Summary
We’ll leave it there therefore for Sportwatch - thanks as always for your company.
A great result in the W-League for Adelaide, who booked their first win of the season against the high-flying Wanderers, which was perhaps the chief upset of the day.
In the Big Bash the Stars had a worrying capitulation under the forensic Heat of Brisbane, for whom AB de Villiers finally put on the masterclass we all know he’s capable of producing. Steve Smith edged the battle of the Runout-Gate protagonists once again, with his 66* seeing home the Sixers, despite Aaron Finch’s 109 off 68 seven-six innings for the Renegades.
Just one goal in 180 minutes of A-League action, but in the context of the season, how crucial could Corey Brown’s deflected effort prove for the Roar and the Mariners’ respective seasons? It’s the former who pinch the points in Gosford, while Melbourne City and Perth’s draw does nobody any favours except for runaway ladder leaders Sydney in the battle of second v third.
And that’s Sportwatch! Until tomorrow. Hug your children.
So that’s the end of the A-League, W-League, Big Bash and sundry. It’s very delicately poised over at the Australian Open where Karen Khachanov is battling deep in the forth to stay alive against Nick Kyrgios. Don’t miss a second of that one - here, on our dedicated Australian Open liveblog:
A huge 10-15 minutes coming up in the career of one Nick Kyrgios, you’d imagine - with a potential date with Rafael Nadal awaiting the winner of this match.
Big Bash: Heat win by 71 runs
It’s pretty hard to lose interest in a T20 match, but watching the insipid fashion in which the Stars closed that one out you have to say it was a relief for everyone when that final wicket fell. All out for 115 off 17.4 overs - failing 71 short - or one AB de Villiers short - that was the exact score the South African struck as he returned to form in blistering fashion.
The Heat grab a crucial two points - the two they left on the field last weekend against the Renegades - and it all sets up a fascinating last few games, starting with tomorrow’s double header as to who books the final knockout places from here.
Updated
Big Bash - 9/105 (16), Hinchcliffe 6*, Hussain 5*
They’re dribbling it in at this stage, overs of four or five, a few dots, nothing hitting or clearing the rope. Does net run rate come into the finals equation at this stage?
If you’re watching Shane K Warne run the various permutations of who wins and who needs to win from here, frankly, it’s like watching a tap-dancing bear. A good leg spin bowler, our Warnie. Let’s leave it at that.
Big Bash - 8/95 (14), Hinchcliffe 2*, Lamichhane 1*
Ach, this is finishing with a whimper. Hardly the form of a table-topping side; definitely not what you want to carry into the finals knockouts. Credit the bowling, with Rahman getting a few wickets, but they’ve really lost it between the ears, the Stars.
And here’s the match report from that earlier Big Bash clash between the Sixers and the Renegades, and in a touch of poetry it was those two Steve Smith and Aaron Finch going up against each other:
Big Bash - 6/85 (12), Larkin 16*, Hinchliffe 1*
103 off 48 runs is the equation. It’s the type of close to the innings needed that the Heat managed; but the difference was Brisbane had AB de Villiers and Marnus Labuschagne, and the Stars have, well, Larkin and Hinchliffe. You can never call it in Big Bash - but hey, watch this: I’m calling it. Heat home at a canter.
Updated
Australian Open: Khachanov wins third set in a tie-break!
Nick Kyrgios passes up a first match point with a weak return in the tram tracks, before Khachanov was exceptionally fortunate framing an overhead smash that lands in! He gets the mini-break on the serve of Kyrgios, and it’s the Russian who pumps the first - he’s back in this one: 6-2, 7-6, 6-7!
Shades of Kyrgios v Simon: we’re going to a fourth set.
Big Bash - Stars 4/71 (9), Larkin 11*, Maddinson 1*
Oh my. It’s another big double-wicket over for the Heat. Sure, that’s Big Bash, you say. But when you see it’s the names Maxwell and Handscomb back in the pavilion you have to say: ouch. A two-ball innings from the skipper who was deceived by Mitchell Swepson for one; before the man most likely to hold the innings, Handscomb, went via the runout for 27 off 18.
Big blow this - and surely it’s Heat’s game to lose from here.
