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

Rain pause can only help Djoko to regroup.

Action again.

Unbelievable!

I really don't know who this favours. Stan has the greater momentum right now. But if this goes long, he's the one who will benefit most from the rest.

OK, that was only a short break!

6:5, lets see will it go to 10+ games.

Novak to lose serve now?

HM, theres a saying in Serbia: From your mouth to Gods ears, meaning God hopefully will listen to you

6:6 getting tight.

I think in general a Djok-Stan match is more interesting than Nadal:Djoko.

You just have that feeling Djoko will squeak through this match...

Stan must give it a go on Djokos serve now.

7:6

7:7 no let up.

But the header on Slamtracker on the AO website knows the truth, irrespective of the actual score ...

"N. Djokovic currently leads S. Wawrinka by 3 sets to 2"

Hahahah a pre-maid text, wrongly published.

30:30 come on Stan 2 points away!!

30:40 Match point Stannnnnnnnnnnnn

Wawrinka is through

Yes yessssssssssssss STANNNNNNNNNNNNNN takes itttttttttttttt

I'm in the money!!!!!! Thank you baby Jesus...

But at last Slamtracker reports the set score in the header to reflect Stan's success.

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lol

Yes Stan!

Stan the man showed the rest how you beat Novak Djokovic... that includes you RAFA

Swiss final now between the old Milka and the younger Toblerone challenger

great win for Stan. I think it would have really hurt him to lose yet another five set battle with Djokovic. Got a little lucky in that last game, and what a miss by Djokovic on that MP, but fully deserved

So you were spot on HMM.

A bridge too far tonight.

You deserve this so much Stan, drink it in !!!

Well done to stan, didn't see any of it but he has taken some punishment from djokovic over the years.

Hope he goes on to win it. If not I would like to see berdych win, would be nice to see a different winner.

surprised to see so many happy about the Djokovic defeat, I mean, I'm happy, but that's because it keeps my bet alive.

Anybody but Bird Brain pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze !!!!

And there it is.

Respect to Stan. Two painful 5th set defeats and he comes back strong to win the third. Could this be his big breakthrough?

As for Novak, well I said before the season that I thought he would go slamless this year. The reason for this was the constant costly brain farts. Sure enough, we had a big one today. Goes a break up in the 5th and, in the very next game, makes four unforced errors and is broken to love. So costly against top opposition.

A different winner ..... yes.

But not sure just how many would want it to be Berdych, slasher.

kingraf wrote:surprised to see so many happy about the Djokovic defeat, I mean, I'm happy, but that's because it keeps my bet alive.

Im so happy for Stan ... as I said he showed the way to beat Novak.. and he kept his cool all through that match. A true professional..Novak and his yelling and screaming and talking to Boris who´s only contribution I see is standing up and chewing gum. Better get another coach Novak

kingraf wrote:surprised to see so many happy about the Djokovic defeat, I mean, I'm happy, but that's because it keeps my bet alive.

I think people very quickly get bored of the same bloke winning all the time, and Novak had won, what? three in a row here? Remember the reaction on 606 when Nadal lost in the FO, it was bedlam! This is very mild by comparison.

I also think people would like a new slam winner to emerge fairly soon, it's been too long since we had an unexpected winner at a slam. Dimitrov winning would probably be best for the sport, but Stan or Berdych winning would still be a breath of fresh air.

Haddie-nuff wrote:

kingraf wrote:surprised to see so many happy about the Djokovic defeat, I mean, I'm happy, but that's because it keeps my bet alive.

Im so happy for Stan ... as I said he showed the way to beat Novak.. and he kept his cool all through that match. A true professional..Novak and his yelling and screaming and talking to Boris who´s only contribution I see is standing up and chewing gum. Better get another coach Novak

Becker can't exactly reply, he'd been penalised for coaching

Never Berdych... couldn´t stand that.. Dimitriov or Stan yes

kingraf - think they're more pleased for Stan than "happy" about a Novak defeat.

But I could be wrong .....

Haddie-nuff wrote:

kingraf wrote:surprised to see so many happy about the Djokovic defeat, I mean, I'm happy, but that's because it keeps my bet alive.

