Next up is Aryna Sabalenka. Thank you all for joining and commenting – we will be back with you tomorrow, so make sure to join us then! But for now, farewell.
“Firstly, I would like to congratulate Alex on a great match,” he begins. He had expressed his hope for an exciting match for the audience two days ago, but now he regrets it! When he was down 1-2 and got broken back in the fourth set, he told himself that he would fight until the end. He found renewed energy and played better as a result. He acknowledges that it’s always challenging to play against Alex, who is known for his speed and footwork. Despite feeling some pain from the long rallies in their four-hour match, he tried not to dwell on it and gave it his all. He reminded himself not to give up or feel sorry for himself. When asked about his mindset during intense matches like this, he jokes that it’s better not to be in his head as it’s like a scary movie with a lot of emotions. He seems like a kind person, and I hope he finally gets the breakthrough he deserves. When asked about facing Sinner, he laughs and admits that it will be a tough match, but he will give his best and see what happens.
De Minaur put on a superb performance, giving his all in the match. While the final-set shutout may sting, he has shown significant improvement and is not done yet. However, he was ultimately defeated by a superior player with better skills. I doubt Rublev will be able to defeat Sinner, but if he can replicate the level he played at towards the end of the match and in some parts of the first set, he may have a chance. Let’s hear his thoughts on the match…
Rublev quickly gains a score of 30-15, but then makes a mistake by hitting his forehand into the net. Suddenly, he surprises everyone with a strong backhand shot that catches his opponent off guard. Although De Minaur may have been able to return it a few hours ago, after four hours of intense play, it is too difficult for him to do so now. Rublev now has match point, but he is unable to capitalize on it as De Minaur makes a miraculous return with a forehand. Despite grunting loudly, Rublev is unable to stop De Minaur from taking advantage with a powerful forehand, followed by an ace. De Minaur has played exceptionally well tonight. In response to falling behind again, Rublev delivers another impressive first serve and forehand combination, which even impresses Kyrgios. This last game of the match is of exceptional quality and intensity. However, as I type, De Minaur makes a deep shot that forces Rublev to hit the ball into the net. But Rublev quickly recovers with a strong second serve and big forehand to bring the game back to deuce. Kyrgios comments that this may be the highest level match he has seen in the Australian Open. Rublev once again uses his serve and forehand combination to earn match point. And he seals the victory with a backhand shot that lands on the line, followed by a long return from De Minaur. Rublev has played an incredible final set, showcasing his power, love for the game, and bravery. He will face Jannik Sinner in the next round, and I can’t wait to see that match!
“I can sense that the cramps are approaching,” states Kyrgios in regards to Rublev, while Lleyton Hewitt, the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, attempts to communicate the same message to De Minaur and advises him to move his opponent around. However, at 15-all, De Minaur hits a wide forehand down the line and out of nowhere, Rublev executes a spin forehand that miraculously lands in and breaks the sideline, earning two points for a triple break. And with just one point, Rublev secures the break as he hits another powerful forehand down the line that De Minaur cannot return, bringing the score to 5-0. Rublev has been playing exceptionally well in the fifth set and now has the opportunity to serve for the match. However, De Minaur still has a chance due to Rublev’s cramping. The score stands at De Minaur 4-6 7-6 7-6 3-6 0-5 Rublev.
Kygios believes that D-Min is currently being less assertive on the court and suspects that it may be due to physical exhaustion. However, at a score of 15-all on Rublev’s serve, D-Min manages to pull off an impressive forehand shot, only to have it countered by Rublev’s strong serve and forehand combo, resulting in a tied game. From there, Rublev takes control and wins the set, putting him in a 4-0 lead in the fifth set. This sets him up for a quarterfinal match against Jannik Sinner, who has yet to lose a set in the tournament and is competing for the ultimate prize.
Leading 30-0, De Minaur misses a shot, but Rublev’s powerful ball striking pressured him into the error. And look at that! Rublev unleashes a strong forehand, earning a 30-all score and making his opponent seem weak in comparison. His opponent responds with an ace, but Rublev continues to impress with a backhand return and a clean forehand shot to take the point. The audience can see De Minaur struggling and try to motivate him at deuce…but he hits a slightly long forehand. Rublev now has two opportunities to break De Minaur’s serve, and both players know that this could be the turning point of the match. AND HE DOES IT! Rublev makes a bold shot, putting in more effort than necessary to win the rally before hitting a backhand winner down the line. With a 3-0 lead, he’s almost certain to win, and he lets out a triumphant yell as the crowd falls silent.
