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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ian McCourt

Australian Open: Djokovic v Verdasco; Keys v Kvitova and more – as it happened!

Rod Laver Arena, in all its fish-eye lens glory.
Rod Laver Arena, in all its fish-eye lens glory. Photograph: Narendra Shrestha/EPA

OK folks, that’s all from me for the day. I’m off for a lie down. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Bye!

Keys beats Kvitova 6-4, 7-5!!!

Here we go then. Keys, with the crowd roaring her on, wins the first. And the second. And the third. Will she be the fourth American woman in the next round? Yes she will! She has held her nerve, won the game 40-0 and won the match 6-4, 7-5. What a stunning upset that is and a deserved win for the young star. Wow. Kvitova was tottally outplayed and she knows it. Here are some post-match comments from Keys:

Updated

It’s 5-5 in the second set and Kvitova is serving. Keys goes 0-15 up and then a perfectly-placed forehand doubles that lead. Kvitova shaves 15 off that by forcing Keys into a backhanded error. Keys hits the net on the next one but gets the rub of the green with the ball managing to find its way to Kvitova’s side of the court. Kvitova kicks the ball away in frustration but wins the next one. However, she loses the one after that and Keys will serve for the biggest win of her life.

Ferrer beats Simon 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 7-6

It has gone to a tiebreak in the fourth. Ferrer streaks into a 2-0 lead but loses the third point. 2-1 it is. It’s Simon’s turn to try do one from the competition as he allows Ferrer to restore his 3-1 lead. Some powerful play from Ferrer forces Simon into an error and makes it 4-1. Ferrer hits long but thinks it is in. He is wrong and the score goes to 4-2. Then 5-2. Then 6-2. Match point for Ferrer. A match point he passes up. 6-3. “Si-mon! Si-mon! Si-mon!” chant the crowd. It works. The tiebreak now stands at 6-4. Ferrer serves and Ferrer finally wins when Simon overcooks a forehand! The two lads look absolutely shattered.

Updated

Keys fails to hold that. It’s 3-3. She looks furious with herself. That’s four successive breaks of serve.

Back to Keys v Kvitova. Keys has broken Kvitova for the second successive time and as it stands the 19-year old is a set ahead and is 3-2 ahead in the second. Blistering barnacles, as they say. Keys to serve.

Simon has made it 5-4 in the match that Ferrer just refuses to win. Let’s see if he can do it in this game. He starts as he means to continue, slamming a backhand into the net but he recovers thereafter with an ace. 15-15. A forced error on his backhand – again! – sees Simon take the lead. This time he decides to change up his mistake maker and he does it with his forehand. 15-40. He repeats that and Simon has the game all to himself. 5-5 in the fourth.

Updated

Keys is 2-1 up and serving against Kvitova in the second set. She could, you know.

Ferrer gets off to a flyer, moving Simon around the court and eventually making it 15-0 with a powerful forehand. A rather long rally ends with Ferrer backhand volleying it out of court and so 15-15 it is. That spurs Simon on and he wins the next three points, much to the delight of the crowd. 5-3 it is in the fifth.

Let’s go back to that men’s game for a moment. Ferrer has recovered from that earlier blip to take control of the fourth set. He is now 5-1 to the good with Simon serving. In game seven, Ferrer takes the lead but then lets Simon back into it when he completely miscues a forehand smash. Simon gets some impetus from that and wins the next two points as well as the game. Ferrer is now serving to take the match. He can’t mess it up again, can he?

Updated

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Melbourne:

Keys loses the first point but recovers to take the second, forcing Kvitova into a backhanded error. Keys then takes the lead with a precise forehand that never looked to be on. She makes it 40-15 afterwards and wins the set with another great ace. Well, well. Game on. The No4 seed is in big trouble here.

Updated

That last ace really was terrific and seems to have spurred Keys on. She surges into a 0-40 lead in the next game with some terrific shots. Kvitova looks tense, very tense. Keys has three break points but she only needs the one, thanks to an absolutely woeful net-hit effort from the Czech. Keys will serve for the set.

Kvitova is 4-3 to the good but Keys is on serve. Keys takes the first point when Kvitova puts too much sass into her return. She doubles that soon after and another unforced error from Kvitova sees Keys go 40-0 up. The Czech pulls a point back but Keys finishes the game off with a 120mph ace.

More interesting Bumgarner facts. He bought Ali, his wife, a cow just before they got married.

Kvitova has broken right back. 3-3 it is.

Keys’ first name always reminds me of Madison Bumgarner, who, least we forget, once went on a date with a woman named ... Madison Bumgarner.

Oh my. In the next game, Keys works her way to a fourth break point of the match so far. Kvitova looks to have recovered it with a strong-armed smash only for Keys to recover and send a stunning forehand down the line that the Wimbledon champion cannot get close to. Quality stuff from the young American.

