Tennis: Australian Open 2025

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Shelton with a nice, well-earned four set win over Musetti who never quite got comfortable with Ben's power game. For the first time in ages, three Americans under 23 years of age make the round of sixteen of a Grand Slam tournament.

Yeah, the Americans are doing really well. The Fritz loss is just a killer. He didn’t even play bad. Monfils arguably played the match of his life or at least the best match he’s played in recent years. But these other guys are going to get smothered at some point. Fritz was our only chance to seriously win and break the drought.

 

[kihei]

Jack Draper has played three straight five-setters to get to the round of sixteen. I wonder how much of a factor that will be against Alcaraz tonight.

 

[kihei]

First set to Carlos. Weird set. Carlos dominated it while making 21 unforced errors. Yet he failed to serve it out, wasted six break point opportunities along the way, and had to break for the win at 7-5. Meanwhile, Jack is either not quite into it or a little gassed--too soon to tell well.

 

[kihei]

Poor ADF. He was getting clobbered and then he hurt his ankle and then continued to get clobbered, but worse, the rest of the way. Paul knocks him out with triple bread sticks.

 

[kihei]

Carlos takes the second set 6-1 as Draper's lack of pep and energy becomes critical. Not much point in continuing if you are under the weather this much.

Jack quickly calls it a day.

 

[kihei]

Here is a stat that doesn't sound that impressive until you think about it a little. Carlos becomes the youngest player in the entire open era to make the quarterfinals twice of all four Grand Slams.

On paper, Lehecka should be a dangerous opponent for Nole. I don't know if Lehecka actually believes it, though. Can't see him pulling the upset.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

It's weird, Nole won in straight sets, but still didn't look great to me. The movement is just not the same as it was few years ago, and the serve is on/off at times. Can't wait to be there Tuesday night to see Nole v Carlos, but think it's going to be a fairly straight forward match.

He will need to serve big and win a lot of easy 1st serve points to have a chance.

 

[CupofOil]

Djokovic-Alcaraz in a quarters is nuts and the winner likely gets Zverev. Meanwhile on Sinner's side of the draw, the competition is laughable in comparison. Sinner is great so don't get me wrong but his draws at the U.S. Open and here in Australia have been just about as soft as it gets.

 

[MsMeow]

I've been recording matches overnight to watch in the morning. Last night was a disappointment with injuries and retirements.

 

[kihei]

It's weird, Nole won in straight sets, but still didn't look great to me. The movement is just not the same as it was few years ago, and the serve is on/off at times. Can't wait to be there Tuesday night to see Nole v Carlos, but think it's going to be a fairly straight forward match.

He will need to serve big and win a lot of easy 1st serve points to have a chance.

Great that you are going to be there to see the match live. You must be thrilled.

Nole's best chance is if Carlos gets in one of his "frustrated artiste" snits and turns into his own worst enemy because things aren't going the way he wants them to go. He hasn't completely outgrown that yet. In fact in the first set against Draper--the 21 unforced error set--I thought he was flirting with losing his cool. But Jack was a physical shambles, and the moment passed. Anyway, I think it will take something like that for Nole to win.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Sinner has had a very easy draw so far, but he’s lost sets to these very easy opponents.

If that’s happening, he can certainly be beat by some of the upcoming seeded players or those beating multiple seeded players.

 

[kihei]

Sinner has had a very easy draw so far, but he’s lost sets to these very easy opponents.

If that’s happening, he can certainly be beat by some of the upcoming seeded players or those beating multiple seeded players.

I doubt seriously it is going to be Rune who derails Sinner. Holger has played 14 sets in the first three rounds, all grueling matches. With his history of cramping, he might not be much more fit than Draper. Then Sinner has to get by either Mickelsen or Demon, then likely Shelton or Monfils, against these guys whom Jannik is collectively 20-2. Any of these guys winning against him would be a mammoth upset. The finals might be another story, but I would be surprised if he doesn't get there.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

It's weird, Nole won in straight sets, but still didn't look great to me. The movement is just not the same as it was few years ago, and the serve is on/off at times. Can't wait to be there Tuesday night to see Nole v Carlos, but think it's going to be a fairly straight forward match.

He will need to serve big and win a lot of easy 1st serve points to have a chance.

Enjoy!

Getting to every Grand Slam tennis tournament is a bucket list of mine. Would love to go to the Australian Open since it gets me out of these cold NYC winters.

 

[kihei]

Sinner won the first set against Rune, but midway through an even second set, he has definitely developed a lateral movement problem.

After a poor first set, Rune is now all chipper and Sinner pretty much gives him a break for 5-3.

Set apiece. Sinner very slowly walking off the court to see the trainer presumably.

 

[kihei]

Point of the year.

Very gutsy hold for 2-1 for Sinner.

 

[kihei]

Sinner's right hand was shaking uncontrollably at the break. He didn't call for the physio and he is soldiering on, but the situation seems to be deteriorating. Doesn't help that Rune is playing smart tennis, either, of course.

This is becoming The Perils of Paulene. Sinner holds serve by the skin of his teeth, 3-2.

Finally, Jannik calls for the physio. They are checking his pulse. Concerning to say the least, at this point. Play continues after a significant break.

 

[kihei]

Keys knocks off Rybakina in three sets. She is really on a streak right now.

 

[kihei]

For seemingly no reason at all, Rune embraces his inner demon of long standing: shot selection. After one baffling decision after another he is broken for 5-3 Sinner. And now Rune calls a medical time out.

And, astoundingly, Sinner suddenly is up two sets to one, and now Rune looks like he may be developing cramping issues.

 

[kihei]

Really like Shelton's chances. He's a clutch GS player, and Monfils must be starting to feel his age (38) after all the great tennis he has played so far.

 

[kihei]

A long delay to fix the net's mooring (or whatever it's called) benefits Sinner who looks much better and breaks a struggling Rune for 2-1 in the fourth set. Rune's on-court decisions continue to hamper him.

Not much gas left in the tank as Holger goes down 6-2. He didn't quit, though. He fought all the way. For Sinner, a gutsy, gutsy win.

 

[kihei]

Sonego takes the first two sets from Tien, but Learner wins the third set. Early break for Sonego in the fourth set, 2-love.

Easy set for Lorenzo who takes the match 6-1 in the fourth. He is a solid if limited player, one of the few with a single 250 championship on all four court surfaces. But he isn't usually this consistent in Grand Slams, especially Australia where he came into the tournament with a 6-6 career record.

 

[kihei]

After losing the first set breaker, Monfils takes the second set breaker. How is this guy doing it?

Gael is gassed virtually the entire third set, but manages to hit scads of winners and passing shots from barely mobile positions. Frustrating for Ben, who is playing fine tennis, until he turns up the intensity and the acuteness of the angles in the breaker to win the set and take control of the match. Can't imagine that Gael can put up as much resistance in the fourth set, but never write him off.

Gael is broken in the first game and calls it a day when Ben goes up 40-love on his serve. Monfils didn't make it to the final weekend, but what a wonderful week the 38-year old has had. Clutch performance from Ben, too.