Well, well , well. It’s been quite the day of tennis. Following on from Bernard Tomic’s win over Nick Kyrgios, sealed in the most outrageous/sneaky/unsportmanlike fashion, Ash Barty has delivered a warning to Australian Open title hopefuls with a straight-set victory over the world No 1 Simona Halep. That will do wonders for her before heading to Melbourne Park next week. But before that, she has the chance to add another title to her burgeoning collection having secured a spot in the Sydney International quarter-finals. That’s all for now from me. Thanks for joining in the fun, until next time.
Here’s Barty on-court: “It was extremely difficult conditions. Very swirly conditions at court level. She gave me a belting in Montreal. I learnt a bit more in Cincinnati. I believed I could win. I’m very happy I could come out and execute.”
Game, set and match! Barty beats Halep 6-4, 6-4
Second set: Halep* 4-6, 4-6 Barty (*denotes server): Oh my goodness! Barty beats the world No 1 for the biggest win of her career! The charge towards the finish line begins at 15-30 down when she reaches down low and hits the ball back across Halep and in by the finest of margins! Halep hits back but Barty brings up deuce a point later to the delight of the Sydney crowd! Halep challenges the next call – it’s called out, and it is indeed out – to bring up match point! What a phenomenal result for Barty!
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Second set: Halep 4-6, 4-5 Barty* (*denotes server): The wind appears to pick up and is playing no small role in this match now, just as the sun disappears behind some clouds to give the players some brief respite. Meanwhile, Barty holds her nerve and her serve when it matters, after two deuces. The crowd is getting more vocal, and is clearly behind the Queenslander. Halep will now have to serve to stay in the match.
Second set: Halep* 4-6, 4-4 Barty (*denotes server): You feel that Barty has to hit back immediately and she does extremely well to force deuce with a difficult low half-volley that she nails. Halep finds the net on the next point and Barty follows with an inch-perfect forehand right into the corner to do exactly what was needed! We’re back on serve.
Second set: Halep 4-6, 4-3 Barty* (*denotes server): Halep again gives a glimpse of what she’s capable of, firing a beautiful backhand back past Barty to bring up another break point. And this time, she makes no mistake! The Romanian makes the first breakthrough of this second set and Barty has a lot to do now to avoid a third set.
Second set: Halep* 4-6, 3-3 Barty (*denotes server): Halep keeps things on serve without too much fuss before new balls are called for.
Game, set and match! Bacsinszky beats Stosur 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Bad news for Sam Stosur fans over on Court 1 – the former US Open champ has been ousted from the competition in three sets by Swiss Timea beats Bacsinszky.
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Second set: Halep 4-6, 2-3 Barty* (*denotes server): Halep puts Barty under some serious pressure now though, and the Australian has to dig herself out of a hole at two break points down. But she does that, wearing down Halep who eventually goes wide on the second one. An ace then gets Barty back on track and then a brilliant point finished off at the net secures the game for the Newcombe medal winner.
Second set: Halep* 4-6, 2-2 Barty (*denotes server): Oh that’s a wonderful shot from Barty to kick off this game! A glorious forehand winner down the line is too good for Halep, but the Romanian recovers to hold once more.
Second set: Halep 4-6, 1-2 Barty* (*denotes server): In contrast to the previous game, there’s no messing about on serve here. Barty serves out without fuss to edge ahead once more and put the pressure back on Halep.
Second set: Halep* 4-6, 1-1 Barty (*denotes server): Hello, what’s this? Barty has two more break points – Halep wobbles on her serve on the first point, missing the first and then clipping the net on the second. But she makes no mistake when given another opportunity, before saving the second break point too. Barty gets another chance a point later, but again it’s wasted and Halep holds eventually. Might Barty come to regret that by the end of this match?
Second set: Halep 4-6, 0-1 Barty* (*denotes server): Blink and you miss it kind of game to open the second set. No problems at all for the Australian No 1. The next hour of tennis will tell us a lot about Barty, and how far she has come over the past 12 months.
Barty wins first set 6-4!
First set: Halep* 4-6 Barty (*denotes server): Barty brings up her 21st unforced error – to Halep’s nine so far – but a much improved point brings up set point, which she duly takes! That’s the first set she has taken off Halep in their previous two meetings. Can she build on that and go on to win this one?
