Australian Open Round 4 (Days 7 and 8)

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So the tournament proper starts and the round of 16 in the men's singles looks to have more or less all that could be hoped. All the main challengers bar Potro are still there, Dimitrov may finally be justifying the hype and a couple of surprise packages in fine form in Bautista-Agut and Mayer.

Bottom Half

Djokovic v. Fognini (H2H 6-0) [RLA - not before 2.30pm]

The first meeting between them at slam level, after the match that never was at RG. Fognini is playing well and was impressive beating Querrey in straights in R3. However, for all his mercurial skills, he has 9 games in his last 6 sets versus the Djoker. Straight sets to Novak.

Wawrinka v. Robredo (H2H 1-6) [RLA - second night match]

Stan's only win over Tommy was in 2007 and he was beaten twice in 2013. Will Stan's walkover in r3 hurt him? Robredo was very impressive in beating Gasquet. However, I think Stan probably has the form to overcome the head to head but it won't be easy. Stan in 5.

Ferrer v. Mayer (H2H 4-3) [Hisense - after legends doubles and ladies singles]

Mayer has been in terrific form so far this year and comfortably beat Ferrer in Shanghai in their last match. His big serving and variety of shots can cause the more consistent Ferrer problems. I haven't seen much of Ferrer this tournament but I just get the feeling he isn't quite at his best. Going for the upset here - Mayer in 4.

Berdych v. Anderson (H2H 9-0) [Margaret Court - not before 5pm]

Big Kev must be fed up of the sight of Berdych. All 9 meetings have been in the last 2 years and this will be the 5th at slam level. Berdych looks ominously good and Anderson doesn't have the skills to change his game up to overcome the H2H. Big Berd in 3 sets.

Top Half

Nadal v. Nishikori (H2H 5-0) [RLA afternoon match - after two ladies singles]

Nishikori looked very smooth in crushing Donald Young after trailing in the first set but that was against Donald Young. Serve remains a weakness and he doesn't have the reach or power to bother Rafa. Rafa in 3.

Federer v. Tsonga (H2H 9-4) [RLA evening session first match]

The match of the round by a distance. Neither player has yet dropped a set and both have looked impressive. Will Fed's new racquet hold up to the pressure of facing a top guy. I'm not sure. Fed won in 5 in Australia last year but Tsonga recovered to win in straights on the clay of Roland Garros. This is very tough to call but I think there are more questions about Fed. I'm going for Tsonga in 4 tough sets.

Murray v. Robert (H2H 0-0) [Hisense - not before 4 30pm]

Unlikely to be much to see here. Robert as a lucky loser has done exceptionally well to reach this point and he does have a reputation for beating British players (but at a rather lower level). He is solid but has no real weapons. Murray in 3.

Dimitrov v. Bautista Agut (H2H 0-1) [Grandstand - not before 1pm]

The only match without at least one of the players seeded to make R4 but it could be a classic. Both have looked very impressive with B-A backing up his stunning win over Del-po with a crushing win over Paire. Dimitrov outclassed Raonic in 4 sets with only Raonic's serve keeping it close. Interesting their one match at the end of last year was won easily by Bautista-Agut. I just wonder whether Dimitrov's nerve might fail him on the brink of a slam QF. Going with the underdog in 5.

Ladies

Williams v. Ivanovic : Serena in 2
Li Na v. Makarova : Li Na in 3
Kerber v. Pennetta : Pennetta in 3
Bouchard v, Dellacqua : Bouchard in 2

Azarenka v. Stephens : Azarenka in 3
Sharapova v. Cibulkova : Sharapova in 3
Radwanska v. Muguruza : Radwanska in 2
Jankovic v. Halep : Halep in 2

Level at 3-3 and Nishikori may live to regret a missed break point choice. Nadal sniffing a break himself now.

A loose service game from Nishikori gives Rafael three break points but he plays his way out of trouble to hold - 4-3.

On that note, time for work so enjoy the rest of the tennis and good luck to Andy.

That's what happens when the snooker section is above the tennis section!! Sorry.

(Sir Andrew leads 6-1 *4-1)

Nadal leads 7-6 7-5 (or 7-5 7-6) but has a taped-up hand according to the live text on the BBC Sport website. The guy's held together by safety pins and sellotape!!

Just noticed that the seeding of Andy's first four opponents is unseeded / unseeded / 26 / unseeded. A very nice opening for someone coming back from injury.

It gets much tougher from here on though!

Murray falls over the line in the 2nd set and takes it 6-2. I have to go now though but I'm getting someone to text me updates.

(@HMM, is it the easiest route a major QF ever?)

Come on Ninja, take a set at least.

