Right, that’s probably all you need from me for now. I’m sure there’ll be more reaction and further AO goodness shortly when the Nadal vs De Minaur liveblog fires up.
Until then, thank you for your company, and goodnight!
Former British number one and Eurosport UK tennis expert Annabel Croft has had her say, and I agree with every word.
“It was a huge win for Maria Sharapova and a thoroughly deserved one. She was the better player today, particularly in the latter stages of that final set - she had more firepower, more weaponry. She was braver, those second serves were quite outstanding and she took more risks. The fact she was able to push Wozniacki right behind the baseline on those second serves said it all. Maria went after it and it paid off today.
“This really was a cracker of a match. In many ways, the ball striking between the two of them between Konta and Muguruza was even more mesmerising whereas this had dips and flows. I thought it was interesting to hear Sharapova say she hasn’t had much opportunity to play the top players in the last 2-3 years, but that it was she had trained for and it was rewarding to get that job done on the last point today. Maria had to work hard for that win today but I thought she was the better player.”
Maria Sharapova with a vintage performance to end Caroline Wozniacki’s title defense. Key holds early in the third set and then started unleashing on the ball.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 18, 2019
Plays Ash Barty in the Round of 16. https://t.co/pOPOwOmuan#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/LX7DJh21Hv
That’s a result that has major ramifications for the WTA Rankings. Wozniacki left Melbourne last year as world number one, began this tournament ranked three, but falling so early this time around will see her plummet to no better than ninth when the next standings are published.
Just Maria Sharapova's 3rd win over a Top-5 player since WTA Finals in 2015. Beats Caroline Wozniacki in a high quality encounter. The defending champion is out.....#AusOpen
— Jake Davies (@jakedavi5) January 18, 2019
Sharapova looked up for that victory from the opening serve, and probably would have won more convincingly had she been able to curb her enthusiasm early in a number of rallies curtailed by unnecessary errors. Her power game - especially on her forehand - was awesome, and even Wozniacki’s famed defensive prowess was no match over the two and a half hours.
Maria Sharapova knocks out defending #AusOpen champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 18, 2019
That was Sharapova's best win and most complete performance in a long, long time. She faces Ash Barty next in the fourth round.
Sloane takes it in two tiebreaks!@SloaneStephens beats 31st seed Martic 7-6(6), 7-6(5)!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/S3oLMEt0HO
— WTA (@WTA) January 18, 2019
Andreas Seppi can see the finish line at the @AustralianOpen.
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) January 18, 2019
The 🇮🇹 leads Tiafoe 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 in their R3 clash.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/B272GrlU7z
Phew! That was gripping. Wozniacki becomes the highest seed in either singles draw to leave this Australian Open.
Next up for Sharapova, Australia’s Ash Barty.
Sharapova on court with Brett Philips:
I knew I was going to get a tough match. I haven’t played many matches in the past year so it was really rewarding to win that last point.
Experience is priceless but you still have to work for it because the girl on the other side has just as much.”
Game, set match Sharapova! 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Third set: *Sharapova 5-3, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Wozniacki serving to stay in the championship but Sharapova is now in to gear, hammering ball after ball back at the Dane, some winners, some provoking errors. At 30-40 Sharapova engineers her first match point but Wozniacki holds her nerve in a gutsy 18-shot rally. More brute force from Sharapova at deuce creates a second match point, and this time she sees it home, monstering another poor second serve before pounding away until the dam broke. Awesome hitting, huge result, superb match.
Third set: *Sharapova 5-3, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Vintage Sharapova, consolidating the break with a love hold. Power turned up to 11 from the Russian from the back of the court. One game from upsetting the defending champ.
It’s worth remembering Sharapova’s seeded 30 this AO, Serena 16, Muguruza 18, while Venus and Azarenka were both unseeded. The women’s draw is wild right now.
Third set: Sharapova 4-3, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Bosh! Wozniacki’s early-set vim has evaporated but Sharapova’s relentless hitting hasn’t. Two ferocious returns set up the game at 0-30, then a clean return winner at 15-30 lands two break points. The first is squandered with yet another unforced error searching for a winner wasn’t there before Wozniacki defends the second with some trademark court coverage. A 179kph ace at deuce shifts the momentum Wozniacki’s way but then Sharapova plays arguably her point of the match, drilling line after line, working Wozniacki ragged until the error materialises. From the second deuce Sharapova forces a third break point and this time she takes it! She climbs into a weak second serve, sending Wozniacki wide then pulverising the forehand into the open court. Massive moment in this battle.
Third set: *Sharapova 3-3, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Sharapova has crafted so many beautiful points without finding the winner and the opening point of this game is a case in point, pulling Wozniacki one way then the other but drilling the knockout blow into the net with the open court at her mercy. She earns the next two points with more controlled aggression but a double fault and another unnecessarily long forehand sends the game to deuce. Wozniacki cannot capitalise though, and this deciding set remains on serve.
