It’s hard to see either of tonight’s big winners, Federer or Barty, bringing it home. But it’d be hard to complain if either did, and both will be better for this latest runaround. Anyhow, that’s us – we’ll see youse again tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Federer tells McEnroe that it was a tough start and “Marton played clean”. It took him a while to shake off the Millman match and the beatdown from the baseline”, especially as it was cold, but he figured it out and things got a bit easier thereafter. McEnroe then makes him say something about Australia Day, so he thanks the fans and says he hopes to see them again next Australia Day before shouting out to Rod Laver. He says he’s a big historian, how much he loves McEnroe – my days he’s good at this – then McEnroe forces his to chortle chortle chortle that Tenys Sandgren is called ... wait for it ... TENYS! It’s well, well funny I can tell you. And on that high, day seven is in the books.
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It’s Sandgren next for Federer, which could be an interesting match. He reminds me a bit of Baghdatis, in that when he’s hot he can be steaming – decent serve, lots of shots and creativity – but no chance he can sustain it for long enough to beat someone this good.
Roger Federer comes from behind to obliterate Marton Fucsovics!
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-6 2-6 Federer At 30-15, Federer swipes a backhand wide, but a serve out wide then a pick-up half-volley by his ankles sets up a match point. Fucsovics saves it though, when Federer contacts a net-cord that hasn’t received the memo. The reprieve does not last long, a glorious pick-up drop by the net raising another match point ... again lost, when a forehand goes long. But that’s enough of that, and at the third time of asking, Federer administers the final blows.
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Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-6 2-5 Federer Federer has an eye, unilaterally halting a rally on break point because he saw a ball drop long. Hawkeye has a look, and confirms that he’s right, which means he’ll serve for the match in a few moments’ time.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-6 2-4 Federer Federer holds to 15. He’s played himself into some kind of form over the last two and a bit sets.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-6 2-3 Federer Federer holds easily and ramps up the heat thereafter, getting to 15-40 with a jumping backhand volley. Fucsovics, though, is game, saving both break point and holding from there.
With this one nearly over, let’s look ahead to what could be a highlight of the fortnight: Nadal-Kyrgios tomorrow.
Nadal-Kyrgios VIII promises to be a thrilling ride. In The Approach @Calvbetton takes a look at the tactical battle in the #AusOpen last-16 tie 👇 https://t.co/Syv7e2GVjf
— George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) January 26, 2020
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-6 1-2 Federer Fucsovics finds some first serves, which sounds like a kids’ reading book but is in fact what has just happened. He’s on the board in set four.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-6 0-2 Federer Federer’s forehand is looking good today - I didn’t see his match will Millman, but I heard it didn’t hold up well. Well, the boy is back in town and earns 40-15, after which an ace wraps up the game.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-6 0-1 Federer Federer gets to 30-40 and varies his pace and angle so well, setting Fucsovics up with the backhand slice before forcing the error with the drive forehand. He breaks immediately and looks extremely fresh for a 124 year-old man who played a five-setter two days ago.
Federer wins the third set to lead Fucsovics 2-1!
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-6 Federer Fucsovics, spooked, plays a ball that looks like it’s going out and hits a backhand slice volley that gives him 15-30. And though Federer pegs him back, it’s quickly 30-40, but a forehand then dips long and within seconds the set is sealed with a glorious backhand volley.
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Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-5 Federer You can guess what happens next: Federer cranks up the pressure and at 15-30 incites Fucsovics to botch a backhand down the line. Then, he sends Federer to the backhand corner, Federer flicks back a speculative get cross-court and, as he comes in, Fucsovics allows it over his shoulder because it’s going out ... except it isn’t! It’s borderline spooky how that stuff goes for Federer, how the cosmos conspires with the gods to subvert the laws of physics, right in front of our eyes.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 2-4 Federer Federer takes things just a little too easy, handing Fucsovics his first game in quite some time by airily attempting everything. Then, at 15-0 on Federer’s serve, Fucsovics nails his favourite shot, the lob, and all of a sudden has two break points. Federer saves the first with a serve out wide backed up with a forehand down the line – stop me if you’ve heard this one before – but then nets a backhand! That’s what happens when you take your eye off the ball, Roger, who absolutely needs bon mots from me.
Here’s Kevin Mitchell on Barty’s finagle.