(Which given last week’s 10-wicket collapse against the Renegades, you have to say you can’t necessarily rule out).
A-League: Melbourne City 0-0 Perth Glory
It finishes a point a piece, in a result that favours neither side, but gives premiership runaways Sydney FC even more breathing room ahead of the league’s second and third placed teams.
A sixth clean sheet in seven games for the Glory who already bring to a halt a six-game winning streak. They’re now the form team in the competition, and the only side likely to stop Sydney FC, despite sitting 12 points behind the Sky Blues.
The draw a fair result on balance of play. Nobody quite did enough to win it, but nor did either side deserve to lose it.
A Daniel Elder penalty correctly overturned by VAR the only big talking point.
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W-League: Adelaide United 3-2 Western Sydney
They were cruising for almost the full regulation 90, but the Wanderers made for some very nervous last few minutes. Sam Staab with an 88th minute consolation goal; but a few minutes into added-time Amy Harrison’s corner really put the cat amongst the pigeons. A scramble in the box with the ball ricocheting everywhere - the official verdict being own goal to Lais dos Santos Araujo. But, the Reds held on.
A first win of the W-League season, but what a hammer blow to Wanderers’ premiership hopes. A great win for Ivan Karlovic’s players - can the Reds build from this confidence?
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So, let’s try and stay with the A-League a little as we enter the final 10 of this one.
80 min: A second sub of the game for Tony Popovic as Dane Ingham comes on for Joel Chianese; Franjic for Meredith was his first change.
Harrison Delbridge with an opportunity from the corner - but the big City defender throws his head back in frustration as his headed effort fails to force a save.
Big Bash - Stars 2/36 (5), Larkin 2*, Handscomb 3*
It’s a big third over from the top-line quick, Pattinson who dismisses both Stoinis and Gotch; how crucial could that prove? Still some batting to come mind - Handscomb, Maddinson, Maxwell etc.
This could slow the runrate though, and then suddenly the scoreboard pressure of that late innings uptick from de Villiers will really start to tell.
It’s still 3-0 in the W-League with about 20 minutes left to run. What a result this could prove for Adelaide, and one which will presumably hand the premiers plate to Melbourne City for another season. A big slip up from Wanderers.
There’s about 20 to run in the A-League where we’re still 0-0 between City and Perth, but not through want of trying. Adrian Luna with an opportunity from the set piece, before Castro gets an effort on target, but it’s well-held from Dean Bouzanis in the City goal.
Big Bash - Stars 0/28 (2), Stoinis 16*, Gotch 4*
Two fours and a six off Matt Renshaw’s opening over - they went to spin early the Heat but Marcus Stoinis gave it short shrift.
A better over follows from James Pattinson who gets a few dots, but Seb Gotch does get one away to the boundary, just six off it.
A-League - 55 min:
Hello! We’ve got a whistle for a penalty, as Fornaroli goes down courtesy a pretty agricultural swipe from Brillante!
BUT, we’re going upstairs. VAR wants a big, hard, long look at this one. Was Bruno in an offside position? Was there a handball in the lead up? What is love? Baby don’t hurt me.
No penalty. Another interminable wait, but at least VAR has come up with what appears the correct decision on this occasion. It remains 0-0.
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And here’s the story on Ash Barty’s Young Australian of the Year award:
Big Bash - End of Innings, Heat 5/186 (20), de Villiers 71, Labuschagne 24*
Wowee. What an end to that. De Villiers has absolutely gone BANG at the close there. Poor old Dilbar Hussain has gone for about 22 off that last over - sent over the rope three times. They put on something like 70 off 30 balls at the end, de Villiers and Labuschagne - and what looked like a chaseable total has suddenly turned quite imposing. Is that the knock that puts Heat into the finals?
For the neutral you’d have to say, you’d hope so. Who wants a Big Bash finals without AB de Villiers and Chris Lynn.
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A-League: Melbourne City 0-0 Perth Glory - Half-time
So we’re all square still in Melbourne, with chances at a premium. Jamie Maclaren with an early chance spurned, but the five-man backline of Perth Glory has largely blunted the attack threat of one of the league’s most entertaining sides.
Jack Hendry, on debut for City in defence, has also made himself an imposing presence - but it’s not just tackles and headers, he’s looked composed on the ball too when needed.
