That concludes our activities for today. However, do not worry because tomorrow’s schedule is packed with great matches, including Barbora Krejcikova (9) versus Aryna Sabalenka (2) in the evening session, followed by Jannik Sinner (4) against Andrey Rublev (5). So please join me for those matches, but for now, enjoy some peace and love.
Dodin will regret the leg injury that hindered her, but she was soundly defeated tonight by a superior player who played well. She expresses to Jelena Dokic that she is pleased to have reached the quarterfinals and congratulates her opponent on making it this far. She thanks everyone for watching her and acknowledges that representing China brings both pressure and responsibility. She tries not to dwell on it too much, but she appreciates people watching her in China and all over the world.
Li Na, a pioneer of women’s tennis in China, crashed her press conference after her last game and Zheng says she’s a very strong and powerful woman who’s more beautiful now than when she was playing. They shared a moment, Li advising her not to think too much and to keep thing simple, and it’s working. She’s into the last eight as the only seed in her half of the draw, and standing between her and a first Grand Slam final are Anna Kalinskaya then either Dayana Yastremska or Linda Nosková.
Zheng makes a quick move to the net after a first serve and successfully hits a backhand. But when facing a second serve, Dodin’s backhand shot down the line is impressive, tying the score at 15-all. Despite Zheng’s service winner, Dodin attempts a left-handed return but fails. A strong return from Dodin earns her 30-all, as Zheng looks for another first serve. She manages to find one, but Dodin anticipates it and returns it well. However, the ball falls long, giving Zheng a match point. Dodin’s flat forehand return lands on the baseline, bringing the score to deuce. Unfortunately, Dodin’s mistake gives Zheng an advantage and a backhand response to a second serve hits the top of the net, ending the match. Dodin may be wondering what could have happened if she had played at this level throughout the match, as it would have been a very different outcome.
Dodin will try to force Zheng to serve for the game, and with a 30-15 score, a strong first serve results in a missed return. Zheng then hits the ball too far, putting her in a tense situation at 6-0 5-3 where she must remain composed to advance.
There we have it! Dodin, who is aware of the challenge she is facing, hits an impressive forehand return across the court for a decisive point; she acknowledges this as her first successful shot. However, Zheng’s first serve proves to be too strong yet again, but a lengthy and high forehand brings the score to 30-all … but two more mistakes result in her opponent being only one game away from reaching her second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal at 6-0 5-2.
I must mention that Dodin is currently dealing with an injury. I haven’t watched her play in Melbourne until now, so I am unaware of the specifics as Jo Durie did not provide details. However, she faces trouble again as Zheng hits a strong forehand winner for 0-15, followed by a double fault for 0-30. Dodin manages to decrease the deficit with a well-executed swing-volley, but then Zheng hits a forehand on the line, causing Dodin to hit the net. This leads to two more break points at 15-40. Zheng only needs one, as her backhand return sets up a forehand winner. With a score of 6-0 4-2, she is now two games away from winning.
Dodin is not giving up and wins two consecutive points, bringing the score to 15-30. Then, Zheng makes an error by hitting the ball into the net and follows it with another long shot. This results in a break of serve for Dodin, and the question remains: can she regain the momentum that got her to this stage?
At a score of 30-all while Dodin is serving, Zheng hits a powerful forehand across the court to secure a point and earn another break opportunity. Her successive series of forceful forehands puts pressure on her opponent, who ultimately cannot handle it and sends a backhand response out of bounds. With a lead of 6-0 3-1, Zheng appears to be dominating the match.
Dodin loses the point, allowing Zheng to score an ace. However, Dodin’s forehand has improved and she lands a decent shot close to the baseline, causing Zheng to hit a long shot. Another ace from Zheng makes the score 30-all, followed by a service winner for 40-30. Zheng’s first serve has a 100% success rate, which is impressive. Dodin then hits a long shot on her forehand, making it a more competitive match with Zheng leading 6-0 2-1.
Let’s go, Océane! She successfully serves some first serves, maintains her position without losing any points, acknowledges the audience, and despite everything, she is only behind by one set against an opponent who will struggle to maintain her performance. Zheng is currently leading 6-0 1-1.
Women’s tennis, though. Just when we thought Swiatek, Sabalenka, Rybakina and Gauff would give it some stability, two of them go out early and we’re back to a free-for all. I’ve never known a sport be so unpredictable, but Zheng loooks fantastic out there, holding to 15for 6-0 1-0, and if she maintains this firm she’s capable of beating anyone. She’s serving very well and her forehand is dictating points like nobody’s business.