We are into the fourth game of the first set. As it stands, Kvitova is leading Keys 2-1 with Keys on serve. Kvitova takes a 15-30 lead when Keys over-extends her effort before Kvitova makes the exact same mistake. Kvitova then introduces the ball to the net via her backhand. An unforced error makes it a Jay-Z owned club and before long Keys powers her way to advantage and the game.

If you feel the need for a mid-morning cringe, click here. (You’ve been warned!)

Simon has won the third set 7-5. Hands up, who saw that coming?

Updated

Petra Kvitova versus Madison Keys has got going. Kvitova served first and, rather unsurprisingly, won first. Although, Keys had three break points.

Glad I missed this:

Simon gets off to a flyer, winning the first point. But he gives up the lead on the next one by pushing too hard through his forehand when located out wide. Ferrer does not want to make it easy for himself so he lets him back in the game. 15-30 it is and then 15-40. Ferrer then, incredibly, double faults! The game is Simon’s. Ferrer reacts in a calm and reasoned way, smashing his racket off the ground.

He does not get off to a good start, hitting the net with an untidy effort. However, he is right back in it when Ferrer puts too much punch into a regulation forehand. Simon rediscovers his lead but, moments later, loses it once again by volleying into the net from close range. Next up, a Ferrer forehands lands where it shouldn’t and Simon has a chance to see out the game. He passes that up by passing the ball into the net once again. A sensational rally ensues and Simon emerges as the winner thanks to a perfect cross court forehand that lands right in the corner of the court. He finally manages to win the game (thanks to a wild Ferrer backhand) and now Ferrer must serve for the match. You’d expect him too, right?

Back to Ferrer v Simon. Simon it was who took the last game to make it 4-3 in the third but Ferrer is on serve now. Simon seems to stumble near the net as he fails to deal with Ferrer backhand and so 15-0 it is. Simon also loses the next point after a challenge from Ferrer. An absolute belter of a forehand down the line drags Simon back into the game before Ferrer fires one into the illegal zone to level the game. He recovers from that mistake with a well-struck ace and soon after the game is his. Simon is serving to stay in the match.

Just in case you missed it, Andy Murray has had a wee chat to the cameras about his 6-1, 6-1, 7-5 third-round win against João Sousa. Murray says he played well during the match and managed to stay in control of the points. Next up for him is Grigor Dimitrov.

Djokovic beats Verdasco 7-6, 6-3, 6-4

Djokovic starts the game by ending a rally with a wayward backhand. A forehand later and things are level. But Verdasco takes the lead once more with a smart volley into the corner of the court. However, the Spaniard surrenders that soon enough, the crowd groaning with him when he hits the net. Djokovic takes the lead when Verdasco overhits from the baseline. Match point. Match won.

That he does. Just about. But there is little hope he’ll be able to stop Djokovic from here.

By the way, that second set between Ferrer and Simon last a whopping 71 minutes. That’s almost twice as long as their first one. (Insert surprised smiley icon here). Meanwhile, over in Djokovic’s match with Verdasco, it is now 4-3 with the Serb on serve. He loses the first two points due to some careless whispers errors but he soon gets his head back in the game thanks to some powerful serve and forehand action. 30-30 it is. Another perfectly-timed forehand smash sees him take the lead for the first time in the game and he ends it all pretty soon after that. Verdasco must now serve to stay in the match.

Apparently, a fan is suing the Australian Open for not providing enough shade. You can read all about that here.

Well, do they?

Back in the match between Djokovic and Verdasco, the Serb can almost taste the next round after breaking Verdasco in the fifth game of the third set. It’s 3-2 and Djokovic is about to get his serve on. Just a matter of time now.

Over to Margaret Court for a moment or two. It’s 6-5 to Ferrer in the second and he is serving. He loses the first point but recovers swiftly enough to take the next two. A long rally for the next one ends with Ferrer sending Simon the wrong way and a delicate backhand. It’s set point and it’s Ferrer’s set. He won the first one 6-2 but was made to work a lot harder for the second.

Back in a moment or two folks. Nature calls.

Verdasco takes the first game and looks to have recovered some of his early form. It does not last long though as Djokovic breezes past him in the second one. Verdasco is serving in the third and goes 40-15 to the good. But he lets that decent lead slip once more it’s deuce. Two two swap points like teenager’s swap spit before Verdasco just about holds on to win the game. 2-1 in the third it is.

Some lad has just proposed to his fiancee in the crowd. She said yes. Or at least, she looked happy for the cameras. One, two, three, awwwwwww!

