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As it happened: Tsitsipas, Kanepi and Swiatek win epics; De Minaur eliminated; Cornet continues dream run; Medvedev and Auger-Aliassime progress
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Good night, everybody
By Ronny Lerner
Thank you for following our blog on what has been an incredibly memorable day at the Australian Open.
We saw Tsitsipas, Swiatek and Kanepi all win fourth-round classics, and Cornet continue her dream run going after defeating Halep.
Medvedev and Auger-Aliassime will face each other in the quarters after winning their fourth-round matches in four sets, but unfortunately, we also bid farewell to de Minaur who was no match for Sinner.
Be sure to join us again tomorrow as the likes of Barty, Nadal, Alcott, Krejcikova, Berrettini, Shapovalov, Keys and Monfils all take to the court.
From Melbourne Park, it’s good evening.
‘Lessons to learn’: Open boss regrets how Djokovic saga disrupted tournament
By Scott Spits
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has expressed strong regret at how the Novak Djokovic visa saga has disrupted this year’s event, but the veteran administrator said that he believed he had the full support of the Tennis Australia board.
Speaking midway through the first major of 2022, Tiley also said that he would not be resigning over the circumstances that overshadowed the start of the tournament.
‘An epic match’: Tsitsipas overwhelmed
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Tsitsipas spoke to Channel Nine’s Sam Groth after the match...
Q: Stefanos, congratulations, Taylor, a really tough opponent. You get your third win over him tonight. Talk a little bit about the match to start with.
An epic match, that is what I can say. I give everything out on the court today. I am very proud of myself the way I fought. The way I stayed consistent in the moments that were very close and crucial. So, yeah, like it was... I am overwhelmed. Just too much. The stadium was on fire. It is too good to be true.
Q: Five-set tennis, it is the real test, isn’t it? The ebbs and flows in a match. You ride the waves. How much do these guys (crowd) help you get through that?
Well, I knew it is going - I was going to get physical and I kept reminding myself like get in there, do the work, you know, don’t give up, just a little bit more patience. In the end it paid off. I think it was important to have a kind of t crowd with me and I did feel like that they were backing me up when things got tough. It was important to have that kind of ambience today and it paid off at the end, thank you.
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Tsitsipas fights back to win a thriller
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Fritz begins the 10th game of the fifth set with a spectacular forehand winner, but that’s as good as it would get for the American as Tsitsipas steamrolls his way to victory 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in three hours and 23 minutes.
Tsitsipas actually committed more unforced errors (44-37), but hit more winners (53-52) and aces (19-13), while Fritz recorded more double-faults (4-1).
In the end, the fourth seed won seven more points (151-144).
Tsitsipas will now face Sinner in the quarter-finals, the Greek’s third final-eight appearance at the Australian Open from his last four attempts.
Kanepi prevails in another women’s epic
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After Kanepi raced to a 5-2 lead in the third-set tie-breaker, Sabalenka responded strongly to get her nose in front 6-5.
But the pendulum swung back the Estonian’s way as she won four of the next six points to bring up two match points at 9-7 up and at her fifth attempt to close the contest, she does when Sabalenka hits it into the net.
Kanepi wins 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (10-7) in two hours and nine minutes.
Kanepi hit fewer winners (30-36), but Sabalenka negated that by committing a whopping 16 more unforced errors (46-30) and almost quadrupling Kanepi for double-faults (15-4).
The Estonian edged the Belarussian for percentage of first-serve points won (73-71) and enjoyed a bigger advantage on second-serve points (59-46).
Tsitsipas serving for the match
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Tsitsipas gets a break point in the ninth game at 30-40 after Fritz serves a double-fault, but the American gets a let-off when Tsitsipas hits it long.
However, the Greek brings up another break point when Fritz hits another shot long and this time he converts it after his powerful forehand from the baseline cannons into Fritz’s racquet at the net, and the American can only manage to hit it into the net.
Tsitsipas will now be serving for the match at 5-4 up in the fifth set.
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Tension builds at Rod Laver
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Meanwhile, at Rod Laver Arena, neither Tsitsipas or Fritz is giving an inch, with the fourth set going to serve and level a 4-4.
Sabalenka, Kanepi headed for tie-breaker
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We’re headed to a third-set tie-breaker after Kanepi does what she should’ve done in her last service game - sweep Sabalenka aside!
All the pressure back on Kanepi
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Kanepi is now serving to stay in the match after Sabalenka exorcises her serving demons to record a ruthless love game and take a 6-5 lead in the third set.
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High drama on Margaret Court Arena
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This is incredible!
Sabalenka rises from the dead, saving three match points, and bringing up a break point after Kanepi serves a double-fault!
However, the Estonian holds her nerve, brings it back to deuce and brings up another match point with an emphatic forehand winner.
But Kanepi wastes another match point, sending her backhand wide to bring it back to deuce.
Sabalenka then brings up her second break point with a superb forehand winner and levels things up at 5-5 in the third set after Kanepi send her forehand long!
Who wants to win this match? It doesn’t seem like either lady does!
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