She is unable to greet the spectators and show her happiness as she ties the score at 30-all with a serve to the side and a powerful forehand shot … only for Zheng to reach out and successfully return a backhand shot on the line, securing the point and set with a strong forehand down the line. She is giving her all to seize the opportunity of her biggest career moment.
Zheng maintains a perfect lead of 5-0 and is showing strong performance. Dodin may take comfort in the fact that she has room for growth, while the French audience cheers her on as she attempts to prevent a complete loss.
I quickly take a short break for comfort and come back to see Dodin facing game point at 30-40. Zheng has been handling the powerful shots well, and another erratic backhand results in her winning this point as well. Dodin, trailing 0-4, has a lot of strategizing to do as the set is almost lost.
I am unable to read the name Océane without my mind automatically singing Oceanic’s popular rave song. Currently, she is playing in the match and has just reached a score of 30-all by hitting a powerful backhand winner down the line. Despite this, Zheng manages to serve well when facing a break point and gains momentum, eventually reaching a 3-0 lead with a service winner on advantage.
Zheng gains a 15-30 advantage with a strong forehand hit from the inside-out, and when Dodin swings too wide, she now has two chances to break. She only needs one, as her impressive backhand shot while crouched secures the break and a score of 2-0.
Zheng, who’s beaten Amanda Krueger, Katie Boulter and Yifan Wang to get to this stage, holds through deuce for 1-0; Dodin has seen off Zhu Lin, Marta Trevisan and Cara Burel.
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Dayana Yastremska, a qualifier, beat Victoria Azarenka, seeded 18, in two sets
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Elina Svitolina, ranked 19th, withdrew from her match against Linda Nosková, who had previously defeated Iga Swiatek, ranked 1st.
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Daniil Medvedev (3) beat Nuno Borges in four sets
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sets in the first round of the
The ninth-ranked player, Hubert Hurkacz, defeated Arthur Cazaux, who had to qualify for the tournament, in a three-set match during the opening round.
Let’s get started, Zheng will serve.
“I executed nearly everything flawlessly,” Alcaraz expresses to Eurosport. It’s quite a statement to make about oneself in a professional setting! Anyway, Zheng and Dodin are currently playing, so let’s shift our focus to them. Both players must be feeling the excitement of a chance of a lifetime, as Zheng is the sole remaining seed in the top half while Dodin is already celebrating her best performance in a Grand Slam.
What about satisfying our daily sporting cravings? I must admit, nothing brings me more joy, but it is absurd to witness major games being played without any audience and with players having only one day to rest.
Carlos Alcaraz, on the other hand, is a rare exception. It is not often that we witness someone with such exceptional talent also have a genuine love for competition, as the pressure to perform can be overwhelming. The names that come to mind are George Best, Ronaldinho, and Harry Brook, but they are few and far between.
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Next on the schedule: Qinwen Zheng, who is 12 years old, will be facing off against Océane Dodin, who is 6 years old.
“I believe in my abilities,” Alcaraz responds humbly when asked about his success. He explains that he was able to push Kecmanovic to his limits by hitting every ball and moving him around the court. Playing on the Laver court has been a joy for him and he appreciates the hospitality of the Australian people. He mentions he has not yet met any England cricketers, but he hopes to continue improving with each passing day.
When questioned about his daily routine, he shares that he typically eats sushi the night before a match, as he thoroughly enjoys it. He also mentions that other players seem to enjoy watching him play. He expresses his love for tennis and makes an effort to watch as many matches as possible. He specifically mentions Medvedev, Djokovic, and Sinner as players who consistently perform at their highest level. When asked about the WTA, he admits to also watching it but does not name any specific players.
In conclusion, he expresses his enjoyment of playing against Zverev due to the expected high level of skill and intensity. He intends to give his best performance and see how it unfolds.
Yet another inspirational performance from the barely believable bundle of joy, aggression and invention that is the boy Carlitos. It’s still shocking how brilliant he is, and he meets Zverev next, with the sense that he’s still improving through the rounds.
I believe Kecmanovic is struggling, but he continues to fight, bringing the score to 30-all from 30-0, only to be stranded at the back of the court by a well-executed drop shot. Alcaraz has a match point after a relatively short one hour and 49 minutes.
Kecmanovic has performed admirably today, but he appears to be struggling in the third set. Unfortunately, my computer crashed and I am unable to see exactly what transpired. However, Alcaraz has managed to break Kecmanovic’s serve for the third time and is now in position to win the match with a score of 5-0.