Big forty-five to come. A draw will only really be celebrated by Sydney FC who would extend their lead to 10+ points at the top of the table. Perth will stay patient, but you imagine City will look to push on as this one unfolds. Stay tuned.
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News just coming in from the Australia Day awards as well. Your Young Australian of the Year for 2020 is ... *drumroll* Ash Barty.
Start the party - what a worthy winner; and what an incredible year for such a humble, hard-working legend.
Congratulations to our 2020 Young Australian of the Year, Ash Barty. #ausoftheyear @woolworths pic.twitter.com/gV9MYLsck0
— AusoftheYearAwards (@ausoftheyear) January 25, 2020
Gee, there’s some sport flying round today. A quick round-the-grounds.
A hell of a result coming through from the W-League. We’re at half-time in Adelaide and its the Lady Reds 3-0 to the good. Which is the team bottom, and which is the team fighting for the title? The Wanderers very much second best despite their lion’s share of possession. Not a single shot on target fashioned, and goals to Chelsea Dawber and a brace to Mallory Weber to send the home faithful into raptures. Please, please, please let them hang on. Alternatively, a 4-3 thriller could be exciting viewing.
Big Bash - 3/93 (13), Renshaw 7*, de Villiers 10*
And with the wicket on Lynn, you’d have to say this one’s swinging the way of the Stars. The big hitting Lynn goes for 34 off 31 - again, not really his usual strike rate.
Still so much experience if they can stem the fall of wickets and fly from here, the Heat. Key few overs and then a big explosion at the end and they can keep the pressure on the Stars. 140-150 could be the total; 160 if they’re really lucky.
The word from the sideline is that it’s tough batting conditions out there, so no 200+ wicket this.
Big news elsewhere from the city on the Yarra, where the women’s singles draw has really opened up with the shock exit of second seed and World No 2, Karolina Pliskova:
So, plenty of live sporting action kicking round, so I’m going to manfully step back from Kyrgios watch and redirect you to our man Tumaini Carayol for that:
There’s also live Test cricket action as England and South Africa go nose-to-nose. Just don’t anyone call Ben Stokes Ed Sheeran or there will be (more) trouble:
And for those of you who love your sport mixed with a hint of thuggery - a kick down memory lane, as Rob Smyth commemorates 25 years since Eric Cantona’s infamous Selhurst Park kung-fu kick out at a fan.
Would you believe I remember watching this live as a child. Massive Eric fan. You’d have to say, violence aside, it really did only ever add to his remarkable aura.
A-League - 10 min: We’re ten minutes gone from Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, where it’s the home side that have started with a bit more attacking purpose. A few decent efforts on goal fashioned, but nothing to have overly exerted the ever-green Liam Reddy in the Perth goals.
Both January new signings, the Spaniard Markel Susaeta and the Scot Jack Hendry have started for City. Be interesting to see how they fare today.
Australian Open - Kyrgios takes first set, 6-2!
Injury, what injury? He moves a lot more freely after the remedial massage, and comes out and breaks Khachanov for a second time. A nice bonus that, meaning he’ll start the second set on his serve. He’s prowling with a bit more swagger - lets see if Nick can put together a good 20-30 next minutes and take control of this match.
Big Bash - - 2/59 (8), Lynn 16*, De Villiers 1*
Cutting goes, he’s holed out in the deep, Nick Maddison takes the catch, and it’s Zampa who grabs a second wicket. 22 off 22. It’s not nothing, but in this modern game you focus more on the deliveries absorbed than the runs scored - especially knowing the batting depth the Heat have behind them.
De Villiers sees out the Zampa over with a clever shot for one. What can these two build.
Australian Open - Kyrgios takes medical timeout
He’s leading 5-2 but its the home hero who’s grimacing as he receives some massage to the problematic buttocks region.
Karen Khachanov looks a little miffed, but he takes the opportunity to gather his thoughts and reflect on his slow start, by his standards. Now he’s up pacing deep in the back court, shuffling back and forth, idly bouncing a ball, awaiting his chance to serve again.
We’re also underway in the W-League, where it’s the bottom-placed Adelaide United playing host to the high-flying Western Sydney. 0-0 after six minutes, we’ll try and stay across any goals from that one as well.