Rafa loses a first serve on a time violation. Nishikori hammers the second serve to bring up set point and then dominates the following rally. Four games in a row and he will serve for the set.

Oh man 3 UE from Nishi, break back for Nadal.

That's the difference between a good player and a champion.

No excuses, that was a choke from Nishikori.

Nadal doesn't look like he's a Champion material for this AO.

TieBreak.

Nadal takes the match, barely. Good game from Nishi. In 5-10y he can get a GS I think.

Another Murray blip in the 3rd?
Drops his 1st set of the tourney.

Difficult to know what to make of that for Nishikori.

It's encouraging that he made it competitive and had his chances.

On the other hand, he completely failed to take those chances.

At age 24, he's no longer a young prospect, he needs to start stepping up.

Sounds like Rafa wasn't at his best but still found a way to win in straights.

LuvSports! wrote:Another Murray blip in the 3rd?
Drops his 1st set of the tourney.

Having had two match points!

Murray had 3 match points and served for the match. Looks like he will come though in 4 though. Have to hand it to Robert reaching last 16 and taking a set off such a top player

HM Murdoch wrote:Difficult to know what to make of that for Nishikori.

It's encouraging that he made it competitive and had his chances.

On the other hand, he completely failed to take those chances.

At age 24, he's no longer a young prospect, he needs to start stepping up.

Sounds like Rafa wasn't at his best but still found a way to win in straights.

He was made to look poor at times by Nishikori, wasn't so much that he played badly himself. It was a competitive match though, some good rallies and pretty entertaining. Nadal played the crunch points and games far better, though, as you'd expect.

Nishikori's a great player, just lacks the physicality for the modern game - Rochus syndrome! Pound for pound he may have the biggest forehand on the ATP, brilliant technique on that wing. And at least he gave Nadal a better game than Dimi will (watch Nadal crush him 2, 3 and 3).

Edit: Federer - Tsonga getting started...

I don't know Silver, I think the physical aspect can be overstated.

For sure, being 5'10 is not ideal in the modern game, but if he can work his way to the chances he had today, it doesn't seem an overwhelming impediment. It was a mental shortfall today rather than a physical one.

That's a big advantage that the top guys have. Their achievements reach the level where opponents play the reputation rather than the man. I'm sure Nishi wasn't thinking "I'm serving for the set". I bet his mind was saying "I'VE GOT A CHANCE TO TAKE A SET OFF NADAL!!!!".

Fed in full power. Break up, lets see how long it lasts.

This is very true. The difference between them was primarily mental you're probably spot on with what was going through Nish's head ;)I suppose I meant that it's is a fairly bad physical matchup compared to most players. You need all you can get against an all-time great like Nadal! I suspect he'd have more joy against Federer or Murray, possibly even Djokovic.

Good start for Federer, leads 3-0. As expected due to the racquet change, the serve and backhand look solid and the forehand is slightly wayward. Tsonga not really at the races just yet.

Fed takes first set 6:3 in 29 min. Backhand really spot on today.

HM Murdoch wrote:Just noticed that the seeding of Andy's first four opponents is unseeded / unseeded / 26 / unseeded. A very nice opening for someone coming back from injury.

I think the last unseeded wasn't just unseeded he was a lucky loser (ie he lost in the competition to qualify for the AO but got lucky and was given direct entry into the draw). This particular lucky looser was even more lucky because he was placed in such a nice section of the draw his third round opponent was another "lucky looser". But his opponents in this years AO have been much tougher than his first round opponent in Doha. This player was given a wildcard into a main tour event with a ranking of about 2,400. It is not clear how a player ranked so low was given a wildcard but he was also given one for the previous years tournament in Doha so maybe he knew the organizers.

So Murrays opponents this year have been Player ranked 2,400, (lost to Mayer ranked 37), unseeded, unseeded, 26, lucky looser.

GCHQ at work, making it easy?

Federer should kiss the net-cord if we he wins the set.

PS: Two very nice clean sets. Come on Old Man!

Fed takes second set. He's playing like in 2006

This is pretty comprehensive. Tsonga isn't even playing badly, the match is just being taken away from him.

Federer up 6-3, 7-5.

Silver wrote:This is pretty comprehensive. Tsonga isn't even playing badly, the match is just being taken away from him.

Federer up 6-3, 7-5.

The Aussie commentators also have called it vintage Federer.

Still a half-step slower than 2006, but pretty darn good, so far, Jahu.

Tsonga seems to have given up with such a horrible game.

Agree, but Tsonga is not at his best running and covering everything. He seems down a little.

Sounds like fed is cruising into the semis. I wonder who Murray would have preferred

I'm gutted that I'm not able to watch this game! All reports are saying that Federer is playing fantastically.