I am amazed at how exceptionally talented Alcaraz is, and even more amazed that he will most likely be defeated by Djokovic in the final. Looking ahead, I would personally prefer to see Medvedev face Djokovic and Sinner face Alcaraz in the semi-finals because I believe those matchups would provide more exciting matches – Medvedev can match Djokovic in rallies and Sinner can overpower Alcaraz with his powerful shots – but I will manage regardless. Alcaraz wins the game to make it 4-0, and he seems to be peaking at just the perfect moment.
Kecmanovic displays excellence by skillfully hitting a strong backhand cross to save double-break point. However, Alcaraz responds with a less precise forehand, resulting in the score returning to deuce. Alcaraz’s speed along the baseline causes him to go for a risky shot, leading to a shocking forehand with impressive speed and angle, giving him a 6-4 6-4 3-0 lead. The energy, creativity, and enthusiasm he brings to the court is unparalleled and stands out even at my age of 44, after having watched many matches.
Alcaraz effortlessly solidifies his lead 2-0 in the third set. It’s difficult to envision Zverev overcoming him, but a potential semi-final match between Alcaraz and Medvedev could be highly entertaining – similarly, if it plays out, a match between Djokovic and Sinner would also be exciting.
In the third set, Alcaraz quickly gains an advantage at 30-40 by forcing a break point. However, Kecmanovic remains resilient and makes Alcaraz run all around the court before making an error. Alcaraz then cleverly executes a looping volley, causing Kecmanovic to make a mistake and securing a 6-4 6-4 1-0 lead. It seems that Kecmanovic will not last much longer in this match.
Kecmanovic is putting forth maximum effort, but it is insufficient.
Zverev described the Australian Open as a major tournament where all players are performing at their peak level, and praised Cam’s performance. When asked about what makes the AO unique, he mentioned the lively crowd, which he believes is even better than the energetic crowd in New York because they are both passionate and respectful. He also shared advice on how to improve backhand shots, suggesting to close one’s hands and swing. Zverev then acknowledged that his family members, including his father, mother, and brothers, have exceptional backhand skills, but are not as skilled in forehand shots or serving. He humorously added that his height of 6’6″ (or 2 meters) is an advantage in tennis.
During the conversation about the upcoming round, he playfully mentions that he is now a big supporter of Kecmanovic. He then goes on to state that Alcaraz has already achieved more success in his career than most players, and even though the audience at the Australian Open may not be familiar with him yet, they will be in the next 25 years. Lastly, when asked to sing happy birthday to his father, he confesses that he had forgotten but still leads the crowd in singing.
Zverev has a perfect record of 5 wins in tiebreaks in this tournament. He played excellently in this particular tiebreak, making smart attacking moves and serving as consistently as usual. Norrie, on the other hand, should also be proud of his performance. Despite being down 1-0 and 2-1, and even facing a deficit in the final set, he showed bravery and played aggressively, similar to how he defeated Casper Ruud in the previous round. However, it is the sixth seed who moves on to the next round and will face either Kecmanovic or Alcaraz.
Zverev hits a long forehand and Norrie refuses to give up, showing excitement as if he has tied the score. However, he has not. He misses a forehand and now faces six match points at 3-9 during the changeover.
Throughout this set, Norrie has been the one setting the pace. However, as Zverev nears victory, he unleashes powerful backhands, resulting in a score of 7-2. Norrie then hits a forehand into the net, making it 8-2. The match is coming to an end, but it has been an exciting one.
Once more, Zverev takes the lead with a mini-break. Norrie attempts a drop, but his placement is off and the ball goes out of bounds. The score is now 4-2 in favor of the German. Zverev then pulls Norrie towards the net, but Norrie’s shot goes just wide. Unfortunately, Norrie follows it up with a double fault, his second in over four hours. With a score of 2-6, this match is looking like it may soon be over.
Zverev gains a quick mini-break after Norrie’s mistake, but his excellent drop shot evens the score once again. His skill and ability to deceive are remarkable, and his determination to make the perfect shot instead of playing it safe is truly impressive. The score is now tied at 2-2, while on Laver court, Alcaraz breaks Kecmanovic for a score of 6-4 4-3.
Kecmanovic is currently performing admirably – he appears to be thoroughly enjoying his game and it is evident in his play. He is down 4-6 3-3 in the set, and it is expected that Alcaraz will eventually do enough to win the set, but it is still an entertaining match. Meanwhile, Zverev serves perfectly and now we have a 10-point tiebreaker! Let’s see what happens!