Roger Federer doing @RogerFederer things 👏
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 26, 2020
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Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 0-4 Federer Well. Federer drops and Fucsovics swings more freely, earning two break points only to swipe a backhand wide. Federer saves the next one too, but my picture breaks up so I don’t know how; let’s use our imaginations. Federer swiftly cleans up, a luscious drop brilliantly returned by a brilliant get, but what a response from Hoger, a forehand flipped cross-court from right in the forehand corner. He is quite good.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 0-3 Federer “When it goes it goes quickly,” as Alex Ferguson once said, and Federer soon has 15-40. He then sends a forehand long, but what a backhand, cross-court and right onto the tootsies. Fucsovics does well to get it back, except Federer simply glides in and lifts a winner past him for the double break. He is not long for this tournament.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 0-2 Federer Federer is relaxing, and not even in a good way – he knows his opponent can’t hurt him, so just playing within himself. He holds easily; since winning the first set, Fucsovics has lost eight games of nine played.
“Dare I ask the most overasked question in men’s tennis,” tweets Patrick. “If Rafa equals Rog on 20, does his superior head to head mark him out as the GOAT, or does there need to be a French Open-related asterisk next to his record?
It depends how you judge. It’s not solely a numbers game, and I think I’d prefer to consider how good a player was at their best. If both turned up, I’d still back Federer on every surface but clay, and I’d have Djokovic in the conversation too.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 0-1 Federer At 0-30, Fucsovics finds a crucial colossal first serve, but then Federer cracks a forehand wide and to the ankles that’s far too good. He then nets a backhand for no good reason, but it doesn’t matter; a forehand sits up for Fucsovics, and he panics, lost in the supermarket, waving a drop shot from the baseline into the net. I don’t think I’ll look (any more of) a moron if I say that this is over.
Federer levels the match at one set all!
Fucsovics 6-4 1-6 Federer A swift end to a swift set. I daresay we might see more of the same.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-5 Federer A screeching backhand return down the line gives Federer 15-all, and a wrong-footing topspin forehand gives him a sniff. From there, it’s quickly 30-40, and when a net-cord sits up, Federer punishes a forehand for the double break. Fucsovics’ serve isn’t doing the work it was in set 1, and what we’re seeing is the difference between a player and a player. Loads on the tour can find a decent set against anyone, because they all have high top levels. But the serious payers have high bottom levels, and now Fucsovics has dropped, he’s not good enough to make an impression.
Fucsovics 6-4 1-4 Federer A love hold for Fucsovics gets him ready for Federer’s next service game, and at 30-all, a lackadaisical backhand presents a break point. But Federer plays it well enough, pressurising Fucsovics to play a defensive shot that’s neither lob nor pass. He quickly closes out from there, in a style you’d take.
"One of the points of the match so far!" @RogerFederer with three spectacular shots to secure the points 👏
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 26, 2020
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Fucsovics 6-4 0-3 Federer Federer consolidates to 30. He’s not flowing yet, but he’s doing more, unfurling that forehand with greater authority as Fucsovics’ level drops a touch.
Fucsovics 6-4 0-2 Federer That set was the first Fucsovics has won against Federer. He’s hitting the ball harder, which is key, but at 0-15 dumps a forehand into the net and at 15-30 Federer hooks a forehand wide, then cleans up with a leaping brute down the line. This gives him his first two break points of the match, and though Fucsovics saves the first, he then goes long with a forehand. Time’s up.
Though Federer is on the way down, it’d be absolutely monumental if Fucsovics could actually do this. He’s never been further than round 4 in any major – he’s done it in Australia, twice – and is currently ranked 67 in the world. He’s also 27 years old, which is to say that he’s not about to become a contender given a fair wind.
Fucsovics takes the first set against Federer!
Fucsovics 6-4 Federer Fucsovics looks both cool and focused; he thinks he can do this, and why not? Well, because, but his first ace at 30-0 gives him three set points, the first of which disappears when a forehand drops long. But then a second serve out wide is too good, Federer sending a return cross-court on the stretch with sails wide!
Fucsovics 5-4 Federer Federer sends a forehand long to give Fucsovics 30-all, but the serve and forehand take over. Fucsovics will have to serve for it.
Fucsovics 5-3 Federer Fucsovics chucks the ball into the air before attempting consolidation, checking out the wind. It works well – he eased through a love game, his serve and forehand combining well. Federer has yet to find himself at this competition.
Fucsovics 4-3 Federer Have a look! Fucsovics suddenly raises three break points, Federer saving the first with a forehand down the line. A fine return onto the baseline then gets Fucsovics right into the next rally, but again, Federer’s forehand is too good and a backhand volley makes it 40-30. But Fucsovics isn’t letting go, and a forehand, deep, forces Federer to go long! Fucsovics breaks, and needs just two holds to rack up this first set!
