Roger Federer laps up the acclaim from the crowd, who are giving him a standing ovation after that destruction of poor Tomas Berdych, who waves and puffs out his cheeks as he walks off. That took all of 90 minutes for Federer. “I always felt against better ranked players, you lift your game,” Federer says. “I didn’t expect it to go quite this hard. I had no expectations. In practice things were going well, but I’ve never been the practice king.” He’s still the king in other ways, though, and it promises to be a fascinating occasion when he faces Kei Nishikori in the fourth round on Sunday. That’s all from me for today. Thanks for reading. Bye.
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Roger Federer beats Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 6-4!
Federer whips a backhand pass beyond Berdych for 15-0, before a punchy forehand makes it 30-0. An ace down the middle brings up three match points. He squanders the first with a dismal backhand, but a beautiful backhand on the second wraps it up. That was an absurd performance from, er, the world No17.
Third set: Federer 6-2, 6-4, 5-4 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych is taken to deuce, Federer attempting to get this done without having to serve for it, and a struggle ensues. But Berdych holds with an ace in the end. Federer will have to serve for it. He’s going to have stay on court for another two or three minutes!
Third set: Federer* 6-2, 6-4, 5-3 Berdych (*denotes server): Federer holds to love and moves a game away from the fourth round. This is a masterclass.
Third set: Federer 6-2, 6-4, 4-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych holds again, but the tension that was present on Rod Laver Arena at the start of this match has completely evaporated.
Third set: Federer* 6-2, 6-4, 4-2 Berdych (*denotes server): Federer holds to love, another pearler of a backhand from left to night effortlessly doing the trick.
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Third set: Federer 6-2, 6-4, 3-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych hangs in there, holding to 15. At least he hasn’t given up. He could have been forgiven for booking his plane ticket home half an hour ago.
Third set: Federer* 6-2, 6-4, 3-1 Berdych (*denotes server): Berdych gets to 30-all here. Federer responds with an ace and holds to 30 when he comes out on top at the net.
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Third set: Federer 6-2, 6-4, 2-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych holds, but there’s simply no covering up this wound.
Third set: Federer* 6-2, 6-4, 2-0 Berdych (*denotes server): Federer easily consolidates the break. His world ranking is a bit misleading, isn’t it. If he’s the world’s 17th best tennis player, next you’ll be telling me they’re going to inaugurate Donald Trump as the next president of the United States of America! Ha!
Third set: Federer 6-2, 6-4, 1-0 Berdych* (*denotes server): Some fans are already giving Federer a standing ovation. One spectacular backhand down the line earns him a break point. Another one down the line is enough to confirm that he isn’t playing the same sport as Berdych.
Roger Federer wins the second set to lead 6-2, 6-4!
Serving for the second set, Federer reads a Berdych backhand pass and digs out a stupendous backhand volley at the net, polishing the point off with an overhead to lead 15-0. Some of his volleys have been ridiculous. It’s not long before he has two set points. He’s giving Berdych the runaround here. In attempting to decipher Federer’s game, Berdych looks like he’s been asked to solve climate change by the end of the day. Federer can’t take the first set point, but he converts the second when Berdych sends a return long off a second serve. Federer leads by two sets in under an hour.
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Second set: Federer 6-2, 5-4 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych holds and Federer will have to serve for the second set. It’s highly unlikely that Berdych will be coming back from two sets down, so he needs to come up with a salvage operation pretty quickly.
Second set: Federer* 6-2, 5-3 Berdych (*denotes server): The Federer backhand is purring. So’s the forehand. So’s the serve. That spells doom for Berdych. Another love hold for Federer and he’s a game away from a two-set lead and a meeting with Kei Nishikori.
Second set: Federer 6-2, 4-3 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych holds. He’s not out of this yet. But he has to work out a way to make an impact on Federer’s serve, else he will be soon.
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Second set: Federer* 6-2, 4-2 Berdych (*denotes server): Another straightforward hold for Federer. Berdych hasn’t been close to earning a break point yet.
Second set: Federer 6-2, 3-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): At 30-15, Federer brilliantly flicks a backhand down the line, only for Berdych to stretch and win the point with a forehand volley. He stays in touch with an ace to hold.
