Australian Open 2025 as it happened: Aussie beaten in epic five-setter; Saville’s open on the edge; Zverev eliminates former semi-finalist

Daria Saville’s Australian Open is over after she fell to Anna Blinkova 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 at Margaret Court Arena on Sunday night. In a clash which crossed over to Monday and ended just before 12.30am, Saville wasted a break of serve in the final set and later had her own serve broken in what was to prove the final game of the match. Her inability to play aggressive tennis when the contest was in the balance, as was the case in the second set, proved costly.

Adam Walton has squandered a superb start to fall 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7, 5-7, allowing Frenchman Quentin Halys to advance into the second round of the Australian Open for the third time in his career. Halys’ serving was pivotal to the win, for he had a 31-11 advantage in aces, in a match which finished just after midnight.

It’s now 5-5 in the fifth set, with Walton on serve. He needs to hold here, and hopefully then pressure Halys.

We’re still cheering on Daria Saville and Adam Walton deep into the deciding sets of their respective matches. It’s late, and we’re tired, but this is what the Australian Open is all about - late nights, and hoping our locals get through the opening rounds. Walton and Halys are locked at 4-4, while Saville, having wasted an early break, is locked at 3-3 with Blinkova.

Alexander Zverev has claimed a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Frenchman Lucas Pouille in two hours, 21 minutes at Rod Laver Arena. Zverev was in fine form on serve, crunching 18 aces to three.

The German was also in good form off the court when asked about the new coaches’ pods stationed on court, so players can now take more directions through the match.

“I hate it - I don’t want to see them too much in my life,” Zverev joked when asked about the change. He is, of course, coached by his father.

“What am I going to say at Christmas dinner about the Australian Open? Their bags are packed ... I say you are not coming. I can’t do that.”

Daria Saville has squandered her good work of the first set to drop the second, 6-4, against Anna Blinkova. Trailing 30-40 in the tenth game, Saville had a ball toss issue with her first serve, then delivered a fault, before a series of tentative ground strokes cost her game the game - and set. We’re heading into the third.