Fucsovics 3-3 Federer Again, Federer gets to 30 on the Fucsovics serve, but again Fucsovics prevents him from making an impression beyond that.
I’d love for someone to explain to me how you go about supporting a person in an individual sport.
These honeymooners have their priorities right! @rogerfederer | #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/AJko6HxG3W
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2020
Fucsovics 2-2 Federer Federer moves Fucsovics around with that sinister backhand slice, and it gets him to 30-all. But yerman responds well, sealing the game with a wrong-footing forehand that almost takes Federer off his feet.
Fucsovics 1-2 Federer These two have only played twice before; you can probably guess what happened. Both have started well enough here, with nothing of note going down. So, while we wait a question we’ve all asked numerous times: have we seen the last of Federer as a winner of majors? I’ve said yes to that more than once, but I think we might finally be there now.
Fucsovics 0-1 Federer Federer holds to 15. It’s hard to see a way for Fucsovics here, but he’ll have to serve like God to have a chance.
Right, we’re about ready to go. Federer will serve.
They’re knocking up. Federer is in mauve shorts and headband, looking like a bar of chocolate.
Right, Federer-Fucsovics on the way. It’s not such a bad old life.
On the plus side for her, she played wack and won, in difficult conditions.
It was strange to see Barty so tentative, especially on her forehand. She’s not a great retriever nor hitter of winners, so can’t just wait for errors, not offer up chances. She tells Alex Corretja that she needs to trust herself and enjoy herself – that sounds like a platitude, but is actually extremely good advice.
Barty tells Jim Courier that she had to hang in there, and it was tough. The wind is tough when you serve from one end, she says, and looking forward says that she loves Petra, “but hopefully she doesn’t break my heart”. Barty is the newly elected young Australian of the year and when Courier congratulates her, says she’s just trying to be the best version of her”. She really is extremely likeable, and it’s extremely affirming to see her do well. But she’ll need to play a lot better to get by Kvitova, unless Kvitova has a mare.
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Game, set and match Barty! She wins 6-3 1-6 6-4!
Riske goes long with her first serve ... and again! Oh that’s a shame – Riske has played really well and fought really hard, but Barty found just enough big shots at just about the right times to get it done! Kvitova next for her, who beat her in the quarters last term.
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A mass-murderous forehand from Barty takes her to 30-all on the Riske serve at 5-4, and suddenly, out of nowhere, one more forehand and it’s match point Barty!
That final point I was on about: here it is.
"That's one of the best match points you'll see this fortnight! Take a bow, @TennysSandgren" 🙇♂️
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 26, 2020
The American books his place in the quarter-finals in style 👏
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Elsewhere, South Africa are fighting back against England in the fourth and final Test. You should follow that here:
Reminder: when this is done, we’ve got Federer-Fucsovics for your delectation.
Barty plays a tame backhand slice into the net and Riske jumps on her, seizing the opportunity and breaking back! She returns to her seat with a shriek and a leap, and knows that she’s right in this. Barty needs to stop being so tentative and start hitting the ball - she’s the better player, but not if she doesn’t impose her superiority. In the meantime, Riske holds to 15 for three games in a row. Barty 6-3 1-6 4-4 Riske.
Tenys Sandgren beats Fabio Fognini in a belter, 7-6(5) 7-5 (2)6-7 6-4!
We’re getting to it on Melbourne, deuce on the Fognini serve at 4-5. And a drop-shot forces Fognini to the net; Sandgren joins him there to put away the volley and raise match point! AND THERE IT IS! A forehand into the corner, then a lush touch-volley, on one knee below the level of the net, and what a point that is, how it encapsulates a brilliant match! Sandgren is through and plays Federer or Fucsovics nex!
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But, in the meantime, Barty consolidates and Riske barrels through a love game. It’s 4-2 Barty in the third.
When you watch Barty play like this, it’s hard to see her winning here. Her best isn’t the best, and at some point she’s likely to run into someone, whether it’s Kvitova, Halep or Muguruza, to impose it upon her. On the plus side for her, the second two are in the bottom half, so she’ll only have to play one of them, but both are looking serious.
A forehand that at once booms and loops gives Barty 0-30, her first sniff in a while. But it looks bad for her when Riske deploys the net-cord next point - she could run it down, but turns away too early to notice. Still, that forehand is being hit with far greater conviction now, and another loopy boomer down the line gives her two break points ... AND SHE ONLY NEEDS ONE! She comes in off a backhand, then two crisp volleys put her three holds away! Barty 6-3 1-6 3-1 Riske.