According to reports, the temperature on the court has decreased. This could explain why Rublev seems to have the advantage in these conditions. With the ball moving slower through the air, his strength becomes a defining factor. Rublev’s serving is exceptional, winning the game without dropping a point. However, D-Min only needs one break to change the momentum. Despite this, D-Min appears to be struggling with the pace tonight and Rublev is currently leading 2-0 in the fifth set.
So who’s going to win this? It’s hard not to favour Rublev, who has bigger weapons, greater experience and took the fourth set. And he’s quickly up 0-30 in game one of the fifth, a brilliant return on to the line facilitating the succession of murderous forehands it takes to make 0-40. And he only needs one, his backhand seizing control of the point, a couple of forehands consolidating, and an inside-out backhand winner sealing the break to love! Rublev strikes first in the decider!
De Minaur’s powerful forehand results in him hitting the ball too far and a strong serve down the T puts Rublev just two points away from winning the set. Rublev then follows it up with a successful service and a missed return by De Minaur, leading to a tiebreaker. The match is now neck and neck, as it should be. The current score is De Minaur 4-6 7-6 7-6 3-6 Rublev.
De Minaur wins the game without losing a single point, leaving Rublev to serve for the win at 5-3 and potentially force a fifth set. I wouldn’t want to be in Rublev’s position right now!
During a lengthy rally, Rublev becomes stationary and loses focus, causing him to hit a forehand too hard and give De Minaur a 15-30 advantage. Despite this, he manages to hit another impressive overhead lob that earns praise from Kyrgios. The game continues to deuce, but De Minaur gains an opportunity to break back with a well-timed forehand that catches Rublev off guard. However, he is unable to control his next return and Rublev secures a crucial consolidation. With a 5-2 lead in the fourth set, it seems likely that this match will go to a deciding set. We can handle it!
“Rublev dominates with a powerful forehand winner down the line, bringing the score to 15-0. As the game continues, D-min makes a mistake and nets a backhand, giving Rublev the opportunity to break. Despite a strong start, D-min struggles under pressure and makes a crucial error, allowing Rublev to take the lead at 2-1 but still trailing overall at 2-4. It’s difficult to predict the outcome of this match as both players are evenly matched and pressure can affect anyone in unexpected ways.”
Kyrgios believes that Rublev has the potential to win a major, but there are many strong players currently competing. However, I disagree with this assessment as I don’t think Rublev is quite at that level yet, which is why he hasn’t come close to winning a major. Kyrgios also mentions that there may be a time where everything falls into place for Rublev and he makes a successful run. This is a possibility, as our new commentator suggests that once Djokovic retires, we will see a surge of new Grand Slam winners. But for now, in the current match, De Minaur manages to break back and equalize the score at 2-3 in the fourth set, despite being down 30-0 initially. It’s surprising that Rublev gave up his advantage so easily, but the constant distractions from the other side of the court must have been unsettling. De Minaur now leads 4-6 7-6 7-6 2-3.
In the score of 30-15, Rubley successfully hits a backhand shot that wins the point and Kyrgios ponders if his tiredness is causing him to take more risks with shots from both sides. De Minaur then hits a shot out of bounds, giving Rubley the break and solidifying a 3-0 lead in the fourth set.
At a score of 30-15, Rublev executes an excellent backhand slice that crosses the court and dips over the net. De Minaur is unable to return it and he then commits a double fault, resulting in a break point for Rublev. Rublev is performing strongly, hitting powerful shots from the back until his opponent makes an error, earning him an immediate break. De Minaur is currently leading 4-6 7-6 7-6 0-2.
De Minaur starts off the fourth set with great energy. He is aware that Rublev is determined and fired up to maintain his intensity. Despite making a score of 0-15 and 15-all, De Minaur hits a forehand that goes long. This match seems like it will go to five sets as we have already been playing for three hours and eleven minutes for just three sets and three points. It has been an incredibly entertaining match, with moments of brilliance and changes in momentum. Is Rublev starting to tire? He seems a bit hesitant as De Minaur reaches 30-all, but ultimately manages to secure the lead in the fourth set.