Updated

Djokovic is serving for the second set. It goes 15-0 then 30-0 and then Verdasco comes out on top after a brief rally. His comeback does not last long. Djokovic soon makes it 40-15 and then a forced error with his forehand – Verdasco could not cope with a Djokovic serve – sees the Serbian take the second set.

We are 27 minutes into the second set and Verdasco is serving to stay in it. (The first one took an hour remember! ) He gets off to a terrible start with a rotten forehand error. Nonetheless, he puffs out his chest, gets his head up and makes it 15-15. Some hella powerful movement and forehands from Djokovic see him reclaim the lead. He then earns himself two set points with a wonderful cross-court return. He does not take the first one nor does he take the second. A wonderful one-handed forehanded down the side leaves Djokovic stranded and Verdasco with the advantage. It does not last long, thanks to a delicate touch volley from Djokovic, who was positioned near the net. Verdasco double faults – again at a crucial moment! – and it is set point to Djokovic once more. He fails to take it, over anticipating his return. Verdasco looks to be hanging on for dear life but he wangles his way into the lead and eventually wins the game with an ace.

“Verdasco like F.Lopez has the game to do damage on both clay & hard court to the top players,” reckons John Mc Enerney. “He should be one of those top players but just hasn’t been able to make that permanent step up. He can cause the big players plenty of problems but needs to have more conviction in his game!”

While all this is going on, Venus Williams has been chin-wagging with the media. Here is what she had to say:

This old cat has a few tricks left ... It’s awesome to be here and I don’t want to leave it at that. I want to keep going. It feels fantastic, especially when things happen in your life and it’s not in your control.

I always believe in my ability, but sometimes you don’t get results for whichever reason. I think as long as I know that I’ve got it in me, that’s it. I’ve won big. It’s not like I haven’t done it before.

I like to win titles, whether it’s a smaller event or a big event. That’s what I play for. So yes, it’s great to be in the second week. But is fourth round my goal when I come to these tournaments? No.”

When you walk on that court there is no such thing as age, height, any of that stuff. It’s really an even playing field. It’s a matter of can you get the ball in? Can you win the point or not? It doesn’t matter, any of these variables.

Muller’s reward? Playing the winner of Djokovic v Verdasco. So Djokovic then.

Verdasco finally manages to win a game in the second set to make it 3-1. Djokovic responds with his usual combo of power and efficiency. A forehand wins him his first point and an ace wins him his second. He repeats the ace and rounds it all off with a well-struck backhand. 4-1 it is with Verdasco to get serving.

Speaking of breaking serves. Verdasco was 0-40 up – 0-40! – before Djokovic hit three aces in a row and eventually took the game thanks to an unforced error from Verdasco. That was a big game to lose and if he wasn’t broken before, he might just be now.

Ferrer, incidentally, took a mere 34 minutes to take the first set against Simon 6-2. He is also doing well enough in the second, leading 2-1 on serve. Back to the Djokovic game for a moment. The World No1 has just broken Verdasco’s resolve serve and is two games up in the second set. Verdasco looks a touch broken and is firing a bit wildly. You sense he put absolutely everything he got into that first set.

So here is that awful double fault from Verdasco during that tiebreak:

Try not to laugh too hard.

In the extended drama of all that, look what was missed:

Verdasco takes the first two points. Djokovic wins the next but Verdasco restores the two-point gap once more with a wonderful, high-risk ace. Djokovic takes the next by pushing the Spaniard out wide with a nice backhand and forcing him into overhitting. They battle hard and rally hard for the next one. It goes to Verdasco, though not before Djokovic can challenge (it was well over). 4-2 it is and Djokovic is serving. A silly mistake by Verdasco, under little pressure, means it is 4-3 but he makes up for it with a 135mph ace. Then, somehow, he double faults! (He hit his own side of the court, somehow.) What a time for that. 5-4. And it’s 5-5! Verdasco swung far too early and shanked his shot into the heavens. Verdasco then allows Djokovic to take the lead (6-5) before he remembers he has to win and hits an ace to make it 6-6. Verdasco loses another and Djokovic has set point. A set point he does not take. 7-7 it is. 8-8 it is. Maybe this will go on forever? Djokovic gets his fourth set point at 9-8 ... and he takes it! Or rather Verdasco gives it to him by hitting one well wide. Djokovic pumps his fist and the crowd go wild.

Updated

He stars with his second ace of the match but concedes his lead by over-hitting on his backhand. That does not shake him one bit and he streaks into a 40-15 lead. Verdasco is back in it for a moment or two when he forces Djokovic out wide and into the net. His hope of breaking Djokovic lasts but for a moment or two and it is into a tiebreaker they go.

Verdasco is serving. The two swap points until they are tied on 30-30. Yet another unforced backhand error from Djokovic makes it 40-30. Verdasco ends the game as a contest with a swift ace. For the second time, Djokovic is serving to stay in the set.