Third set: Sharapova 2-3, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Four unforced errors in a row from Sharapova give Wozniacki some breathing space as the match ticks over into two-hours duration. The unforced error count now 40-19 in Wozniacki’s favour.
Third set: *Sharapova 2-2, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Sharapova matches Wozniacki’s confident hold with one of her own. Perhaps also a dip in intensity from Wozniacki following her aggressive start to the set.
Grigor Dimitrov is now two sets up over Thomas Fabbiano and on his way to the fourth round you’d think. Seeded 20 the hardcourt specialist is a dangerous sleeper.
Third set: Sharapova 1-2, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Another confident hold for Wozniacki who maintains her attacking intent in this final set.
Third set: *Sharapova 1-1, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Wozniacki must have given herself a talking-to between sets because she has come out firing in this decider. From nowhere she is setting the tempo in attack and hustling down every ball in defence. Sharapova has to battle hard to 30-30 despite landing four first serves before Wozniacki lets her off the hook with a couple of cheap points to concede the game and induce a huge roar from her opponent. This one is coming to the boil nicely.
Third set: Sharapova 0-1, 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Woah! The most assertive and clinical game of the match from Wozniacki. For the first time today she looked the aggressor, serving powerfully, looking to open the court and strike winners on every point, cruising to a confidence-boosting hold. What has Sharapova got in response?
Slight delay to the third set while Sharapova takes a comfort break.
Elsewhere, Sloane Stephens and Grigor Dimitrov are both up a set in their third round matches.
.@FTiafoe takes the second set 6-3 over Seppi and it's now one set each!
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) January 18, 2019
Who will grab the momentum here? #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/l8WfqI6ZDI
Here we go then, a one set shootout for the right to take on Ash Barty in round four.
Wozniacki levels, taking the second set 6-4
Second set: *Sharapova 4-6, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Serving to stay in the set Sharapova slips to 15-30 but a superb serve wide to Wozniacki’s backhand levels the score. A double fault then hands Wozniacki a set point that the Dane accepts simply by keeping the ballin play and waiting for Sharapova to make a mistake, which she does, overhitting for the umpteenth time trying to hurry-up a straightforward rally. Huge moment in this contest and a let-off for the third seed.
THIS is a close one.
— WTA (@WTA) January 18, 2019
Fifth seed @SloaneStephens takes the first set from Martic on a tiebreak, 7-6(6)!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Zo3dzOIJXd
Second set: Sharapova 4-5, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) It’s not just by using too much power that Sharapova is keeping Wozniacki alive. At 0-15 she wastes a golden opportunity with an unnecessary drop shot into the net after setting up the point beautifully from the baseline. At 30-30 Sharapova commits another unforced error allowing Wozniacki to serve out for a vital hold.
A reminder this is round three! The quality and intensity of this contest is worthy of a much grander stage.
Second set: *Sharapova 4-4, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Sharapova’s unforced errors are really keeping Wozniacki in this match. Time after time she throws away promising situations with loose swings of the racquet with little need to shorten the points. Such sloppiness leads to 30-30 in a service game she appears to be dominating, at which point Wozniacki unloads from the baseline to hammer a backhand down to the line to force a break point. Under pressure, Sharapova ups the ante, pulling out the fastest serve of the match (183kph) to steer her back to safety.
Second set: Sharapova 3-4, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Two sets in a row now that Wozniacki has seen an early break erased and Sharapova once again puts her serve under pressure, firing deep and flat returns to take it to 30-30. Sharapova then hands Wozniacki the game with two loose low-percentage hits where safer options were on offer. 25 winners, 26 unforced errors for Sharapova tells the story of this match so far.
Second set: *Sharapova 3-3, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Sharapova backs up that break with a hold. Again her monster forehand is to the fore but she turns 15-0 to 30-0 with a deft backhand crosscourt that finds the tightest of angles then drills a stinger of a backhand down the line to seal the game. Momentum once again all with the Russian.
Forehands winners (so far)...
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2019
Sharapova: 16
Wozniacki: 1#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/0aX90v7J5F
Second set: Sharapova 2-3, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Sharapova is not leaving anything in the locker room, smashing anything in her arc with brute force. Inevitably there are winners and errors, a pair of each setting up 30-30 without Wozniacki contributing greatly to the game. The Dane eventually features but it’s to overhit a crosscourt forehand to concede a break point. Sharapova then monsters a second serve return to set up an easy point. You get the sense that if Sharapova can channel her power game this match is hers for the taking.
Second set: *Sharapova 1-3, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) After that previous service game wobble Sharapova steadies the ship with a rapid hold to love.
