer sends down his 21st ace of the night. He follows it up with a crunching service winner. He is within three games of beating the fifth best player on the planet. And his opponent, a man eight years his junior, is receiving treatment on his back at the change of ends while he looks as fresh as a new-bloomed Edelweiss. He is, truly, one of a kind.
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Fifth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 0-3 Federer (*denotes server)
Oh my word. Nishikori falls 15-40 down on serve and, although he staves off the first break point, he nets a backhand into the high part of the net on the second. Federer has the break. If he holds serve for another 20 minutes or so, he’ll be in the last eight; expect him to deliver bombs for the remainder of this set.
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Fifth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 0-1 Federer* (*denotes server)
Some sensational play from Nishikori at 15-15 – think huge cross-court backhand, serene drop shot, crisp volley – has Roger on the ropes. But the Swiss responds superbly, a majestic forehand kissing the baseline to leave Nishikori in all sorts of bother. He pummels down a couple of unreturnable serves and it’s danger averted for the 17th seed. He’s 35 and we’ve been going nearly three hours. How does he do it?
Nishikori wins the fourth set to level the match!
Fourth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-4 Federer (*denotes server)
You have to admire Kei Nishikori’s resolve. It can’t be much fun playing Roger Federer in this mood. But while his mood darkened at one point, he has weathered the mental storm admirably in this fourth set. And now he’s served out to love to level the match. Hold on to your hats, we’re going the distance.
Fourth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 5-4 Federer* (*denotes server)
“Hoping against logic for Kei Nishikori to come back, but what will be will be,” muses Paul Moody. Chin up, Paul. Federer may have raced through this service game, holding to love, but your man is about to serve for the set. Watch this space …
Fourth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 5-3 Federer (*denotes server)
“Although I like the idea of a new champion, I’m loathe to let this era close,” writes Michael Brown. “Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray might be (is probably) the best concurrently playing quartet of tennis players ever and I would love a throwback Federer-Nadal final.” Now you’re talking, Michael. A final hurrah from those two would be a thing to cherish. First, though, Federer will need to get through this one, a prospect that hasn’t exactly been helped by Nishikori holding to 30 to move within a game of levelling the contest.
Fourth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 4-3 Federer* (*denotes server)
With a quarter-final against Mischa Zverev in his sights, don’t expect Roger Federer to let up anytime soon. He may be a break down, but he races through this service game, holding to love with an ace.
Fourth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 4-2 Federer (*denotes server)
Steely play from Nishikori, who consolidates the break with minimal fuss. He serves out to 15.
Fourth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 3-2 Federer* (*denotes server)
Was that last game important for Nishikori? Not half. Some brilliant play from the Japanese earns him a break of serve that should lift his spirits no end. A dipping return draws a rare missed volley from Federer at 15-30, and Nishikori follows up with a stinging forehand pass to make what could prove a vital breakthrough.
Fourth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 2-2 Federer (*denotes server)
When Federer goes long with a return at 30-30, Nishikori greets a rare moment of respite with a puff of the cheeks. His relief proves short-lived, however. A wide angle from Federer at 40-30 is greeted in kind by Nishikori, but the Swiss goes outside the net-post with a backhand to produce a winner that will be all over the highlights reels tonight. It’s the cue for an attritional phase of play, the score swinging from deuce to advantage and back again, but when Federer sweeps away an imperious backhand return from above shoulder height to stave off another game point, you sense it could be pivotal. Sure enough, Nishikori miscues a forehand volley at deuce to go break point down. But the opportunity goes begging for Federer, who shanks a forehand, and Kei keeps battling long enough for Federer to miss two successive returns. That was a huge hold for the fifth seed.
Fourth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 1-2 Federer* (*denotes server)
A wayward forehand from Nishikori seals another solid hold for Federer, the former champion clenching a fist in approval. It follows one of the best points of the night, a wonderful rally that ends with Nishikori racing on to a short ball to slam a backhand pass beyond the Swiss at the net. But it’s an increasingly rare ray of light for the Japanese.