Better from Barty, who sails through a hold and finds her first ace in tiiiiime. On Melbourne, meanwhile, Sandgren and Fognini are still on serve in set four.
Riske responds with a love game. It’s 1-1 in the decider, and the underdog is looking good.
Barty is really struggling here, popping up balls for Riske. She’s not hitting it well, so is playing without confidence and conviction; Riske knows that the ball will be there for her, and even though Barty holds to 30, she looked horrible doing it.
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The drop shot battle ⚔️
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Featuring @fabiofogna and @TennysSandgren 👏
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Riske levels the match at one set all!
A big forehand for Barty gives her a sniff at 30-all, but Riske hammers down an ace and another big serve sees a backhand return go long! We’ve got ourselves a decider, and the number 1 seed – who, let us remember, has never beaten Riske, and lost to her at Wimbledon - needs to find something. That was an extremely one-sided set. Barty 6-3 1-6 Riske.
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On Melbourne, Sandgren and Fognini are on serve in the fourth set, but Fognini is pushing hard to level the match at 2-2.
Really! Riske’s forehand is dominating this set, and she’s about to serve for it! She breaks again, and Barty, who’s cold at the moment, has a lot of work to do. Barty 6-3 1-5 Riske.
Great work from Riske to hold from 0-30 down. She finds first serves when she needs them, which allows her to dictate with the forehand. She only needs two more to take us into a decider.
Barty hauls herself into the set with a comfortable hold. She’s a funny one, really – not someone we necessarily foresaw winning a major or becoming the best player in the world, but here she is. Perhaps it’s because there’s something of an extended power-vacuum in the women’s game at present – it’s been a whole since we had the kind of dominant champion who forces up standards. But the game itself is so exciting, because no one has a scooby what’s going to happen. Barty 6-3 1-3 Riske.
Sandgren takes a second injury time-out. MO-mentum might just’ve shifted.
A gorgeous inside-out backhand encapsulates exactly how it’s going for Riske at the moment, as she consolidates to love. Barty 6-3 0-3 Riske.
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Fognini takes the third set 7-2 in the breaker!
Fognini is loving life, moving Sandgren about to open the court, sticking a a forehand into the space, and at 6-2 he has four set points! He only needs one! Fognini has already fought back from two sets down this tournament; can he do it again? Sandgren 7-6(5) 7-5 (2)6-7 Fognini.
It’s all going on! A loose service-game from Barty ends when she slices a backhand long, giving Riske the break to 30! I’d not be surprised to see Barty snatch it straight back, but Riske has 8/10 points so far this set. Barty 6-3 0-2 Riske.
Excellent from Fognini, who takes the first mini-break by dictating from the baseline via monstrous forehand. He leads 3-1.
Huge love hold – or love-hold, it’s extremely hard to say – for Riske at the start of set two. Barty will have to take it from her.
Sandgren hangs in there under all sorts of pressure as Fognini turns it up at 5-6. He secures a second breaker of the match with an ace down the middle, and if he wins that he’s through to round 5. Sandgren 7-6 7-5 6-6 Fognini.
Barty 6-4 Riske
At 40-15, Barty misses another forehand down the line, but serve down the T is too good and caps a fine, intense set from the world number 1. Riske needs to find something.
Riske battles through a hold, meaning Barty will serve for the first set at 5-3.
Wanted: a subeditor.
Swinging for away for Straya 👏
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Barty leads 5-2.#AO2020 | #AusOpen |@ashbarty pic.twitter.com/yshAHmACIC
Barty is back, one beautifully-constructed point, finished with a backhand down the line, eventually setting up the ace which secures the game to 15. Barty 5-2 Riske.
Well that lasted. This time, Barty piles into and through a forehand down the line and it gives her her break back; at 4-2, she may well have broken the back of the first set.
Back on Melbourne, Sandgren is angry about something I missed; Fognini laughs at him. You hate to see it*. Sandgren 7-6 7-5 4-4 Fognini.
*You do not hate to see it.
Oh yes! Look at Alison Riske! Not long ago, Barty ought to have put away a forehand for 4-0 and a double break, and now she’s lost her actual break! Riske is proper settled now, her forehand in full working order. Barty 3-2 Riske.
Gwan Ons!