Australian Open - Kyrgios grabs first break! 4-2
There it is! A fair ripple of applause around Melbourne Arena, and a fist pump for the Australian. He’s managed a few double faults, but otherwise the serve is going okay and he pounces all over Khachanov’s shorter serve to fire a return winner.
Some concern in his coaching box though, he’s grabbed a few times at his left buttocks - and it’s not some kind of literal cheekiness - it could be a possible muscle strain. Kyrgios fans do not want to see this.
Updated
Big Bash - Heat 1/39 (4), Cutting 18*, Lynn 2*
It was a fast start from Heazlett, as we’ve come to expect, but it’s the spinner Adam Zampa who picks him up second over - clean bowled for 18.
As mentioned, plenty of batting to come though, so this one still balanced nicely.
To the tennis. We’re on serve 2-2 between Kyrgios and Khachanov, while in the women’s draw the clash between Gabbie Muguruza and Elina Svitolina has just started. On the Margaret Court Arena its Fernando Verdasco v Alexander Zverev; both those are just in their opening service games. Wawrinka has powered to a 6-4, 4-1 lead against Isner on court 3, so looking comfortable so far for the 2014 winner.
There is of course a later fixture in the A-League as Melbourne City plays host to Perth Glory. 2nd v 3rd - it’s a really tantalising clash, and a real contrast of styles: the attacking verve of the Frenchman Erik Mombaerts vs the defensive structure of Tony Popovic’s Glory (with a fair sprinkling of Spanish-speaking flair up front with Diego Castro and Bruno Fornaroli).
A big win for Glory could see them leapfrog City and become the only side likely to run down Sydney FC. But they’ll be thinking of getting a mental edge with finals around the corner.
And we’re just underway in the late Big Bash clash, where the Heat have won the toss and elected to bat. Heazlett and Cutting opening for them, with Chris Lynn down to third. Then AB de Villiers, Renshaw and Labuschagne for batting, if you don’t mind. Crunch game for the Heat - they need to secure the two competition points, but as we know - few tougher sides than Melbourne Stars this year. Great match up.
Okay, our Nick (if you didn’t get the memo, we’ve universally reclaimed him in Australia after his recent ATP Cup and Bushfire appeal efforts) is on court at the Australian Open, warming up. The nearly 2m tall Russian, Karen Khachanov, is the opponent.
He’s done it the hard way so far in Australia, fighting through nine sets in contrast to Kyrgios 2x straight set wins (with a mandatory one-set meltdown against Simon) thus far. He is ranked 16th in the world, so no easy beat. It’s the classic banana skin fixture for Kyrgios. There’s so much expectation riding on a Kyrgios-Nadal fourth round showdown, that many people will just be hoping this match away. Kachanov will however have other plans.
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A-League: Central Coast 0-1 Brisbane Roar
And would you believe it - a team that many had ranked a strugglers earlier in the season has now grabbed its third win in a five-game unbeaten streak. Wellington coach Ufuk Talay said “God was on their side” last week when the Roar ended the Phoenix’s own unbeaten run - but has Robbie Fowler found the magic formula up in Brisbane?
They leap into the six, God’s gallopers. Can they push on and really make a late season tilt at taking some big scalps come finals time?
A-League - Goal! Central Coast 0-1 Brisbane (Brown)
87 min: Ach, would you believe it. It’s like NostraParkus predicted (see last post) - they’ve been full huff and all puff, the Mariners - and right at the death, they’ve copped what could be the winner in an absolute sucker punch - a deflected goal from a hopeful cross! When your luck is out, your luck is out.
Corey Brown - a man reborn since his return this month from an unhappy spell at Melbourne Victory - is the goalscorer for the Roar. His cross, flicking the heels of the unwitting Lewis Miller, wrong-foots the otherwise excellent Mark Birighitti in the Mariners goal, and trickles in. Mariners coach Alen Stajcic is steaming out the ears. What a kick in the teeth.
Big Bash - Sydney Sixers win by seven wickets
And as Steve Smith accelerated it was in the end quite comfortable for the men in pink, with the Sixers running down that big total with eight balls to spare.