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Fourth set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 1-1 Federer (*denotes server)
When Nishikori is on song, he strikes the ball with a purity that frequently has the locker room crowding around the TV. Extended on his serve yet again, he is forced to dig deep into that bag of tricks merely to stay on an equal footing. Stretching every sinew, he produces some wonderful forehands to see out the game. But it doesn’t exactly bode well for his quarter-final prospects.
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Fourth set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6, 0-1 Federer* (*denotes server)
A peach of a backhand return from Nishikori, struck down the line for a clean winner, gives him a much-needed footing against the Federer serve. But from 30-30, the Swiss is ruthless. An ace down the centre is followed by another unreturnable delivery to the Nishikori forehand, and he’s up and running in the fourth.
Federer wins the third set 6-1!
Third set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-6 Federer (*denotes server)
Abject stuff from Nishikori, who quickly falls 0-30 behind before getting caught at his feet as he attempts to serve and volley. He gets jammed on the backhand side again at 15-40, this time at the baseline, with his sluggish response to a deep but hardly overwhelming Federer return resulting in a tame slice into the bottom of the net. It’s one-way traffic now, and Nishikori desperately needs a strong start to the fourth or he’ll be on his way home.
Third set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-5 Federer* (*denotes server)
Federer storms through another service game. He looks irresistible now.
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Third set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-4 Federer (*denotes server)
The alarm bells are ringing loud, clear and shrill for Kei Nishikori. With his opponent’s body language deteriorating with each point he concedes, Federer romps to a second break. Up in the Japanese player’s box, Michael Chang looks concerned. He has good cause.
Third set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-3 Federer* (*denotes server)
Federer may be getting on in sporting terms, but at 30-40 he leaps like the proverbial gazelle to put away an attempted lob by the scrambling Nishikori, who looked pretty nifty himself in getting up to the drop shot that precipitated that measure. It’s a wonderful show of agility from the Swiss and, crucially, it lays the foundations for him to consolidate the break in the face of some great returning from Nishikori. Impressive stuff.
Third set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-2 Federer (*denotes server)
Out of the blue, Federer is in the driving seat. Having carved out an opportunity to break at 30-40, the former world No1 survives a searching examination of his backhand by Nishikori. The rally seems to go on forever, with changes of pace and spin aplenty, until Federer finally gets the chance to run around his backhand a sweep a deep drive into the Nishikori two-hander. The fifth seed nets, and Federer leads for the first time in the match.
Third set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-1 Federer* (*denotes server)
Nishikori makes inroads on the Federer serve, but Federer closes out the game to hold to 30. Meanwhile, Gerard Boyd writes: “With Andy Murray out, it would be good to get a new name on the trophy. It points to the future for a sport.” It’ll certainly be refreshing to have a new champion, Gerard, although I’d argue that Zverev junior and Dominic Thiem, to name but two, point to a bright future for men’s tennis.
Third set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-0 Federer (*denotes server)
The match is fascinatingly poised now. Federer has really found his mojo on serve – he conceded just four points with ball in hand in that second set – but he’ll probably need to maintain that superhuman standard for the next two sets. It’s hard to see the Swiss winning this in five against a man eight years his junior (although let’s not forget Nadal’s heroics against 19-year-old Alexander Zverev yesterday). That alone should be encouraging for Nishikori, who needs to re-establish the authority he showed for much of the opening set. A comfortable early hold represents a good start for the Japanese player.
Federer wins the second set 6-4 to level the match!
Second set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 4-6 Federer* (*denotes server)
Did you ever doubt it? Federer holds to love to seal the set. At 40-0, he sends Nishikori way out wide on his backhand, forcing the fifth seed to go wide. It’s game on.
Second set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 4-5 Federer (*denotes server)
A good response from Nishikori after losing his previous service game. He races to a 40-0 lead and, despite falling victim to a Federer pass at 40-0 after an ill-judged advance into the forecourt, seals the game with a deft backhand drop shot. He’ll need more of the same in the next game, mind.