Federer needs to stay focussed for the next three holds, Tsonga is very capable of coming back.

Tsonga needs to shave his head like Lopez, be more aerodynamic, so sloppy.

Usual Tsonga melt down, with lots of sad expressions so the crowd can emphasise. Be great if he'd just show some bottle more than once every four slams

Not certain we can read anything into this about Roger's game, even a rusty Murray is going to counter better than this

Good game from Tsonga, saves a break.

slashermcguirk wrote:Sounds like fed is cruising into the semis. I wonder who Murray would have preferred

Tsonga for sure. He has a really dominant H2H against him. But I'm pleased its Federer as it'll now be the late match I imagine and I have Wednesday off.

Good hold from Fed. 5:3 Tsonga to serve .

Fed takes the match.

Fed has been very confident in hitting today, no doubts on where he wants the ball to end.

Tsonga not at his usual athletic style.

Tsonga's smile whether winning or losing is always admirable.

banbrotam wrote:Usual Tsonga melt down, with lots of sad expressions so the crowd can emphasise. Be great if he'd just show some bottle more than once every four slams

The difference between girls and women (or men and boys, if you prefer).

Good win for Old Man.

Not surprised by the Fed win but I didn't expect it to be quite so dominant.

Impressive stuff. Can he now start taking down fellow members of the Big 4?

If Fed plays 95% of today, Andy will lose in 4, no chance to chase all balls from Fed.

Murray is a much tougher assignment than Tsonga for the Old Man, IMO. Murray did lose a set to Robert, but it may end up being a five-setter like last time for Murray v Federer.

Interesting comment from Federer:

"I don't go to matches unprepared before like I used to."

It's a tough one to call. Normally you'd say if it goes long you'd back Murray, but this time you'd probably back Federer in a 5 setter. Murray has done ok to get this far but it's been a generous route. This is his first proper test post surgery, so it's guesswork really.

In normal circumstances I'd edge Murray. This time I'm not sure. I'd maybe edge Federer.

I would've thought you'd want to Murray to win, HM, to avoid the dreaded rivalry being mentioned should Federer get past him (I jest, I jest)

Agreed LF, pretty vintage today. Federer was hitting the backhand with supreme confidence, moved well and perhaps most importantly of all, remained focused for the whole match. Even when Tsonga started going on a mini-rampage towards the end, there was no panic; he just stemmed the tide and closed it out once the opponent's momentum had been blunted. Shame Tsonga didn't offer more earlier on.

So we have a guy who's been to 3 of the last 4 finals against the AO SF juggernaut. Murray is always a tough assignment for anyone, but I'd perhaps give Federer the edge too. He looks focused and fit. The conditioning work and racquet change is paying dividends, particularly on the backhand side.

HM Murdoch wrote:Interesting comment from Federer:

"I don't go to matches unprepared before like I used to."

In other words: I didn't need tactics. I was good enough to just go play and 9 times out of 10 my talent was enough. Now I'm not quite the player I was, my rivals have improved, so my new coach and I formulate a gameplan to exploit their weaknesses and bring my strengths into play.

But fascinating as it means the man won all those slams on ability alone.

  

Danny_1982 wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:Sounds like fed is cruising into the semis. I wonder who Murray would have preferred

Tsonga for sure. He has a really dominant H2H against him. But I'm pleased its Federer as it'll now be the late match I imagine and I have Wednesday off.

Dozy me planned a sales meeting with my staff - which will start at 0900hrs prompt!! I can hardly try putting it back, having stressed how important it is we start the year well     

Even worse, normally I meticulously plan around the second week of the majors

If Roger can't win now, then he's never going to beat him again

This is a match two events too soon for Murray and when you consider that Roger's not expended much energy, I have to favour the Swiss

It could just be that Andy has plenty in the tank and feels he can bring his 'A' game for three hours

He will have to do!!

In fairness Andy isn't going to give up chasing Fed shots as easily as the exasperating Frenchman did

Roger in straights

Silver wrote:I would've thought you'd want to Murray to win, HM, to avoid the dreaded rivalry being mentioned should Federer get past him (I jest, I jest)

Ha! You know me well!    But if Fed comes ready to party like it's 2007, I'll be happy to block out the inevitable hyperbole.

What encouraged me today about Fed was that it appears (I haven't seen it yet) to have been a consistent performance. Last year he was great in patches but then had periods where he was awful.

I think that nowadays he will not start as favourite against Rafa, Novak and Andy on a hard court. But if he's consistent, then the other three had better be darn sure they are on their game.

The first week of this slam has been pretty predictable but I think the fireworks are about to be lit.