First set: Halep 4-5 Barty* (*denotes server): Halep cranks up the pressure early this game and Barty has to dig deep to save three break points. But she does, and then she aces for a second time this game to hold. A real test of character passed with flying colours there!
First set: Halep* 4-4 Barty (*denotes server): Halep looks really comfortable on serve for the first time today, serving out to love. It’s evenly-matched so far, little to split the pair.
First set: Halep 3-4 Barty* (*denotes server): An indication of the windy conditions facing the players today presents itself at the start of this game as Barty has to toss again. She puts it out of mind as she then beautifully disguises a volley at the net before going on to open up a 40-0 lead. A crosscourt forehand winner at 40-30 seals the deal a couple of points later as we edge towards the conclusion of the first set.
First set: Halep* 3-3 Barty (*denotes server): Lovely tennis from Barty at the start of this game, as she comes to the net before finishing off the point. A point later, the Australian’s tactics are the same, but this time she puts her volley long to bring Halep back into the game at 30-30. Barty’s radar is off again on the next two points and Halep holds.
First set: Halep 2-3 Barty* (*denotes server): Halep’s not ranked one in the world for nothing though. She stays cool in the heat to race into a 40-0 lead on Barty’s serve and despite losing the next two points she breaks back immediately.
First set: Halep* 1-3 Barty (*denotes server): Is this Barty’s chance to break for a first time? She does it! Halep can only find the net on break point, prompting a solitary “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi etc” chant from the stands.
Over on court one, Sam Stosur has been taken to a third set by Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland.
First set: Halep 1-2 Barty* (*denotes server): Oof, what a point! Lovely play from both players results in Barty chipping over Halep, who responds with an attempted tweener that sadly doesn’t hit the mark. Barty then moves Halep around the court with apparent ease to move to within game point and she doesn’t look back from there. It’s 45 degrees and windy out on the court, by the way. Not easy conditions for either of them.
First set: Halep* 1-1 Barty (*denotes server): Halep gets a first chance to show what her serve is all about. It’s enough to give Barty a few problems with her return, and a few mis-placed forehands help Halep to the game.
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First set: Halep 0-1 Barty* (*denotes server): Here we go then. On a baking blue court at Sydney’s Olympic Park, Barty, with cap on head and ball in hand, survives a deuce thanks to a booming serve and then a well-disguised drop-shot that completely fools Halep. A decent start for the Aussie No 1.
Halep and Barty are now both out on court and warming up, and we’ll be underway shortly. “Thirty seconds,” is the umpire’s call. Barty won the toss and will serve first.
Barty, one of Australian sport’s brightest lights over the course of last year, booked her date with Halep thanks to a 6-3 6-3 first-round victory over 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko yesterday. Even before that though, there was plenty of talk of her Australian Open chances; today’s match will give us more of an insight into that, although the player herself says she is perfectly prepared for her grand slam tilt, regardless of what happens against the best player in the world today.
“I feel like I have played enough matches now. I’m ready, feel pretty good on the court. There’s certainly no better challenge than coming up against Simona right before a slam,” Barty said.
De Minaur seems like such a nice boy. He moves into the last eight in Sydney where he will meet compatriot Jordan Thompson: “I’m glad things went my way today,” he says.
Before Australia’s top-ranked player gets onto Ken Rosewall Arena though, one of those players Kyrgios said he is excited about is in action – Alex De Minaur. And would you believe it, we join the match with the Australian at match point! He does it! De Minaur wins 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) against Reilly Opelka of the US to move into the quarter-final!
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OK, that wraps it up at Kooyong. And given the no-nonsense nature of the match, we’re in good time to cross over to the Sydney International, where Ash Barty is close to starting her match with Simona Halep.
Kyrgios continues the interview off-court. On the pre-match hype, he pulls no punches: “The media is always going to paint the picture they want to see. I understand the media: the bigger the story the bigger the pay check. I don’t pay attention to that bullshit.”
On next week’s Australian Open: “I love playing in front of my home crowd [at Melbourne Park]. I feel super comfortable there and it feels like my back yard.”
Is he enjoying playing tennis at the moment? “At the moment I’m in a good space mentally. Everyone goes through their struggles. It’s an exciting time of year, the Aussie summer. There are so many exciting players coming through, De Minaur, Millman. I just hope the Aussies go out there and soak it up. We’re pretty lucky.”
