Pinned post from 10.03am on Jan 19, 2022
Go to latestSome of today’s ones to watch
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Australian Open 2022 as it happened: Alexander Zverev defeats John Millman; Naomi Osaka, Ash Barty, Rafael Nadal through to third round
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Signing off
By Damien Ractliffe
That’s all for tonight, no more live tennis to cover this evening.
Just recapping, wins to Gael Monfils, Alex Zverev (over John Millman), Naomi Osaka, Maria Sakkari and Radu Albot (over Aleks Vukic) this evening, among other results.
Thanks to Roy Ward for running the blog during the day, and thanks to you for following throughout the evening session. Good night.
Monfils through to third round
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Comprehensive win by Gael Monfils, 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 over Alexander Bublik.
Monfils “played like a man possessed”, hitting 11 aces to four, 34 winners to 25 and just nine unforced errors to 39.
“It’s very late, so thank you, guys for staying and put on a show like that,” Monfils said post-match.
“It was great. Thank you, guys. I just felt good, you know. Amazing atmosphere, good vibes. Good crowd. Good Gael.
“As I said, I felt great, moving very fast was tough for him to get through me. Serving great. A couple of trick shots. Everything is good, you know. So I’m on.”
Day 4 schedule
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Some of the big matches to look forward to tomorrow on day four of the Australian Open
Sam Stosur v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (10), 11am, Kia Arena
Alex de Minaur (32) v Kamil Majchrzak, not before 2.30pm, Rod Laver Arena
Sebastian Baez v Stefanos Tsitsipas (4), afternoon, Margaret Court Arena
Nick Kyrgios v Daniil Medvedev (2), from 7pm, Rod Laver Arena
Simona Halep (14) v Beatriz Haddad Maia, night, Rod Laver Arena
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ICYMI: Barty reveals the simple trick that elevated her game
By Courtney Walsh
Ashleigh Barty d Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-1
It is the simple trick that has elevated Ash Barty’s serve to another level through the Australian summer. And it is one every kid who has had a tennis lesson will remember.
After handing a 6-1, 6-1 lesson to Lucia Bronzetti at Melbourne Park on Wednesday, the world No.1 was offering coaching advice on how best to master the sport’s most critical skill, the serve.
“I was always serving baskets and baskets of serves to try to create that weapon, to try to create a really sound shot,” she said.
Millman bows out, Zverev on track for breakthrough slam triumph
By Michael Gleeson
3-Alexander Zverev d John Millman 6-4 6-4 6-0
John Millman hit the ball as well as he has for years. Unfortunately he was hitting it over the net to Alexander Zverev.
The local crowd favourite was beaten in straight sets in his second round match, 6-4 6-4 6-0, by the tall big-serving German third seed.
The Olympic champion from the Tokyo games proved he is playing as well as anyone at the Open and could be poised for a breakthrough grand slam title.
Opinion: Nick Kyrgios isn’t a tennis brat – he’s an Australian sport hero
By Duncan Fine
It’s mid-January; or as it’s known at our house, the Festival of Nick Kyrgios.
Sure, the world’s sporting attention is squarely on Melbourne and the Australian Open, but at the very centre is Our Nick.
Showing my age here, but when I was growing up people used to say Keith Miller was the greatest Australian sportsperson. A football star, World War II fighter pilot and handsome allrounder in the test cricket team, he cut almost a mythical figure.
Prodigiously talented, his massive popularity was based on his refusal to take sport seriously (like, say, Don Bradman) because, well, it was just a game.
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Monfils leads 2-0
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No letting up by Gael Monfils, who now leads, 6-1, 6-0, 1-2.
Clearly Monfils wants to get to bet. This match, on Margaret Court Arena, has only been going for 65 minutes.
He’s hit seven aces, Monfils, and just eight unforced errors.
His opponent Alexander Bublik has hit 30 unforced errors so far.
Alexander Zverev post-match interview
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Dylan Alcott interviewed Alexander Zverev following his win over John Millman.
DA: Zverev, mate, it was impressive to watch. You’re hitting the ball massively huge. How do you feel after that one?
AZ: I feel good. I won. It was really... I think amazing. Amazing atmosphere. Hopefully it gets louder for the next few matches.
I was going to ask you about that. You’re playing an Aussie in Australia. Pretty much everyone wants you to lose. Alright. So, how do you... How do you prepare for a match like that knowing the crowd?
I’m prepared that everybody will hate. So it’s... It’s quite accurate. I have said that in the past two years since COVID started, I think sports need the atmosphere. Sports need the people. It doesn’t matter whether you are for me or against me, I enjoy the [atmosphere], the noise, I enjoy being on court in front of all you guys. I think sports... Spectators bring the emotion. Sports without spectators is like sport without emotion. So, I think it’s incredible that we’re going back to normal. It is incredible playing in front of everybody.
Zverev defeats Aussie
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A big win for Alexander Zverev, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0, over Aussie John Millman.
It took just on two hours for the German to progress into the third round.
He hit 14 aces, but had seven double faults. Millman had neither an ace or a double fault to his name.
But Zverev also landed 74 per cent of first serves and won 85 per cent of those points, and won six of nine break-point opportunities. He also hit 37 winners to Millman’s nine, but produced 38 unforced errors to 16.
The different in serving speed was also notable. Zverev hit a peak of 219kmh while Millman’s fastest was 197kmh. Zverev averaged 200kmh for his first serves.
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Zverev races to 5-0 lead
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Well, the German has put the foot down in this set, racing to a 5-0 lead.
Zverev will now serve for the match.
Millman might have dropped off a little bit, but Zverev has upped the pressure, coming to the net more and taking a more aggressive approach to this third set in an attempt to finish this game.
At 6-4, 6-4, 5-0, he’s very close to doing so.
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