Australian Open - Day Five

Day Five sees the third round matches get underway and the pick of them will be:-

Wawrinka V Troicki - It really depends on what Stan turns up. The fact Troicki had a five setter in the previous round counts against him as well. Stan to win in three sets.

Berdych V Federer - Perhaps the match of the day. Federer has looked patchy but does Berdych truly believe? Could go either way this but will go for Berdych in five.

Sock V Tsonga - Tsonga has been pretty solid so far and fancy him to win in four sets.

Lacko V Nishikori - Nishikori to win in three sets quite comfortably.

Murray V Querrey - Murray to win in three or maybe four sets.

Tomic V Evans - Tomic looked shattered at the end of his match yesterday and take Evans to win in four sets.

Would love to see Rog upset Berdych but the Swiss is still a bit rusty. Tough for Evans to get an Aussie at this stage.

Would be great to see Evans go further. If he does take out Tomic ...will that mean no Aussies left in the mens draw ....?

Berdych will come through over the Fed (who, at times, looked horribly below par amidst a host of UE's in previous match) : four tight sets.

Can't see any serious issues for Murray/Nishi/JWT/Stan

Sorted !

lags72 wrote:Would be great to see Evans go further. If he does take out Tomic ...will that mean no Aussies left in the mens draw ....?

Jordan Thompson is still playing his second round match against Thiem and trails 6-2 6-1 4-4 so looks like exiting and Tomic will be the only male Australian player to reach the third round.

Stan in 3
Berdych in 4
Sock in 4
Nishikori in 3
Murray in 3
Evans in 4

Bookmakers make Federer favourite against Berdych.

Evans started well. Set up and break up

Will be delighted for Evans if he wins - never been a fan of the overrated prima donna, Tomic.

impressive win for Andy beating Sam Querrey 6-4 6-2 6-4. Stan Wawrinka won in four but had dips. Tsonga won in four long sets and Evans in control against Tomich leading two sets to love.

Evans was serving at 5-4, 40-15 then ended up serving at 5-6 15-40. Played a superb tie-break in the end.

It would need the wheels to come off big style for Dan not to win this now. Tomich has already had long matches coming into this and if he wants to win here He will need to do so  playing another long match.

Tremendous win for Evans.

Evans v Murray in the semi?

Guest82 wrote:Tremendous win for Evans.  

Evans v Murray in the semi?

Perhaps a little optimistic - Tsonga up next for Dan, who you would expect to be too powerful, and if he gets past that, there's a chance for revenge against Stan for the USO defeat...

Dan has already achieved much more than he'd have expected here. He is now in the area where everything onwards is a bonus. If that relates him into a mindset of going for his shots more then I can see him certainly taking a set or two off Tsonga (maybe more). The smart money would be on Tsonga though. Great win today for Dan though.

I was up to watch Murray. He looked pretty good, body language positive, and most importantly his ankle seems fine. Querrey actually played well, particularly in the first set, but Murray served solidly and stayed positive throughout. A good win. That missed volley at 4-4 30-30 in the third will rather haunt Querrey though, absolute sitter!

Nishikori now two sets up against Lacko, despite a bit of a wobble at the end of the second as Lacko fought back from 5-1 down to 5-4 before Nishikori served it out at the second time of asking.

Great win for Evans! Another excellent tournament for him, and should push him nicely up the rankings. Tsonga will be tough, but you never know.

Give Evans an outside chance against Tsonga, never really know what you'll get from Tsonga.

Think Evans is now British number two.

Truly impressive win for Dan Evans. Some of his tennis was outstanding, and he looked by any measure like a Top Tenner.

He could easily have buckled amidst a partisan crowd and the pressure of knowing this was shaping up as his first time into the last 16 of a Slam ; and the fact that Tomic himself began playing some good stuff in the third set, with that deceptively languid, but effective style.

Federer looking absolutely superb so far!

Wow, Fed's has come out all guns blazing

Early stages of Fed v Berdych .....

Whoever is co-commentating (can't remember his name) with Wilander on Eurosport has just said "every single seat taken here tonight ....you can hear a pin drop"

Well, I could. If you two would stop waffling on throughout almost every rally

That drop shot from behind the baseline was magic

Guest82 wrote:Give Evans an outside chance against Tsonga, never really know what you'll get from Tsonga.  

Think Evans is now British number two.

Live rankings has Dan up to 45 and Kyle down to 47, so yes, currently British #2. Not much chance of them being passed by anyone lower down (Seppi would need to win 2 more matches). Another win would put Dan's ranking well into the 30s (above Del Potro and below Troicki). He's certainly had a brilliant last couple of weeks - 2 wins over top 10 opponents and 3 other wins against higher ranked (at the time) opponents

Twas a sublime shot.