Second set: Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 3-5 Federer* (*denotes server)
Ruthless. As Nishikori sends a forehand return long, Federer completes a fourth successive love hold. That’s certainly one way to conserve energy. He’s a game away from levelling the match.
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Second set: Nishikori* 7-6 (7-4), 3-4 Federer (*denotes server)
Well, well. With an hour and 25 minutes gone, a sustained assault on the Nishikori serve reaps dividends for Federer. He gets the first break of the set and looks pretty happy about it as he heads back to his chair.
Our man in Melbourne, Kevin Mitchell, who wrote a lovely piece on Dan Evans in advance of the Briton’s showdown with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, has filed a report on the outcome of that contest. You can read it below. It’s not been a good day for Britain, has it? At least Jo Konta is still going strong.
At 2-2, it’s been a solid start to the second set by both players. Nishikori sealed his opening service game with a backhand of laser-like precision while Federer, as predicted, is taking it to his opponent with some lovely aggressive play. Case in point: a net rush at 30-30 on the Nishikori serve that ends with a slam-dunk backhand smash. Is that even possible? It is now. Nishikori hangs tough, however, sending down an ace before outrallying the Swiss for 3-2.
With Nishikori claiming the first set, the cat has well and truly taken up residence among the pigeons on Rod Laver Arena. It seems doubtful that Federer, at 35 years old and after a six-month injury layoff, is in a position to go the distance against the fifth best player on the planet. That means he’ll need to up the attacking ante and really go for this, shunning long rallies in favour of really taking his shots on. Expect a spectacle.
Nishikori wins the first set 7-6!
Federer starts the tiebreak in style, dancing like a ballerina to hook a Nishikori return into the open court. The fifth seed strikes back to lead 3-1, forcing Federer to play catch up, and at 4-3 he catches a backhand return quite beautifully off the Swiss’s serve for a clean winner. Federer responds with an ace, but two penetrating serves seal the deal for the Japanese player, who closes out the breaker 7-4.
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Muguruza wins 6-3, 6-3 and will play the winner of the final match on Rod Laver today, in which top seed Angelique Kerber faces the 35th-ranked American Coco Vandeweghe. Nishikori holds to take the first set into a breaker, although not without surviving a minor scare as Federer threatens to reel him in from 40-0 down.
As Federer marches through his service game, staging a volleying masterclass en route, Muguruza is a game away against Cirstea. She leads by a set and 5-3, with the Romanian serving. Federer, meanwhile, slams down an ace to hold for 6-5. Having led 5-1, Nishikori will have to serve to stay in the opener. Would you credit it?
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Meanwhile, Federer has clawed back a break on Nishikori, who is nonetheless serving for the first set at 5-4. At 30-30, the world No5 is on the brink of sealing the opener, but Federer launches a brilliant attacking onslaught, charging the net and greeting his success with a cry of “Come on!” Does it unsettle Nishikori? It might, you know, because although he recovers to reach deuce, he misses a backhand pass and then sends a forehand wide to concede the game. From 5-1 down, Federer has pulled it back to 5-5. There’s life in the old dog yet.
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“He played good tennis at the start, nothing to lose, and it was difficult for me,” reflects Tsonga. “I played pretty good since the start of the tournament and I hope I can continue that.” Tsonga faces Stan Wawrinka next. That should be an absolute corker with the Frenchman in such fine fettle.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beats Dan Evans in four sets!
Tsonga is serving for the match against Evans. The deliveries are big and so are the cheers from the Aussie crowd, who have loved the Frenchman ever since his breakthrough run to the final here in 2008. Tsonga races to a 40-0 lead, Evans steers his return wide; it’s all over. Predictable, perhaps, but what a run Evans has enjoyed in Melbourne. Here’s hoping he can build on those brilliant wins against former US Open champion Marin Cilic and Bernard Tomic.