Rublev successfully defends the first shot, moving towards the backhand corner to hit a powerful forehand winner down the line. However, in a surprising turn of events, De Minaur manages to stay in the rally and counter Rublev’s forehand with a quick move towards the ball and a strong hit to the corner. Despite Rublev’s attempt to run towards it, De Minaur skillfully flings his racket and delivers a winning shot down the line, ultimately winning the set. It’s almost unbelievable how he managed to pull that off! The score is now 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(4), with De Minaur in the lead.
Once again, Rublev becomes more enraged as he hits a long return, giving De Minaur three set points at 6-3.
Wow! It seems that De Minaur managed to make a comeback in the rally by retrieving a short ball and then flicking one that hit the cord twice. This gave him a score of 4-3 and solidified his lead when Rublev’s return went long, causing him to cry out in frustration. De Minaur now leads 5-3!
Rublev hits a powerful backhand winner across the court, gaining a small lead, but then makes a mistake and loses it. He shows his frustration by hitting his racket against his knee like a child in trouble. De Minaur now has the upper hand, but it doesn’t last long as the score becomes tied at 2-2. The Australian player is able to dominate more rallies now, making it 3-2. However, Rublev responds with a strong serve and forehand combo, tying the score again at 3-3. These two players are evenly matched.
Wow! What an incredible play from De Minaur! He jumps and stretches to return a shot, quickly moves across the court, and hits a backhand winner. The rally continues, with both players giving it their all. Unfortunately, De Minaur makes a mistake and goes long, resulting in a tie at 15-all. On the next point, De Minaur tries to take advantage of a second serve but misses the backhand return. Rublev also struggles with his backhand and sends it long. Just when it seems like De Minaur will win the set, Rublev makes a comeback and ties the score at 40-40. De Minaur impressively stays in the point before hitting a top-spin winner for deuce. The match is intense and captivating, and De Minaur continues to play with determination. He runs around his backhand and hits a powerful forehand winner down the line, giving him another set point. But Rublev surprises everyone with two strong backhand shots, tying the score at deuce. Despite the close call on the previous shot, Rublev is able to close out the set and force another tiebreaker. This is a fierce and intense battle between two skilled players.
De Minaur attempts the lob trick once more while leading 30-15, but unfortunately, this time it goes out and he has to recover quickly. He manages to save himself with a strong serve, followed by another, and it seems like they might be headed to another tiebreaker. However, Rublev needs to hold at 5-6 first.
De Minaur will be frustrated that he was unable to secure the win, but it was expected as Rublev’s performance has been improving in the last few games. Rublev holds for 5-5 and it wouldn’t be surprising if he gains momentum and breaks again.
De Minaur hits a hesitant backhand wide, causing Rublev to make a long shot and tie the score at 15-all. However, another error from De Minaur gives Rublev the advantage with a score of 15-30. Taking a moment to regroup, De Minaur manages to even the score at 30-all when Rublev makes another overhit. In a long rally, De Minaur’s backhand falls wide, giving Rublev a break-back point. Rublev almost converts, but his forehand narrowly misses the corner. Then, he nets a return and hands over set point, showing his frustration through his racket. However, Rublev responds with impressive shots from the back, earning a deuce and playing much better towards the end of the set. When De Minaur nets a forehand, Rublev gets his first break-back point. The pressure is on for both players. In the end, De Minaur’s fifth double fault allows Rublev to tie the game at 5-4 in the third set.
Rublev is currently leading with a score of 15-0 and just hit his 15th double of the match. De Minaur, on the other hand, has only hit four doubles. However, he manages to regain his powerful serves and holds onto his lead, with a score of 5-3. The Australian player will now serve for the set, with the home crowd growing more and more anxious.
In the initial two sets, Rublev was primarily controlling the rallies while De Minaur managed to keep up. However, this is no longer the case and when De Minaur faces minor pressure at 15-all, he confidently serves an ace down the center. A year and a half ago, he was not able to do this and to emphasize his improvement, he serves another ace at 40-15, securing him a score of 5-2! Now, it is Rublev’s turn to serve and try to stay in the set.