Second set: Sharapova 0-3, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Wozniacki’s service games remain at the extremes. Her second serves are meat and drink to Sharapova’s range and power but the first serves, when they land, are now commonly leading to rallies ending in the Dane’s favour. Her ability to read Sharapova’s power and repel it until the error materialises is becoming a feature. Despite Sharapova playing the aggressor it isn’t always well-placed aggression as 22-11 unforced errors would attest.
Second set: *Sharapova 0-2, 6-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Three double faults from Sharapova set up two break points, but Wozniacki only needs one, defending superbly from the back of the court and provoking the backhand error. What a weird and potentially confidence-destroying service game that was from Sharapova.
Second set: Sharapova 0-1, 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) The roof has closed between sets, which the commentators on TV suggest should favour Wozniacki. The early signs aren’t conclusive with Sharapova continuing to attack the Dane’s serve, especially the second serve. That second serve win percentage still lingers at 33% which is unsustainable against an opponent like Sharapova, but the Russian pushes too hard too often, handing the third seed three gifts to set up a much needed service hold.
Sharapova takes the first set 6-4
First set: *Sharapova 6-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Five games in a row for the Russian superstar and she bolts to the opening set. At 40-0 this was becoming the most powerful service game of the afternoon for Sharapova but a couple of sloppy errors made things interesting at 40-30 at which point the afterburners returned and those massive forehands blitzed Wozniacki from the baseline. The defending champion looks shellshocked after watching her 1-4 lead disintegrate.
First set: Sharapova 5-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) This is looking a little dicey for Wozniacki now. Her first serve of the game is just 150kph and allows Sharapova to dictate the point. The second point is at the 30th seed’s mercy as well but an unforced error brings the Dane level, but a couple of weak second serves later and Sharapova has two break points - the second of which she converts! Four games in a row for the 2008 champion. Wozniacki has some thinking to do.
Caroline Wozniacki hit a second serve at 118 km/h (73 mph).
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 18, 2019
Maria Sharapova returned it for a winner at 132 km/h (82 mph).
From 1-4 down, Sharapova now leads 5-4. #AusOpen
Updated
First set: *Sharapova 4-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Both players are now moving beautifully and striking the ball crisply, leading to some well-crafted points. The opening point of the game is one of the rallies of the tournament, both players covering 80m during the point and both at times looking the aggressor before a blistering Sharapova backhand eventually forces an error. The confidence gained from that point allows her to dictate the remainder of the game from the back of the court, landing blow after blow with that massive forehand, each swing of the racquet met with a noise noticeably higher in pitch than previous games. This is coming to the boil nicely.
First set: Sharapova 3-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Wozniacki’s second serve is becoming a problem. At 15-15 she lobs over a gimme that Sharapova climbs into to set up a nervy game, but then hands a point back by - not for the first time today - taking on the line drive too soon in the rally. But it matters little because the second serve really bites Wozniacki hard, conceding a double fault to return this opening set to serve.
First set: *Sharapova 2-4 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Confidence boosting hold to love for Sharapova, finished off with her ninth winner, yet another powerful forehand after setting up the point beautifully.
First set: Sharapova 1-4 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) That was the first time this AO Sharapova has been broken and Wozniacki rams home the advantage with an ace and three unreturnable first serves. The Dane is 74% on points won on her first serve compared to just 33% on her second.
First set: *Sharapova 1-3 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Seven winners to one in favour of Sharapova tells a bit of the story of the opening games, the 30th seed really trying to assert herself on this contest. Wozniacki has responded by adding a touch more guile to her play, trying to disrupt Sharapova’s rhythm. This works at 30-15, which quickly becomes break point at 30-40 with a double-fault. A big serve sets up an easy save but she faces another break point soon afterwards after failing to put away a winner after structuring a superb rally. That comes back to bite her with an overhit forehand to gift Wozniacki an early break. Bonus for the third seed.
.@NastiaPav is quickly through to the fourth round!
— WTA (@WTA) January 18, 2019
She defeats Sasnovich, 6-0, 6-3#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/5v4zHYIR8O
First set: Sharapova 1-2 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Better from Wozniacki, dictating terms with her serve to earn a host of cheap points and ease her way into the contest. Once Sharapova engineers a rally she looks the more likely of the pair, but she can only do that twice in this game.
It’s Nike v Adidas this afternoon (I don’t know why, but I always enjoy apparel rivalries). Wozniacki in an ombre number that I like a lot, and once that features recycled plastic bottles in the material, in partnership with Parley for the Oceans. Sharapova is in one of Nike’s better offerings this AO, which, to be frank, are largely dross - those crop tops especially.