Some words from the players. (It’s not an easy job interviewing this pair.)
Kyrgios: “He’s a great player and it’s great to see him enjoying some success. It was good to see BT our there today.”
Tomic: “For us it’s just important to be here in these conditions. I hope for Nick’s sake he can play well [in the Australian Open].”
Kyrgios: “I know Bernard is one of the most talented players out there. He’s got a tricky game, he’s very unorthodox.”
Kyrgios, asked for his opinion on the new balls that Tomic complained about yesterday: “They’re OK. I don’t really care much.”
“The spider bite’s OK. I’m feeling good. Excited to get out there in Melbourne.”
Game set and match! Tomic beats Kyrgios 6-3, 6-4
Second set: Tomic* 6-3, 6-4 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Tomic, almost lazily, lashes a winner down the line on the opening point to set the tone for this game. And it all ends on a rather bizarre note as Tomic sneakily serves underarm, between his legs, while pretending to ready himself to serve in the normal fashion with another ball. His ploy catches Kyrgios, the umpire and the crowd completely unawares! And it rather neatly sums up him, although his victory today was dominant. Kyrgios takes it well, smiling as he packs his bags.
UNPRECEDENTED SCENES on match point as Bernard Tomic has defeated @NickKyrgios in first-ever clash! 🇦🇺👀 Our EXCLUSIVE, LIVE, FREE & HD coverage of day 2 @KooyongClassic action continues right now! #sbstennis https://t.co/qLdmLjB9Ko pic.twitter.com/Gj79mu6hVE
— SBS Sport (@SBSSport) January 9, 2019
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Second set: Tomic 6-3, 5-4 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): That’s just what Kyrgios needed – a comfortable service game. Indeed, he has very much relied on his serve today – he’s been off the pace with his groundstrokes. Anyway, he stays alive, but Tomic will now serve for the match.
Second set: Tomic* 6-3, 5-3 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Tomic is toying with Kyrgios a little now. He holds serve once more and Kyrgios will have to find something special now if he is to stay in the match.
Second set: Tomic 6-3, 4-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): More lovely tennis from Tomic at 15-15 as he springs into life to reach a shot at the net before dinking back past Kyrgios. Kyrgios finds the net a point later and he’s facing break point. A wild first serve doesn’t do Kyrgios any favours and when he can’t reach what seems to be a regulation forehand from Tomic, he’s broken for the first time this second set. Excellent work from Tomic, who is now just two games from the match.
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Second set: Tomic* 6-3, 3-3 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Some languid shotmaking from Tomic is too much for Kyrgios this game and he levels things up at three games apiece.
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Second set: Tomic 6-3, 2-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): The rate at which this pair are getting through their service games is remarkable – and refreshing. No bouncing the ball 17 times or performing superstitious ticks before each serve for these two. Kyrgios serves out this game in the time it took to type just that one sentence.
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Second set: Tomic* 6-3, 2-2 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Tomic gets himself into a game-winning position before Kyrgios delivers a lovely drop shot on his way back to deuce. That’s the best he can do though and Tomic goes on to hold.
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Second set: Tomic 6-3, 1-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Kyrgios is itching to get going at the beginning of each game with the ball in his hand, but he’s definitely a yard behind Tomic today. That’s likely down to the matches Tomic played yesterday, including a doubles outing. Kyrgios will get there, he just needs some court-time to get up to speed.
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Second set: Tomic* 6-3, 1-1 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios responds to losing the first point of this game with an excellent forehand winner but he can’t back it up and a couple of loose shots later, Tomic gets himself on the scoreboard this set.
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Second set: Tomic 6-3, 0-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Now it’s Kyrgios’s turn to ease to a service game. A decent start to the second set for the Canberran.
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Tomic wins first set 6-3!
First set: Tomic* 6-3 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Tomic wastes little further time as he serves out confidently to claim the opening set – convincingly so.
“I think I missed one ball,” he says from his chair. Asked how he pulled up after his encountner with Jack Sock yesterday, he says: “To be honest, I’m pretty tired.”
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First set: Tomic 5-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Can Kyrgios hold serve to stay in the set? He can! New balls are taken – not the kind Tomic called for yesterday though – but it’s Tomic who takes a 30-0 lead with some flair shotmaking. Kyrgios returns fire with not one, not two, but three aces to bring up game point before sealing the deal.