Rublev took the start of this set off – probably not on purpose, but he knows he could and probably should have taken the second before the breaker, so losing it knocked him. But he’s playing a little better now, holding to 15 to stay within a break-back at 2-4 in the third.
Rublev is becoming more frustrated as he attempts to win the point at 40-0, but De Minaur seems to have an easy hold in sight. However, Rublev still takes a swing at the ball in annoyance and surprisingly manages to make a winning cross-court return. The score then becomes 40-30, and a beautiful backhand winner down the line brings it to deuce. Kyrgios believes Rublev should use this shot more often, but it doesn’t lead to a shift in momentum. De Minaur quickly finishes the game, taking the lead at 4-6 7-6 4-1.
Rublev is struggling to find his rhythm, hitting a shot that barely grazes the outer edge of the baseline to bring the score to 30-all. Then, at 40-30, he hits a backhand wide but recovers to hold his serve and finally get a point on the board in the third set, making it 1-3.
At a score of 30-all, De Minaur serves impressively and earns game-point. Rublev hits a backhand into the net, giving De Minaur the advantage. Looking back at the tiebreaker, Rublev had relied on his serve and forehand to get out of tricky situations. However, as mentioned before, even one point can make all the difference and this was the case with De Minaur’s incredible lob shot, which ultimately determined the outcome. De Minaur leads 4-6, 7-6(5), 3-0 over Rublev.
Currently, De Minaur is performing at a higher level. He earns 15-40 points…and Rublev sends a backhand shot out of bounds! This results in a break! Kyrgios acknowledges that Rublev appears to be struggling, and as a fellow player, he understands that feeling. He shares, “I have ongoing conversations with around 10 different personalities in my mind when I’m on the court.” De Minaur is now leading 2-0 in the third set.
Kyrgios is thoroughly enjoying this competition – one could argue that he is displaying more passion for it than for some of his own matches. In the meantime, De Minaur counters a 0-15 deficit with two massive forehands, bringing him to 30. It is revealed that Rublev’s coach wants him to have a slightly less intense love for tennis in order to maintain a calmer demeanor on the court. Kyrgios mentions that he has also struggled with finding love in his career. D-Min holds on to win the first game of the third set.
Wow, what an amazing rally! Rublev is completely in control and De Minaur is defending in an incredibly impressive way. He’s not just retrieving the ball, he’s also posing a challenge. The set ends with a fantastic lob, giving De Minaur set point at 6-4. However, Rublev manages to make a good return and regains the mini-break. But then De Minaur hits a beautiful backhand winner cross-court to win the set! This match is shaping up to be a really great one, with both players performing at their best. The set took a whopping 73 minutes to finish. De Minaur leads 4-6 7-6(5) against Rublev.
The match has been ongoing for 68 minutes and De Minaur is close to winning the set at 5-3 after Rublev misses a backhand on serve. De Minaur makes a great forehand winner in the corner, bringing the score to 4-5, but he will need to win the tiebreaker to secure the set.
In that set, Rublev displayed superior skills and appeared more likely to secure a break. As the tiebreaker began, he quickly gained the lead, with his powerful forehand causing D-Min to hit long shots. However, it’s important to note that Rublev’s backhand was also effective tonight, although it was not able to be targeted successfully. Suddenly, Rublev’s shot hits the net-cord and De Minaur quickly moves in, skillfully flicking a low winner around the net-post. As a result, the match is now tied at 3-3.
At a score of 30-15, De Minaur lost a rally with slices by hitting the ball out. However, on the next point, Rublev also hits his backhand out by a small margin. This leads to a tiebreaker in the second set, which could determine the outcome of the match. If Rublev wins, he will likely win the match, but if De Minaur wins, it will be a close game. The current score is De Minaur 4-6 6-6 Rublev.
De Minaur executes a beautiful shot, but feels the need to apologize when it turns into a point for him. This suggests that he may have intended to play something else. Despite this, he gains a 15-30 advantage… Rublev counters with two successful serves, putting him in the lead with a score of 6-4 6-5.