5-175 off 20 from the Renegades, you thought that would be a tough total, but on a decent batting track Josh Philippe and Steve Smith make quick work of it - 61 off 42 and 66* off 40 their scores, with Daniel Hughes finishing with a useful 19* off 14 up the other end. Spare a thought for Smith’s national team runout buddy - Finch hit 109 of 68 to start the Renegades’ innings - but just like against India, his old pal Smith had him caught short in the end.
They finish the season bottom of the table, by some distance, the Renegades, while the Sixers move temporarily to second spot.
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Now at the Australian Open we’re not too far away from Nick Kyrgios o’clock (unless I’ve got my times horribly mixed) in his third round clash with Russia’s Karen Khachanov. On court three it’s Stan Wawrinka (why am I suddenly thinking about Kokkinakis, having segued from NK to our Stan) in action with big serving American John Isner. We’re on serve 2-2 in the first set, but a decent little game underway, with the Swiss sniffing around an early break.
Updated
Big Bash - Sixers 3/153 (17), Smith 54*, Hughes 9*
23 needed of 18 is the equation, as Steve Smith ferrets about the crease in imposing fashion - ever nervous, ever fiddly, ever ruthless.
If you missed it by the way, there was a terrific piece from our colleague Jonathan Howcroft on the Smith-Finch runout calamity. No doubt Smith has exorcised that here though, he looks, ominously for Renegades fans, “in a mood”.
A thumping six first delivery from Richardson, and they finish with 15 off the over. 8 needed off 12, they’ll end up doing it easily, the Sixers.
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A-League - 69 min: Central Coast 0-0 Brisbane Roar
We’re still locked up in Gosford, but not for a want of trying. It’s been the home side on top this second stanza, laying siege to the visitors’ goal, but they’ve only come as close as the post. A frenetic sequence involving Murray, the Serbian Milan Duric and Tommy Oar finishes with a whacking of Jamie Young’s upright, to the squeals of the home fans.
No luck for their skipper, Oar, against his old side - he still continues to hunt his first goal in Mariners yellow.
And as we speak, its another spectacular save by Young, who tips Murray’s effort over the crossbar.
It’s one of these where having gone so close on so many occasions but not found the knockout punch, you wouldn’t be surprised if Roar went up the other end and pinched one.
But first - a quick spin round the grounds to see what’s live. We’ve A-League, Big Bash and ongoing tennis. No doubt some Bball, and there’s W-League action on the horizon too.
Hi all! Greetings to thee and thine. Thanks Scott, comprehensive as always. I hope I can keep it at the lofty standards you’ve set; if not a contender in that category than definitely top three.
What sporting stuff are you into today? Shoot us an email or tweet to join the chat. I’m keen to hear about some hockey, equestrian; whatever else floats your boat.
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And that’s where my involvement in this undoubtedly award-winning Sportwatch blog comes to an end. It’ll win an award - likely in the ‘Best Sportwatch on Saturday, January 25’ category - because the man I’m handing over to, Richard Parkin, knows his onions. All yours, Parko!
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A-League: HT: Central Coast 0-0 Brisbane Brilliant keeping from Birighitti, a disallowed goal for the Roar through an offside ruling, no goals and plenty of perspiration, but not a lot of inspiration, sums up this first half.
#CCMvBRI pic.twitter.com/kVLhCWT3eQ
— The Football Sack (@TheFootballSack) January 25, 2020
BBL: Sydney Sixers 71-1 (8 overs) v Melbourne Renegades 175-5 First, the bad news for the Sixers: Vince was run out for 22. Now the good news: Steve Smith is now in, and he and Josh Philippe (39 from 27) are setting the foundation for a good old-fashioned crack at this victory target.
When I say Vince was run out, he was run out like this. Unlucky.
Could James Vince BE any more unlucky?? 😱#BBL09 pic.twitter.com/fJDssdx2FA
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 25, 2020
Australian Open: Around the courts ...
- Women’s 16th seed Elise Mertens has a fight on her hands at Melbourne Arena against Catherine Bellis, ranked No 600 in the world. Mertens blitzed the first set 6-1 but Bellis found something to take the second in a tie-break.
- Another seed has fallen in the women’s singles, with Iga Swiatek beating 19th seed Donna Vekic, 7-5 6-3.