First set: *Sharapova 1-1 Wozniacki (*denotes server) Quickfire hold to love for Sharapova who looks bang on the money early on, snapping through her service motion and hitting punishing forehands from the baseline with plenty of depth and power.
Updated
First set: Sharapova 0-1 Wozniacki* (*denotes server) Not the most convincing hold for Wozniacki in an opening service game featuring five deuces and three break points but she dusted away some early cobwebs eventually. A double-fault and some pretty weak second serves allowed Sharapova to set the tempo from the baseline, and her powerful forehand forced Wozniacki onto the back foot. The Russian went for a couple of shots too many though to allow Wozniacki chance to recover and then nail a couple of first serves when they were most needed.
Updated
Here we go, Wozniacki about to serve...
Meanwhile, a not insignificant upset...
Stunning performance from 17yo American Amanda Anisimova to knock out No.11 Aryna Sabalenka 63 62 and advance to her 1st R16 at a Slam. In her 1st trip ever to Oz.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 18, 2019
She faces either Kvitova or Bencic. #AusOpen
Sharapova leads the H2H 6-4 overall, Wozniacki leads 4-3 on hardcourts, but they haven’t faced each other since 2015.
The players are out on Rod Laver Arena. Sharapova has won the toss and elected to receive serve.
There’s no love lost between this pair, it should be noted. Wozniacki, a close friend of Sharapova’s long-time rival Serena Williams, criticised US Open schedulers in 2017 for prioritising the Russian despite returning from a doping suspension.
“And when you look on Centre Court – I understand completely the business side of things – but someone who comes back from a drugs sentence, performance-enhancing drugs, and all of a sudden gets to play every single match on Centre Court, I think that’s a questionable thing to do,” Wozniacki said at the time.
Here’s some more background on Wozniacki’s rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis that she revealed late last year.
The Bernard Tomic vs Lleyton Hewitt brouhaha is the story that just keeps on giving. Tomic has today responded to Hewitt’s comments from last night in response to Tomic’s comments from the other day.
“I have never threatened his family,” Tomic told News Corp Australia. “Nice, Lleyton. To think how low of a person you actually [are] and [it’s] why the Australian public never liked you. I got nothing to do with your family and I don’t care what’s wrong with you, you liar.”
I should point out that until recently action has been limited to the three stadium courts with roofs owing to some inclement weather in Victoria. Action is underway on the outside courts now, but there may be some scheduling tetris for tournament organisers later in the day to fit all the matches in - especially the early doubles contests.
In some live action away from RLA it isn’t good news for Belarus.
11th seed Aryna Sabalenka is a set down to American teenager Amanda Anisimova.
While Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who just missed out on a seeding, is a set down to experience Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Elsewhere around Melbourne Park today there have been wins for a resurgent Tomas Berdych, the legendary Roger Federer and the rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas. When the latter pair meet in their round four contest there will be a lovely baton-passing aspect to it.
Sharapova is in the house.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2019
She's next on RLA vs. defending #AOChampion Wozniacki. 🍿🍿🍿#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/LnQmzVALf5
Of course, you can join in the conversation about this match or anything AO related by contacting me on Twitter @JPHowcroft or by email jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
The winner of this match plays the in-form Ash Barty in the last 16 after the Queenslander continued her impressive form with a straight sets victory over Maria Sakkari earlier today.
Barty thundered down 13 aces and dropped serve just once, but looked ginger at times with her movement, no doubt the result of a gruelling workload of eight matches in the past 12 days. The 22-year-old broke Sakkari in the 12th game to snatch a tight first set before running away with the second set and the match, prevailing after one hour and 22 minutes under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena.
Updated
Preamble
Two former world No 1s, two Australian Open champions, round three of a major championship? Yes please!
Such is the depth of women’s tennis at the moment that a blockbuster is lurking in every segment of every draw but this is the biggest match-up of AO 2019 so far, 2008 winner Maria Sharapova taking on defending champion Caroline Wozniacki for a place in the last 16 of the year’s first grand slam.
Wozniacki will start as favourite. The world number three has won at least one title each season since 2008 and finally broke her grand slam duck in Melbourne a year ago.
But there are doubts. Wozniacki revealed late last season she now has to manage the remainder of her career with rheumatoid arthritis and she arrived in Australia after a disappointing warm-up tournament in Auckland.
Despite her ubiquity off court Sharapova is something of an unknown quantity on it. The Russian is seeded 30, a reflection of her inability to return to the top echelon of the game following her suspension for doping at the AO back in 2016. Now 31, Sharapova has battled injuries in recent months, retiring from her Grand Slam warm-up event in Shenzhen at the quarter-final stage. While she remains a sporting megastar, since 2015 Sharapova has won just one tour title and failed to pass the quarters in a slam.
Everything is on schedule at Rod Laver Arena and set for a 3.30pm start.
Updated
