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Aussies left heartbroken in overnight thriller; Shelton feels Sinner is within reach
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Aussies bow out
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Vera Zvonareva is past her prime years as a top-10 singles player, but those big-match experiences stood out as she led her doubles pairing with Ena Shibahara past Aussie duo Kimberly Birrell and Talia Gibson.
The Russian and Japanese pairing progress to the semi-finals of the women’s doubles after a 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5 win on Rod Laver Arena in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Zvonareva showed her class with an overhead volley at the net to secure a 6-5 lead while her leadership helped steer Shibahara through some bumpy moments in the match.
Birrell’s serving escaped her in the last game of the match as she sent down three double faults.
The match went for just under three hours, a marathon for women’s doubles.
They’re staying in it!
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The Aussies have broken back – they are now down 4-5 and serving to level the match once again.
Kimberly Birrell and Talia Gibson both came up with clutch shots to take the break point.
Who knows who wins from here. Both sides look tired and distracted.
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Birrell, Gibson on the brink of bowing out
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Despite calls from their corner to “fight it off”, the Aussies have won just two points in the last 15 as Vera Zvonareva and Ena Shibahara move to within one game of the semi-finals.
Kimberly Birrell and Talia Gibson will have to dig deep in this next game as they are 3-5 down with Zvonareva serving for the match.
Aussies drop their serve
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This women’s doubles match won’t end anytime soon. The Aussies just dropped their serve after some inspired returns from veteran former world No.2 Vera Zvonareva, who sent down some vital winners.
Ena Shibahara held her serve, so now her team has a 4-3 lead, the pressure now falls back on the shoulders of the Aussies.
Birrell, Gibson go 2-1 up
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This is a dream start to the deciding third set as Kimberly Birrell and Talia Gibson go 2-1 up.
They broke serve in the first game and held serve in the next game, and then their opponents held serve in the third.
The Aussies have a chance here, but they need to keep their heads and hold their serves.
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Aussies win the second set
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The Aussie pair have won the second set in a tiebreak to level their women’s doubles quarter-final at one set a piece.
Rather than going to a 10-point tie-breaker, as they would in mixed doubles, the two teams are now going to a deciding third set, which will start once the players return from a comfort break.
Aussie hold serve
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Aussie pair Kimberly Birrell and Talia Gibson have given themselves every chance to force their quarter-final to a deciding set.
The pair just held their serve to take a 5-4 lead in the second set.
‘It’s a matter of time’: Sheldon determined to beat Sinner, Alcaraz
By Roy Ward
US star Ben Shelton feels he can find the level of play needed to beat the likes of Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz.
Shelton went down to Sinner in straight sets, continuing his losing streak against the Italian superstar, but the former University of Florida standout will continue training hard and crafting his game to beat those at the top.
He is also desperate to put see what he can do when leading a set against the best in the sport, rather than have to come from behind.
“I think my level is better, and I’m getting better and better and becoming a lot less limited,” Shelton said on Wednesday night.
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All or nothing for Aussie women
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Kimberly Birrell and Talia Gibson are battling to keep their tournament alive, but they are already down a break in the second set.
Ena Shibahara and Vera Zvonareva lead 6-4, 2-1 and are about to serve.
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