First set: Tomic* 5-2 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios is loose on a couple of shots now, and Tomic holds to love again to move to within a game of the first set. Tomic definitely the more composed so far today.
First set: Tomic 4-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Kyrgios aces again on the opening point before a lovely deft drop shot at the net is too good for Tomic. A second and then third ace follow as Kyrgios motors through a service game to stay in touch this opening set.
First set: Tomic* 4-1 Kyrgios (*denotes server): More good work from Tomic at 0-15 sees him manoeuvre his opponent around the court before finishing it off at the net. He moves to 40-15, at which point Kyrgios absolutely wallops a return of serve back past him, bringing whoops from the crowd! That’s all he’s got this game though and Tomic confirms his break of serve.
First set: Tomic 3-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): That’s nice from Tomic, who brings up two break points with some neat work at the net. A Kyrgios ace saves the first one but he’s long, way long, at the baseline on the second and Tomic accepts the advantage for the first time today.
First set: Tomic* 2-1 Kyrgios (*denotes server): The first signs of a Tomic wobble are instantly eased as he aces on break point and we’re still on serve in the first set. Wonder how Tomic is finding the balls today? No visual sign of discontent so far.
First set: Tomic 1-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes server): Smiles from Kyrgios as he claims the first point following a booming first serve and then a deft touch at the net. Actually, replays show he reached over the net to get the ball, which possibly explains his grin – he shouldn’t have been awarded that point! He goes on to hold and level things up.
First set: Tomic* 1-0 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Tomic looks comfortable in his opening service game, winning it to love as Kyrgios make a couple of unforced errors.
First set: Tomic* 0-0 Kyrgios (*denotes server): Kyrgios looks relaxed in the warmup. Tomic to serve first and we’re underway!
Here they come! Kyrgios emerges into the sunshine in a pink shirt and maroon shorts; Tomic follows after taking some selfies in a blue shirt and white shorts. They’re ready for the toss and we’ll be underway shortly.
Once Tomic and Kyrgios are done in Melbourne, and fingers crossed the timings are kind, we’ll turn our attentions to Ashleigh Barty’s clash with world No 1 Simona Halep at the Sydney International. It’s a mouthwatering encounter that will give a real indication of Barty’s chances at next week’s Open. Start time there is scheduled for 2:30pm AEDT, so with a little bit of luck it won’t overlap too much with the match at Kooyong.
Tomic wasn’t holding back with his views following his opening win over American Jack Sock yesterday – he also made clear his displeasure at the new balls being used in these Australian Open warmup events, and for the grand slam tournament itself. The switch from Wilson to Dunlop is likely to prompt further debate as Monday’s opening nears.
Preamble
Incredibly, for two players who seem to have been on the scene forever, Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios have never played a competitive match against each other. That duck will be broken today, in the refined surrounds of the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, as preparations are fine tuned ahead of next week’s season-opening major, the Australian Open.
Inevitably, given their respective profiles, shared history and, um, interesting characters, there has been a degree of hype surrounding the buildup to this match. Tomic, intentionally or not, added some fuel to the fire (even though it may have been mere lighter fluid rather than a can of petrol) when saying yesterday that Kyrgios is “mentally struggling” at the moment.
Yet both players have maintained their off-court clashes of the past – notably nearly three years ago when Tomic accused Kyrgios of faking an illness to get out of playing a Davis Cup match – are behind them, and considering the relaxed nature of this tournament, it’s unlikely sparks will fly when the pair finally do face off across the net.
What we might get is an indication of where each player is at just days out from the Open. At least that’s the hope – Tomic also expressed a concern that Kyrgios might not take the match entirely seriously and as such his ability to complete his preparations for Melbourne Park will be affected. You could argue that’s a bit rich coming from a player with Tomic’s track record...
Anyway, whatever happens over the next hour or two is sure to be of intrigue. Stick with me for the match – the players will be out soon, with Marin Čilić and Kevin Anderson’s preceding match having just ended in the Croat’s favour, 6-3, 4-6, 15-13, following a lengthy match tie-break.
Do get in touch if you feel you need to get something off your chest. Email is mike.hytner@theguardian.com or Twitter is @mike_hytner.
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