- In the women’s doubles, Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos knocked off Ashleigh Barty and Julia Goerges, 7-5 6-4.
- And, as you know, Rafa did as Rafa does.
A warm but successful day at the office comes to an end 😅@RafaelNadal | #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/GMn3f4PaWf
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2020
A-League: 30 mins: Central Coast 0-0 Brisbane Inman is released by McDonald. He shimmies and shakes, drops a defender on his backside and is one-on-one with the keeper. He pulls the trigger but is denied by Birighitti, the Mariners shot stopper with the best reflexes in the game. Wonderful save.
Come on you brisbane boys! #CCMvBRI #RoarAsOne while listening to Triple J #Hottest100 pic.twitter.com/xrZjq2uNQr
— Kieran Jackson (@kmacker91) January 25, 2020
BBL: Sydney Sixers 17-0 (2 overs) v Melbourne Renegades 175-5 A bright start from the Sixers, who need to score at about 8.5 an over to win ... and they’re scoring at 8.5 an over. I’d say they’re on target. Philippe and Vince would’ve watched Finch do his thing and licked their lips. Let’s see if they can emulate the Australia ODI skipper.
🏏😎 About to start our chase @scg!
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) January 25, 2020
176 the 🎯 #BBL09
Let's do this boys!! pic.twitter.com/jjDw7w6pFY
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Australian Open: Nadal beats Carreno Busta (6-1 6-2 6-4)
A dominant performance from the world No 1. That’s 18 matches in a row he’s won against his fellow Spaniard. I bet Carreno Busta punched the air in delight when he saw Nadal lurking on the same side of the draw. Unlike in the women’s draw, most of the big guns are still standing in the men’s.
You know, not enough is made of how thoroughly decent and humble Nadal appears to be. He’s either a very good actor, or he is in fact thoroughly decent and humble.
We 💓 Rafa#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/tzHZVv4BgK
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2020
A-League: 12 mins: Central Coast 0-0 Brisbane It’s hot in Gosford, humid as all hell. The players look like they’ve been out there for an hour, not a dozen minutes. Brisbane have enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, but no goals yet.
Did I mention it was hot in Gosford?
BBL: Melbourne Renegades 175-5 (20 overs) v Sydney Sixers Finch did get out in the end. On the penultimate ball of the innings, caught in the deep for 109 from 68 balls. He gave the Sixers a chance or two - as if that needs saying when a century is scored in a T20 game - but this was classic Aaron Finch: brutal, confrontational, uncompromising. Curran returned 3-27 for the Sixers, whom you wouldn’t outright dismiss as a winning chance despite the big target they’ll be chasing. Their batting line-up has been bolstered by one Steve Smith, after all.
Well batted good sir 👏#BBL09 pic.twitter.com/xU5Ef2XrPN
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 25, 2020
A-League: Moving right along to football - I told you there was lots on today - and we are barely moments away from the encounter between Central Coast and Brisbane in Gosford. A win here for Robbie’s Roar will make things interesting in terms of the finals.
Today's starting lineup! Josh Nisbet is IN for his second @ALeague start! #CCMFC #BRIvCCM pic.twitter.com/r7PaNSNwiu
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) January 25, 2020
The skipper returns & it's a first #BRFC start for @ScottyMcD83 💪#CCMvBRI #RoarAsOne pic.twitter.com/LEyvYqQort
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) January 25, 2020
BBL: Melbourne Renegades 140-3 (17 overs) v Sydney Sixers Finch is still there, unbeaten on 85 from 57 balls. Besides being run out by Steve Smith, this is simply what the big man does. The Renegades are on for a big score here. Yes, it’s all too late for the reigning champs. But in some ways it’s better late than never. Not many ways, but some.
Aaron Finch this over: 4️⃣6️⃣4️⃣2️⃣2️⃣4️⃣
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 25, 2020
Is the 💯 on here?! #BB09 pic.twitter.com/Ua7hrmfEWG
Australian Open: Anett Kontaveit beat Belinda Bencic (6-0 6-1) Let’s go, Freddie. Loosen those tonsils. Give us another rendition of ‘Another One Bites The Dust’. I know, I know, Freddie’s gone. And so is the women’s sixth seed Bencic, who was blown off Margaret Court Arena by Estonia’s Kontaveit, the 28th seed. At 18, Kontaveit is an elderly stateswoman when compared to Coco Gauff. But might this tournament come to be seen as a changing of the guard in the women’s game? The teens are rising. Watch your back, Ashleigh.