Second set: Federer* 6-2, 3-1 Berdych (*denotes server): Federer holds to 15 and Berdych isn’t laying a glove on a 35-year-old who’s barely played for six months.
Second set: Federer 6-2, 2-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych holds to love with an ace, but it’s not enough to wipe the frown off his face. He knows he’s being embarrassed here.
Second set: Federer* 6-2, 2-0 Berdych (*denotes server): More sublime tennis from Federer is enough for a routine hold. What is Berdych meant to do?
Second set: Federer 6-2, 1-0 Berdych* (*denotes server): Berdych looks utterly clueless at the moment. He can’t hit through Federer, but his desperation to do so is leading to errors. Federer has two break points. He nets a forehand return on the first, but Berdych knocks a forehand wide on the second. Federer is in complete control, up a set and a break, and heading towards a fourth round match against Kei Nishikori, who’s just beaten Lukas Lacko in three sets.
Roger Federer wins the first set 6-2!
Serving for the set, Federer loses the first point when he nets a backhand volley. But Berdych misses a chance for 0-30, missing a forehand pass, and Federer quickly earns two set points with a stunning reactive volley at the net. He can’t take the first. No problem. Berdych nets a return and the first set is done in under half an hour. I’m calling it: Federer v Nadal in the final.
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First set: Federer 5-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): Federer is having fun, so everyone except Tomas Berdych is having fun. He feathers a drop shot over the net to make it 15-all, Berdych’s movement exposed again. Berdych gathers himself and moves to 40-15. A delicious half volley from Federer makes it 40-30, and the game goes to deuce after another error from Berdych. A rasping return from Federer earns him a break point, which effectively doubles up as a set point, and even his luck’s in at the moment. A backhand slice clips the top of the net and lands on Berdych’s side, with the Czech still loitering near the baseline and unable to reach the dropping ball. Federer will serve for the first set after 23 minutes.
First set: Federer* 4-2 Berdych (*denotes server): Federer consolidates the break, holding to 30. Rod Laver is in the crowd today. He’ll approve of what he’s watching.
First set: Federer 3-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): Federer is looking bright and positive, running round a forehand to clobber a clean one down the line for 0-15. He’s dominating quite a few of these rallies. He finds the line with another forehand and although Berdych lofts it back, Federer charges to the net to punch a volley away for 0-30. That’s his 10th winner. Berdych responds with his fourth, a crisp forehand making it 15-30, but Federer has two break points when the Czech nets a forehand. He only needs one. Federer’s pulling Berdych all over the pace here, as though he has him on a string, and a forehand pushes the Czech wide and forces him to net his riposte. The first break goes to Federer, who is suddenly, ominously, into his groove.
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First set: Federer* 2-2 Berdych (*denotes server): Federer breezes into a 40-0 lead, serving brilliantly, before wrongfooting Berdych with a forehand straight out of Mensa.
First set: Federer 1-2 Berdych* (*denotes server): The two trade heavy blows from the baseline on the opening point and the rally ends with Federer cuffing a trademark backhand down the line for 0-15, a backhand so regal I assume it’s going to appear in an episode of the The Crown at some point. Berdych doesn’t look fazed in the presence of tennis royalty, though. A huge ace down the middle makes it 30-15; a forehand winner sees him hold to 15.
First set: Federer* 1-1 Berdych (*denotes server): The crowd’s clearly on Federer’s side, cheering loudly when he wins the first point with an accurate serve down the middle, then when Berdych nets a forehand to make it 30-0. Two double-faults from Federer make it 30-all, but an ace makes it 40-30 and he holds with another solid serve.
First set: Federer 0-1 Berdych* (*denotes server): Off we go, Tomas Berdych opening the serving in front of an excitable Rod Laver Arena. He wins the first three points easily, Federer shanking three backhands to make it 40-0, and Berdych holds to love with an ace.
Tok! Tok! Tok! The players are knocking up. If Tomas Berdych needs any further encouragement, he should remember that he has pulled off two big wins over Roger Federer in the past, beating him at Wimbledon in 2010 and the US Open in 2012.
Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych, then. Federer beat the Czech in straight sets here last year, but our tennis correspondent, Kevin Mitchell, has been telling me to put money on Berdych today. Is Kevin an astute observer of the game or a lazy bias journalist? His reasoning is based on Federer’s lack of match practice after last year’s injury problems. There would have been a feeling of inevitability about this one in the past – Berdych hasn’t beaten the Swiss since 2013, trails their head-to-head 16-6 and has lost their past five – but Federer has looked understandably rusty this week. Having slipped to 17th in the world as a result of his knee problems, this will give us a good indication of how Federer’s feeling. Berdych, the 10th seed, has the kind of power game that could expose any slow movement from Federer. Equally, however, Federer has the imagination to unbalance Berdych. It’s all to play for. The players are out on court.
After a little wobble, Kei Nishikori is two sets up against Lukas Lacko. He leads 6-4, 6-4.
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Ashleigh Barty held the advantage in the third set on Rod Laver Arena, but Mona Barthel was undeterred. Trailing 3-2 , the German broke back and four straight games were enough to seal a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over the Australian. All of which means that Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych will be on court imminently.
Lukas Lacko is still massively up against it on Margaret Court Arena, but the Slovakian is feeling better about life after breaking Kei Nishikori for the first time. Nishikori was serving for the second set at 5-2, but Lacko finally mustered some resistance. He still trails 6-4, 5-3, though.
Here’s a report on Dan Evans’s victory over Bernard Tomic.
Back comes Mona Barthel, though, breaking for 3-3 in the third set. Momentum is on the German’s side now.
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In better news for Australians, Ashleigh Barty is a break up in the third set against Mona Barthel. She leads 4-6, 6-3, 3-2.
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Facing four match points, Bernard Tomic decides he’s had quite enough of this nonsense and nets a forehand to pave the way for Dan Evans to roll into the fourth round. Evans clenches his fist and roars in celebration. He’s backed up that amazing win over Marin Cilic by beating the 27th seed in straight sets, showing signs of a more mature mentality and the ability to handle the intense demands of a grand slam. It’s about to get even tougher after this 7-5, 7-6, 7-6 win for Evans, though, because he’ll be playing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Sunday.
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Kei Nishikori is busily dismantling Lukas Lacko on Margaret Court Arena. After two breaks in the second set, the fifth seed leads 6-4, 3-0.
Another tie-break on Hisense Arena. Here’s Adam Collins.
Play has resumed. The roofs have not been shut. On we go.
The debate between various officials at the moment is whether or not to close the roofs. The rain is pretty light at the moment.
In a negative development, it’s starting to rain in Melbourne. Players are sitting down. There was just enough time on Rod Laver Arena for Ashleigh Barty takes the second set 6-3 against Mona Barthel. They’re going into a third.
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Neat and tidy from Kei Nishikori, who gives nothing away, takes his chances and wins the first set 6-4 against Lukas Lacko. The winner will face either Roger Federer or Tomas Berdych next. Those two are last on the card on Rod Laver Arena, where Australia’s Ashleigh Barty is currently serving to level her match against Mona Barthel.
Kei Nishikori has been threatening to break on Margaret Court Arena and now he has. A few chances went begging early on, but the fifth seed leads 4-3 against Lukas Lacko.
Mona Barthel isn’t endearing herself to the locals on Rod Laver Arena. She’s a set up against Australia’s Ashleigh Barty. Dan Evans is proving similarly unpopular on Hisense Arena. The fiery Brummie is two sets up against Bernard Tomic after dominating the tie-break. He leads 7-5, 7-6.
On Margaret Court Arena, Kei Nishikori and Lukas Lacko are about to get going. Nishikori, the fifth seed, will surely be too skilful for the Slovakian.
Dan Evans served for the second set against Bernard Tomic. He had set points. He got broken. Then he saved set points. Now it’s a tie-break.
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Mona Barthel has a grip on the first set on Rod Laver Arena. The German has the break against Ashleigh Barty and leads 4-3.
It’s all over on Court 2. Alison Riske fought gamely in the second set, but Sorana Cirstea is a deserved 6-2, 7-6 winner. The Romanian will face either Garbine Muguruza or Anastasij Sevastova next.
The evening session is underway on Rod Laver Arena. Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych will be on court later, but first it’s Australia’s Ashleigh Barty against Germany’s Mona Barthel.