It takes Djokovic all of about five seconds to make it 5-5. Elsewhere, Ferrer has taken a 4-2 lead in his match against Simon. The Frenchman is about to get his serve on.

Updated

Once more we are treated to a stirring comeback from Verdasco. Once again, he was 15-40 and on the verge of being broken and once again he forced Djokovic into an error or two before slamming down and ace and eventually winning the game. It’s 5-4 to Verdasco and Djokovic is serving.

Verdasco has just said some very rude words, very loudly.

“Morning Ian,” cheers George Wright. “I’ll tell you what happened to Craig David. In 2010, tired of repeating the same ‘meet girl, go for drink, fornicate, fornicate, fornicate, fornicate, chill’ routine that had sustained him for many years, he became a UN Goodwill Ambassador. Obviously.”

Oh my, this is lovely stuff from Verdasco. Djokovic had two tries to break his opponent’s serve but Verdasco ain’t having it. He forces Djokovic into two mistakes with his forehand to make it 40-40 and then absolutely smashes two aces past the World No1. I’m guessing now but I’d say they were at least 1,000,000mph. Roughly.

Over to Djokovic versus Verdasco. It’s even-Stevens as we type, at three games apiece in the first set. Elsewhere in Melbourne, David Ferrer is taking on Gilles Simon, where it is also even-Stevens, at one games apiece, also in the first set.

You shouldn’t laugh but ...

It’s been 15 years since Venus and Serena last clashed in a slam semi-final but their amazing journey is as captivating as ever, reckons our man in Melbourne, Kevin Mitchell. Here is what he has to say about it all:

Sisters, friends, survivors: all the strengths and virtues that Serena and Venus Williams have shown in adversity over the years arrived for them on day six of the 2015 Australian Open.

However, after good wins from a set down against Erina Svitolina and Camila Giorgi respectively, there are a couple of formidable challenges immediately ahead for both of them if they are to collide in the semi-finals, which last happened in a slam at Wimbledon 15 years ago.

The day after Roger Federer left an unfillable space in the men’s draw following defeat to Andreas Seppi in the third round, there were some anxious moments on Saturday as Serena, the women’s outright favourite, had to fight from a set down to beat the tough young Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 on another hot, still day on Rod Laver Arena.

A final withering forehand left Svitolina flailing at air to bring 96 minutes of struggle to an end. The scoreline told the story of a slow start, recovery and finishing flourish; a familiar pattern for Williams.

“She played really well, one to watch,” Williams said. “She made me really work very hard. She kept hitting winners in the first set, and there wasn’t much I could do. Then I heard so many people say, ‘Serena, Serena”, and I thought you guys are really here for me.

Continued here.

By the way, there was pleny of men’s action last night too, involving the likes of Milos Raonic, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and, of course, the defending champion Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss restore his nation’s pride with a simple enough 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Jarkko Nieminen (though, by all accounts, he had a shocker with his first service game). He takes on Garcia-Lopez after he defeated Vasek Pospisil 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. Raonic, meanwhile, ran out an easy 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory winner over Boris Benjamin Becker. Raonic will take on Feliciano Lopez in his next match after Lopez Jerzy Janowicz 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3)

As for this morning. There should be one or two things that get your boat floating, not least of which is Djokovic versus Verdasco, which has just kicked off. As it stands, the Spaniard has held his serve and won the opening game.

Updated

First up. The women’s world No1 Serena Williams let Elina Svitolina think she had a chance of progressing to the round of 16 by allowing her to win the first set before then smashing her into oblivion in the next two, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 . She will, of course, be joined there by her sister Venus. “She played really well,” said Williams. “She’s one to watch, she works very hard and has come a long way.” A match against Garbine Muguruza awaits her. That should be an interesting one for it was Muguruza who pointed Williams in the direction of the exit the last time they met in the French Open last year. (Muguruza, incidentally, beat Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.) Elsewhere, Agnieszka Radwanska kept on trucking with an easy enough 6-0, 7-5 win over Varvara Lepchenko. Radwanska, by the way, has dropped just nine games in her first three matches. Eeeep! Following Lepchenko home is the greatest named tennis player of all time – Coco Vandeweghe – who was beaten 6-3, 6-2 by fellow American Madison Brengle.

Updated

Good morning

We say good morning. But when the rest of the country is still wrapped up in a warm, cosy, comfortable, snug, safe bed and you’ve just had to get up early and cycle to work at some godforsaken hour (whilst humming a Craig David song – whatever happened to Craig David?) then good morning is a bad morning. Luckily for you then, there is some hot tennis action going on Down Under which should help bring a smile to that face. In fact, there has been some hot tennis action going on all night. Like a rodworker said to a pothole, let me fill you in. (Yeah, we know, it’s lame.)

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