👏👏👏 @iga_swiatek
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2020
The 18 year-old is one of two teenagers left in the women's singles draw at #AO2020, alongside Coco Gauff.
How far can they go this fortnight? #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/X10yelYowD
Australian Open: 2nd set: Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-2 Pablo Carreno Busta Easy as you like for Rafa. Nadal holds to love to serve out for the second set against a man with whom he has plenty in common. Nadal’s freakish tennis ability, however, is not among these things.
Incredible from the world no.1.
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 25, 2020
Watch: @Channel9
Stream: https://t.co/YVc8u4pCVY#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/u0OES1EyaT
I have two young sons. Every now and then, the words ‘totes awks’ will come scuttling out of their mouths. I’ll admit, as a fully paid-up member of the Gen-X club I didn’t have a clue what they were saying at first. But I get it now. On Monday, Tennis Australia will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Margaret Court winning the Grand Slam.
Totes awks.
BBL: Melbourne Renegades 74-2 (10 overs) v Sydney Sixers The Sixers won the toss, inserted the Renegades, and then looked on as Aaron Finch and everyone’s favourite ‘Dutchman’ Tom Cooper hit them to all parts. The Renegades were going at well over 10 an over inside the first four, but the Tom Curran got rid of Cooper for 24 (from 10 balls) and soon followed up with the wicket of Nathan McSweeney. Finch is still out there, unbeaten on 37 from 30 balls, and they might be on for a good score at the SCG.
Aaron Finch is batting without a helmet and smashing them out of the SCG 🏌️♂️#BBL09 pic.twitter.com/hJMzCdjIk5
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 25, 2020
Just in case you’ve been living under a rock, bed-ridden with no access to wi-fi, or just not that interested, here’s what happened in the tennis yesterday.
Australian Open: A whip around the courts ...
- Women’s fourth seed Simona Halep, who must fancy her chances of going very deep given the carnage around her, was a 6-1 6-4 winner over Yulia Putintseva.
- Angelique Kerber, champion here in 2016, was pushed by Italy’s Camila Giorgi before prevailing 6-2 7-6 (4) 6-3.
- Gael Monfils, the men’s 10th seed, is into the second week courtesy of a 7-6 (2) 6-4 6-3 win over Ernests Gulbis.
- On Rod Laver Arena, men’s top seed Rafael Nadal has just taken the first set, 6-1, against countryman Pablo Carreno Busta.
- Men’s fifth seed, Dominic Thiem, is two sets to the good against Taylor Fritz and seemingly racing towards victory.
WHAT A SHOT!
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 25, 2020
A bit of Rafa magic 👌
Watch: @Channel9
Stream: https://t.co/YVc8u4pCVY#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/oNZD1zzWeV
Australian Open: My, the veritable book was turned up, chewed, spat out and buried yesterday. Some big names fell by the wayside: Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, almost Roger Federer.
And already today another one has bit the dust: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the women’s 30th seed, has beaten the No 2 seed, Karolina Pliskova, in straight sets, 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3). Pliskova was previously unbeaten in 2020, having won the season-opening Brisbane International and then two more matches in Melbourne.
Big, big shock. Upsets galore. I can feel the mercury rising from here.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Sportwatch on this very busy Saturday of sport. There’s lots in store, most notably day six of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Friday was a memorable day, full of surprises, and chances are there will be more in store today. [Spoiler alert: there has already been a surprise result today]. But wait, there’s more. With the Big Bash League finals just around the corner, we have two games today - starting with the Sixers hosting the Renegades in Sydney this afternoon, followed by the table-topping Stars against the Heat this evening. In the A-League, Brisbane visit Central Coast later this afternoon before high-flying Melbourne City tackle Perth. And in the W-League, Adelaide United host Western Sydney tonight. So, yeah, we have a full plate of sporting action on which to gorge. Have something to say? Get in touch on email or tweet @scott_heinrich.