Disappointing from Berdych so far though you have to say. Just punting the ball up the middle and hoping Federer will miss for the most part, seems oddly reluctant to go for his shots.

Yes, Berdych has been very poor - gone into his shell

Berdych had the stuffing knocked out of him within first ten minutes or so.

Yeah, shell shocked by the opening blitz

The GOAT playing like the GOAT

Did Willander really say that Federer has never played better? Overkill much?

Still, a seriously impressive performance from Federer it must be said, has to be added to the tournament favourites now.

This was tennis from the gods.

Very, very special.

Just as well he didn't play like that in previous round vs quali. I don't think the young guy would have won a single game. Then again ....I reckon that guy actually put in a more aggressive effort than Berdych.

I have a theory that being injured can be a bit of a blessing for a top player, such as Federer who goes deep in most tournaments.

Remember when Rafa came back in 2013 and won everything, it was like he was refreshed. Wonder if this lay off will have done the same for Fed. Not suggesting he will get the same results as Rafa did, but it might actually do him good. The grind of playing and training every week for years must take its toll.

Think Murray was different as he had a back injury so took longer to trust.

Perhaps there's something in what you say Guest82.

He may well be refreshed in the wake of his first prolonged layoff after so many consecutive seasons on tour.

But .... I still have my doubts as to just how far he can progress at the Slams, either this year or beyond. After all, the fact remains he will be 36 this year, and with more mileage on the clock (match-wise) than any other active player.

Meant to add ...... Superb performance by Andy earlier. Didn't even allow Querrey a single TB !

lags72 wrote:Perhaps there's something in what you say Guest82.

He may well be refreshed in the wake of his first prolonged layoff after so many consecutive seasons on tour.

But .... I still have my doubts as to just how far he can progress at the Slams, either this year or beyond. After all, the fact remains he will be 36 this year, and with more mileage on the clock (match-wise) than any other active player.

I can understand the caution but it's just getting silly - no-one should be surprised at the performance Federer put out today. Prior to the knee surgery he was comfortably the 2nd best player in the world, it's just a shame he took time off just when Novak went off the boil because in the previous 2 years Novak had denied him 4 Grand Slam titles.

I've no doubt his main goal is another slam - it sounds bullish but his level this time last year was good enough to beat everyone but Novak, and with Novak in crisis the door is ajar. Even on one knee and a dodgy back he very nearly made the final at Wimbledon, he's taken six months off to get himself right and now he should be expecting quarter finals at best? Not buying it

Time will tell.

We shall see.

But as regards today, at least  : thought it was a bit naughty of Berdych ..... leaving the stadium so quickly, no sign of an offer to pay Fed for the tuition.......

theslosty wrote:

lags72 wrote:Perhaps there's something in what you say Guest82.

He may well be refreshed in the wake of his first prolonged layoff after so many consecutive seasons on tour.

But .... I still have my doubts as to just how far he can progress at the Slams, either this year or beyond. After all, the fact remains he will be 36 this year, and with more mileage on the clock (match-wise) than any other active player.

I can understand the caution but it's just getting silly - no-one should be surprised at the performance Federer put out today. Prior to the knee surgery he was comfortably the 2nd best player in the world, it's just a shame he took time off just when Novak went off the boil because in the previous 2 years Novak had denied him 4 Grand Slam titles.

I've no doubt his main goal is another slam - it sounds bullish but his level this time last year was good enough to beat everyone but Novak, and with Novak in crisis the door is ajar.  Even on one knee and a dodgy back he very nearly made the final at Wimbledon, he's taken six months off to get himself right and now he should be expecting quarter finals at best? Not buying it

Agree with this. Did wonder if this was too soon and too slow a court for him though. I think Wimbledon and USO he's a contender.

Federer at 40 could still make the semi's at a GS he's that talented. Unlike Murray, Nadal or Djokovic.

Just seen a few points from the Fed match. Some terrific shotmaking. Didn't really expect him to beat Berdych let alone in straight sets.
It will be much harder against nishi though. Good thing is fed has had three wins including blowing away a high ranked guy. Bodes well for the rest of the year.

Impressive from Roger. Took the match by the scruff of the neck and the bonus was that he won in double quick time. Berdych though was very poor in my opinion. Nishikori V Federer next should be a cracker.

Berdych has now incredibly lost the last 37 sets against the big 4.