Im so happy for Stan ... as I said he showed the way to beat Novak.. and he kept his cool all through that match. A true professional..Novak and his yelling and screaming and talking to Boris who´s only contribution I see is standing up and chewing gum. Better get another coach Novak

don't get this criticism of the yelling and screaming TBH. Stan was doing it too (shouting "Allez!" after important points he won); Rafa, Andy, Fed, they all do it too. It's a natural reaction.

TopoftheChops wrote:

Haddie-nuff wrote:

kingraf wrote:surprised to see so many happy about the Djokovic defeat, I mean, I'm happy, but that's because it keeps my bet alive.

Im so happy for Stan ... as I said he showed the way to beat Novak.. and he kept his cool all through that match. A true professional..Novak and his yelling and screaming and talking to Boris who´s only contribution I see is standing up and chewing gum. Better get another coach Novak

Becker can't exactly reply, he'd been penalised for coaching

Who said I expected him to reply... but what has he done for Djoko that he didn´t already know.??

Best chance of a not-big-4 slam win in years.

With Murray and Fed about to beat each other up, and the winner and Rafa to beat each other up, plus an extra days rest for either Stan or Berdy before the final... There is a real, genuine chance for a new slam winner.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

Haddie-nuff wrote:

kingraf wrote:surprised to see so many happy about the Djokovic defeat, I mean, I'm happy, but that's because it keeps my bet alive.

Im so happy for Stan ... as I said he showed the way to beat Novak.. and he kept his cool all through that match. A true professional..Novak and his yelling and screaming and talking to Boris who´s only contribution I see is standing up and chewing gum. Better get another coach Novak

don't get this criticism of the yelling and screaming TBH. Stan was doing it too (shouting "Allez!" after important points he won); Rafa, Andy, Fed, they all do it too. It's a natural reaction.

Stan was shouting Allez but did you not see Novak literally screaming at the top of his voice when he broke or when he won the fourth set... you must have gone out of the room.

Wow....just wow.
Stan has ARRIVED!

Haddie-nuff wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

Haddie-nuff wrote:

kingraf wrote:surprised to see so many happy about the Djokovic defeat, I mean, I'm happy, but that's because it keeps my bet alive.

Im so happy for Stan ... as I said he showed the way to beat Novak.. and he kept his cool all through that match. A true professional..Novak and his yelling and screaming and talking to Boris who´s only contribution I see is standing up and chewing gum. Better get another coach Novak

don't get this criticism of the yelling and screaming TBH. Stan was doing it too (shouting "Allez!" after important points he won); Rafa, Andy, Fed, they all do it too. It's a natural reaction.

Stan was shouting Allez but did you not see Novak literally screaming at the top of his voice when he broke or when he won the fourth set... you must have gone out of the room.

I did, and don't really see anything wrong with it, it's an outporing of emotion after getting himself back into a match he was struggling in. No worse IMO than some of Rafa's double fistpumps after important points, or Murray's roaring "Come OOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN!" after finally breaking Cilic at the AO in 2010 (to give but two examples). I don't think we should expect players to be robots...

Can't say I agree with the comment about getting a new coach. He lost a close match as one of many. Whether or not Becker was a good choice, this match doesn't prove anything. It's hardly Becker's fault Novak's missing second serve returns and hitting routine shots out.

Djoko's presser currently being screened live on Channel 7 here in Australia

Cant believe Stan won this after playing poorly in the first set.
No reason why he cant win the title IMO, if you can beat Djoko in his own backyard you cant beat anyone.

Any money on an all Swiss slam final...???

Becker with him is all about sweetening Djokos image for media, make him more media and sponsor appealing outside of Serbia, since impersonating others on the courts has been done to death, and UniQlo was just money and nothing else.

Anyone thinking Becker can add anything to Djokos game, is on illegal substances.

But who cares!!! STAN IS THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!

lydian wrote:Cant believe Stan won this after playing poorly in the first set.
No reason why he cant win the title IMO, if you can beat Djoko in his own backyard you cant beat anyone.

Any money on an all Swiss slam final...???

not really, Fed has no chance against Nadal, so unless Dimitrov does the unthinkable (which I can't see), then Fed won't make the final. Equally, think Stan would have little chance against Nadal either. In fact, the only guy left who I can see possibly beating Nadal (at least having a chance) is Murray, and we're still not sure where his form is. Tomorrow may tell us.