The efficiency of the American, the excitement of the Belarusian, the strength of the Spaniard, a look back at the highlights of the 3e tour in Melbourne this Friday.
The number: 6
The number of service games lost (5 in 1is set, 1 in 2e) by Aryna Sabalenka, qualified in pain 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 for the round of 16 against the Danish Clara Tauson (42nd). “It's really difficult to serve here, the balls are heavy, the court is slow. It was a fantastic battle, she played incredible tennis.” Sabalenka (2 double faults; 60% of points scored on her first serve) had to deal with a fragile put-in (which has long been her Achilles heel) before achieving a third victory in a row in two sets. 'in a row. She will face in the round of 16 the Russian Mirra Andreeva (15th in the world; 17 years old) who eliminated the Polish Magdalena Frech (26th) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. Sabalenka registers as the first since Simona Halep (2018-2022) to qualify for 5e consecutive time for the round of 16 in Melbourne.
The sentence
“In my next life, I want to be left-handed”
In an extremely tense match, finally won 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 against the Russian Diana Shnaider (seeded n°12), the Croatian Donna Vekic won her qualification for the round of 16 with a lot of determination at the end of the match. In the 3e set, led 5-3, back to the wall, she pocketed 4 games to achieve a breathtaking success against the Russian left-hander. Before the next round, she has a meeting with the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Vekic slipped: “It was difficult. She played incredibly well. In my next life, I want to be left-handed. »
The video
Led 5-0 in 2e set, Paola Badosa (seeded n°11) had an exchange with Stefanos Tsitsipas who advised her to calm down, she handed him the racket to come and take her place. “I told my coach… but he was very supportive… I think he was more nervous than me”then had fun, the Spaniard who knew how to put her ideas and her game in order to get 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 against the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (seeded n°17 ) his qualification for the round of 16 (the first in Melbourne since 2022). Kostuk, struggling with his serve (16 double faults), attempted a spoon serve in the 3e set.
The Spaniard will face the Serbian Olga Danilovic or the American Jessica Pegula (seeded n°7).
The point
« Speedy Gonzalez »as Stefanos Tsitsipas nicknamed him at Roland Garros, once again showed off his speed. The Spaniard (seeded n°3) posed a constant threat to the Portuguese Nuno Borges to breathe. And slipped in some spectacular points.
But the point of the match was signed by the Portuguese Borges. And he had to work hard to score it against Alcaraz who tried everything: crazy runs, defense on a smash, backhand smash, dive…
Winner 6-2, 6-4, 6th (3/7), 6-2, the Spaniard will meet the Briton Jack Draper or the Australian Aleksandar Vukic in the round of 16.
The fit man
Tommy Paul (seeded n°12) managed a solo victory 7-6 (7/0), 6-2, 6-0 against the Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena. A performance accompanied by 56 winning shots (57 in his previous victorious match against Kei Nishikori. In the next round, the American will face the Czech Jakub Mensik or the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Future
Sur la John Cain Arena : Ugo Humbert (From, 14)-Arthur Fils (From, 20).
From 9 am, on the Rod Laver Arena: Djokovic (Ser, 1)-Machac (Rtc, 26); Olga Danilovic (Ser)-Jessica Pegula (EU, 7). On the Margaret Court Arena: Coco Gauff (EU, 3)-Leylah Fernandez (Can, 30); Jack Draper (GB, 15)-Alexandar Vukic (Aus).