Reworded:
In the match tied at 15 points each, Rublev executes a forehand shot to the corner, then follows it with a powerful inside-out winner that leaves De Minaur unable to retrieve it. However, De Minaur manages to even out the score at 5-5. Despite playing well, he has struggled to overcome Rublev’s strong serve and forehand in crucial moments. If a tiebreaker is played, it could come down to just a few points.
Just imagine causing this response in one of the most resilient individuals to ever live.
I am having difficulty finding video footage, but did anyone witness Julia, the wife of Martina Navratilova, surprising her by learning to sing opera – which Martina loves – and then performing it at her “Fuck Cancer” party on Real Housewives of Miami? It may seem silly, but it is quite beautiful – if you have the chance, look it up. On the tennis court, Rublev once again delivers under pressure with a powerful forehand and an ace out wide, bringing him to deuce. De Minaur will soon serve to stay in the second set, trailing 4-6 4-5.
Rublev and the umpire had a disagreement about the shot-clock, but the exact reason is unclear. Maybe Rublev was not happy with it starting so close to the end of a long rally. In any case, De Minaur easily holds his serve to make it 4-4 in the second set, adding more tension to the match.
Rublev charges forward and aggressively hits a swinging volley into the net instead of making a simple shot; De Minaur now has a 0-30 advantage. However, on 15-30, Rublev makes a double fault, followed by a small burst of anger, giving De Minaur two break points as the arena lights up. Rublev then serves wide and finishes with a powerful forehand to the opposite corner – his two main strengths have been the deciding factor thus far – and take a look! A grueling rally, with D-Min in control hitting deep shots to the back, until Rublev finally works an opportunity for a forehand winner, ending the longest sequence of the match with its 35th shot, an impressive inside-out shot just barely landing on the outside of the sideline. He has handled the pressure situations brilliantly so far, and just moments later, he closes out the set 6-4 4-3 with an ace down the middle.
Rublev ties the score at 30-all with two long forehands from De Minaur. A strong backhand out wide forces D-Min to hit the net, setting up a crucial point. De Minaur serves an ace out wide, but then hits a weak shot long, putting himself in a difficult position. However, he manages to save himself once again with a lucky net-cord and ultimately wins the game. The second set is now tied at 3-3, with Rublev leading by one set.
Rublev is now behind by 15-30, committing his second forehand error of the game, giving De Minaur an opportunity to break. Rublev responds with a series of powerful forehands, but De Minaur manages to retrieve them with skill. Rublev gets lucky with a net-cord point, but De Minaur quickly levels the score at deuce. In commentary, Kyrgios shares that it can be difficult to find Rublev and Nadal’s backhands on return, but on advantage, Rublev hits wide off that wing and De Minaur takes advantage by cleverly coming in. However, De Minaur easily concedes the break point and Rublev successfully closes out the game. It wouldn’t be surprising if Rublev takes advantage of his opponent’s disappointment to break after the change of ends. The score is now 6-4 3-2 in favor of Rublev over De Minaur.
If De Minaur is victorious this evening, Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was defeated by Taylor Fritz earlier, will no longer be ranked in the top 10. When he first emerged in Futures tournaments, I believed he had the potential to become a champion. However, his backhand, which was once a weakness, remains a weakness and he does not seem to be making any improvements. In fact, his opponents are capitalizing on this weakness. De Minaur successfully holds his serve, making the score 2-2 in the second set.
What I love about Rublev’s forehands is how flat he hits it, and in minor grief at 30-all, it quickly restores with advantage, 6-4 2-1. De Minaur is playing OK, but he doesn’t have a weapon of similar potency, which looks likely to be the decisive factor here.
Rublev starts off strong with a backhand down the line, earning him 0-15. He follows it up with a powerful forehand, bringing the score to 0-30. Despite making two backhand errors, Rublev still has an advantage thanks to a mistake from De Minaur, giving him a break point. Rublev continues to dominate, but just as he seems to have the game in the bag, De Minaur fights back with an impressive forehand shot. The game goes to deuce, but De Minaur ultimately closes it out. This was a crucial win for De Minaur, as coming back from a set and a break down would have been a difficult task, especially considering how much effort he’s putting in against an opponent who is comfortably positioned on the centerline. The score is now 6-4 1-1 in favor of Rublev.