On her second match point, Venus Williams aims a backhand down the line and Ying-Ying Duan can only watch it fly by. This was barely a contest at all. Williams wins 6-1, 6-0 in a mere 58 minutes and the truth is that Duan resembled little more than a hitting partner for much of a painfully one-sided match. All she can take from it is that she didn’t suffer the ignominy of a double bagel, but that’s not saying much.
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Venus Williams is handing out a lesson on Margaret Court Arena, breaking to 15 to lead 6-1, 5-0. Ying-Ying Duan looks stunned.
“Come on!” yelps Dan Evans. He’s just won the first set 7-5 against Bernard Tomic. Adam Collins has more.
A break for Venus Williams in the first game of the second set and Ying-Ying Duan’s Australian Open is set to meet a grisly end. Unless she takes a leaf out of Alison Riske’s book. She was outplayed by Sorana Cirstea in the first set, but she’s coping well in the second. It’s 3-3 and there’s been a break apiece.
Venus Williams barely had to get out of first gear to win the first set 6-1 against China’s Ying-Ying Duan. The 13th seed is cruising. Duan did well just to get on the scoreboard, but they don’t look like they belong on the same court at the moment.
Ying-Ying Duan looks horribly outgunned against Venus Williams, who earns a break point in the fourth game when clips a forehand pass beyond her stranded Chinese opponent, who should have done so much better with a backhand at the net. Duan is breathing heavily already. A big return from Williams forces an error from Duan and that’s enough for a 4-0 lead. An upset looks unlikely here. Williams has the measure of Duan already.
Dan Evans double-faults to drop serve. He batters a backhand down the line to break in the next game and lead Bernard Tomic 3-2. It’s all happening on Hisense Arena, neither man comfortable on serve yet. There have been three breaks in the first give games. Meanwhile Sorana Cirstea has taken the first set 6-2 against Alison Riske on Court 2.
Kevin Mitchell’s report on Andy Murray’s win over Sam Querrey is here.
Our main focus today will be on a mouthwatering match between Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych, but they won’t be on court for another two or three hours. In the meantime, we have Venus Williams to keep us entertained on Margaret Court Arena. The 13th seed is up against China’s unseeded Ying-Ying Duan. That match has just started. Elsewhere another American, Alison Riske, is having a tough time against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. She trails 5-2 in the first set.
But let’s move on to what’s happening right now and Dan Evans has made a lightning start on Hisense Arena, hammering his forehand down the line to break in the very first game against Bernard Tomic. Adam Collins has the latest.
As for the women’s draw, it’s already been eventful today. Not so much for Angelique Kerber, mind you. The world No1 looked shaky in her opening two matches, but she was just getting into the swing of things judging by her 6-0, 6-4 win over Krystina Pliskova earlier. Kerber’s fourth round opponent will be Coco Vandeweghe, who stamped out the apparent Eugenie Bouchard revival, beating the Canadian 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. This is the first time that Vandeweghe has made it into the last 16.
Two other matches have also already gone the distance today and they were won by Russians. Svetlana Kuznetsova, the eighth seed, beat Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 5-7, 9-7 in a contest that wasn’t for the faint-hearted, while Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 24th seed, outlasted Elina Svitolina, the 11th seed. Kuznetsova and Pavlyuchenkova meet next.
Preamble
It is not unheard of for the world No1 to lose to Sam Querrey in the third round of a grand slam. Not Andy Murray, though. While Novak Djokovic went out to Denis Istomin yesterday, Murray has just secured his place in the fourth round, where he will face Mischa Zverev after the unseeded German’s win over Malik Jaziri, after dealing with Querrey’s heavy serve to beat the American 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. Murray’s win means that Dan Evans and Bernard Tomic are out on Hisense Arena now. You can follow that match with Adam Collins here. The winner plays Jo Wilfried Tsonga, who’s beaten Jack Sock of the USA in four sets.
Staying with Murray, though, he’s yet to drop a set this week and he’s looking good for another strong run in Melbourne, although one man he wouldn’t mind seeing removed his path is Stan Wawrinka, his potential semi-final opponent. That was a distinct possibility when the former champion dropped the opening set of his match against Victor Troicki, but Wawrinka came back to beat the 29th seed in four sets. He plays Andreas Seppi next.
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