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Also very much happening is Garbiñe Muguruza, who leads Romania’s Sorana Cirstea by a set and a break over on Margaret Court. That’s much as one might expect, given that Cirstea is ranked 78th to the Spaniard’s seventh. Then again, she put paid to 10th seed Carla Suárez Navarro in round two, did Cirstea, so she’s no mug.
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Meanwhile, Roger Federer trails Kei Nishikori 4-1 in the opening set. Evans holds for 4-3. It’s all happening.
Dan Evans is two sets to one and a break down against Tsonga, who has just thrown the Brit a lifeline by double-faulting on the opening point of his service game at 3-2 in the fourth. A missed forehand from the Frenchman offers Evans further encouragement, but some good attacking play by Tsonga leaves Evans flailing at the back of the court. Unperturbed, Evans plays a tremendous rally at 30-30 only to be denied by some nifty footwork from Tsonga, who twice runs around his backhand to slam forehand winners and close out the game. 4-2 Tsonga.
As we hit the 15-minute mark, Federer is once again being forced to toil on serve by Nishikori, who has just earned a break point. In fact, scratch that – he’s just broken. That’s a great start for the Japanese player. Apparently his coach, former French Open champion Michael Chang, was trying to fire up Nishikori in the locker room beforehand. Clearly it worked.
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Nishikori, meanwhile, has consolidated that early break and leads 2-0 against Federer. The winner will face Mischa Zverev. It seems a strange thing to say of a man who has won 17 majors to his opponent’s none, but Federer is under no real pressure against Nishikori. Still feeling his way back after a six-month break from the game to recover from knee surgery, every win is a bonus for the Swiss at this stage. He looked shaky in his four-set win over Jürgen Melzer in round one, struggled physically towards the end of his straight sets win over US Open boys’ champion Noah Rubin, and was nothing short of immaculate in his destruction of 10th seed Tomas Berdych. Read into that what you will.
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Over on Hisense Arena, meanwhile, Dan Evans is flying the flag for Great Britain in what is the late-maturing Brummie’s first appearance in the fourth round of a slam. Up against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, Evans, who at 26 is in the form of his life, won the first set on a tiebreak but now trails 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, 3-1. We’ll keep an eye on that one.
As we grapple with the reality that the top seed is out, let’s also bear in mind that Roger Federer is still in. The Swiss maestro is up against Kei Nishikori, the world No5, and while that might be a tough match for a player who has slipped to 17th in the world after undergoing knee surgery last summer, Federer has a different perspective. Any draw with him in it is a great draw, he says; in short, he’s just happy to be on court. Although he may not be quite so happy to have been broken in his opening service game on Rod Laver Arena, where the action has just got underway.
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage of the middle Sunday in Melbourne. First up, a question: can you image an Australian Open final featuring neither Sir Andy Murray nor Novak Djokovic? Me neither. But we’re both going to have to get used to the idea, because Britain’s world No1 is out, defeated by Mischa Zverev in four extraordinary sets. The older of the Zverev brothers saw it as a waking dream – a “coma of serve and volley”, he called it afterwards – but defeat to the world’s 50th-ranked player was nothing short of a nightmare for Murray.
Dennis Istomin’s equally unexpected second-round victory over Novak Djokovic, a player who had previously tormented Murray in Melbourne, encouraged many to believe that this was to be the year when the Scot would finally lay to rest the ghost of five lost finals. But the recently crowned world No1 dismissed such talk, insisting that the departure of his Serbian nemesis would mean nothing unless he reached the final, and Zverev proved him emphatically right.
The German – older brother of Alexander Zverev, the brilliant 19-year-old who lost to Rafael Nadal over five desperately close sets on Saturday – delivered a performance of irresistible attacking verve. He came forward relentlessly, following his brilliantly effective lefty serve to the net on both first and second deliveries, and moving like a panther once there.
You can read the report from Kevin Mitchell, our man in Melbourne, below.
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