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Riske is in huge trouble here, the anxiety is smeared all the way across her coupon when she can’t retrieve a forehand right into her backhand corner. But at 30-40, a reprieve: Barty, having opened the court, nets a straightforward forehand down the line. Riske is tough though, and saves a further break point with an ace down the middle before securing the game with two more big serves. Barty 3-1 Riske.
Back on the Melbourne Arena, Fognini isn’t going anywhere. It’s 2-2 in set three, but Sandgren leads by two sets to love.
Oh yes, Barty is moving beautifully. She opens up the court, sending Riske to hither and yon, then consolidates the break with a monstrous forehand. Barty 3-0 Riske.
Excellent from Barty on 15-40, her running and chasing setting up a low forehand, whipped cross-court. It’s not a winner, but it sets the tone for the point, and she’s soon 2-0 up in set 1. Barty is in touch here.
Barty, serving in game 1, is hauled back from 40-0 to 40-30, but moves ahead,
A wild forehand from Fognini puts Sandgren up a break in set three. He takes an injury timeout which involves having his leg yanked in all sorts of painful directions, but he’s nearly there now.
Barty (1) and Riske (18) are with us, and getting warm. Barty has never beaten Riske.
Barty and Riske will be with us shortly.
Sandgren wins the second set and leads Fognini 7-6(5) 7-5!
Fognini needed a final-set breaker to bin Reilly Opelka in round 1, but it’s a longass-ass way back for him from here, as they say round Sandgren’s way.
Hello! A brilliant backhand pass gives Sandgren a break! As I said, he’d be as well to tank Fognini’s service games, and he’ll now serve for the second set.
This is a really good match now; Fognini is steaming hot. If I were Sandgren, I’d think about taking his service games off now, to recuperate for a breaker. Five games on the spin for Fognini, who leads 5-4 in the second; Sandgren by one set to love.
Fognini is leaning into Sandgren now, first holding, and now with a break point; Sandgren looks tired. I’m not surprised, given his politics, all that must take its toll on a person. He finds one huge forehand, but Fognini wears it and a walloped inside-out backhand allows him to DIC-tate the rally before clinching the second break-back! We’re back on serve in the second!
Back on court, Fognini has somehow outlasted Sandgren in a monumental 26-shot rally, to snatch a break back. He now trails 2-4 in the second set; might that be the start of the long, torturous route back into this match?
So Kenin told Gauff “Not today”, but she and the rest of the tour remain on notice. A tennis coach mate of mine was asked to put together a video detailing and analysing her weaknesses ... and couldn’t find any. Given the capricious nature of the women’s game, we can be sure that it’ll be soon.
Earlier today: in the men’s competition, has the penny finally dropped for the Canadian Cyborg? Milos Raonic (32) whacked Marin Cilic 4,3, and 5, just as he whacked Stefanos Tistsipas 5,4 and 6 in the previous round. He meets Novak Djokovic (2) next, who perfunctorily crushed Diego Schwartzman (14) 3,4, and 4.
In the women’s competition, Coco Gauff is gone. She won the first set on a breaker, but then Sofia Kenin (14) switched on the power, taking the next two 3 and 0. She’ll play Ons Jabeur next; the Tunisian got rid of Quiang Wang (27) and the blog’s accumulator 7-6 6-1. Elsewhere, Petra Kvitova (7), great friend of the long-time favourite of the blog, did for Maria Sakkari (22), 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2. She’ll play Barty or Riske next.
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Left over from the afternoon session: Tenys Sandgren leads Fabio Fognini (12) 7-6, 2-0. Fognini has just taken an injury timeout for a blister on a finger, while Sangren has won the last 10 points,
Preamble
Greetings all, and welcome to the evening session – and maybe what’s left of the day session – of this seventh go-around of the 2020 Australian Open. What we have for sure is the world number 1, Ashleigh Barty, playing in her home Grand Slam – she meets the late-blooming Alison Riske who, at the ancient age of 28 (or was she 29?) has just enjoyed the best year of her career. Included in that year was a run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, included in that run a win over Barty. That one will be decent.
Then, when that’s done, we get to enjoy Roger Federer, and who knows for how much longer that’ll be so. He’s not looked especially good so far and needed a super-duper tie-break to shake off the admittedly limpetian John Millman on Friday. Trying to ruin his week is the in-form Marton Fucsovics – to get here, he’s beaten Denis Shapovalov, the number 13 seed, and Jannik Sinner, who no less a luminary than JP McEnroe think will be a superstar.
Play: 7pm local time, 8am GMT
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