Australian Open 3rd round review

The third round of the Australian Open is done, the elite last sixteen assembled. The tennis review looks at what went down down under.

Making good on your promise award of the round: Dimitrov beats Raonic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10)
After last year’s French Open 3rd round showing, the fourth round of a Major was the next place of a Major for Dimitrov to go. And he did it here in Melbourne. And in some style. Playing against Milos Raonic, against whom it is most likely he will compete for Majors in a few years time, Dimitrov put together an impressive 36+ winner/error difference, won 80% of his attempts at the net and converted 2 of 4 break points against one of the tour’s best servers. His upset of the higher seeded opponent left no doubts he can deal with the pressure of being the next big thing.

Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it match of the round: F. Mayer beats J. Janowicz 7-5, 6-2, 6-2
Mayer hit 17 aces to Jerzy’s 3, won 91% of his first serves, and had a 38-7 winner ratio to the Pole’s 34-44 in a match Mayer wrapped up in 98 minutes. It was a focused aggressive display which overwhelmed the Pole as much as the boiling on court temperatures did.

Digging deep award of the round: Li Na beats L.Safarova 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Li Na was match point down in the second set against her experienced opponent but the Chinese number 4 seed dug deep, fought her way back into the second and never looked back. It was a close shave for Li. Broken 6 times and hitting 50 errors, these are the kind of matches she is prone to losing early in Majors and so it was a pleasure to see her find her best game when it really mattered as a last four encounter with Serena could be the women’s match of the event.

Sending-out-warnings performance: Nadal beats Monfils 6-1, 6-2, 6-3
Nadal wiped the floor with his uber-skilled French rival to the loss of 6 games. Winning 72% of first serves, 77% of his second, and converting 50% of his break points, he kept the pressure on and sent out the warning that faster courts or not, his mental strength is as strong as ever and he is here to play ball with whatever you want to throw at him.

Outfit of the round: Alize Cornet

The photo says it all but the tiny sleeved sailor girl dress and red pants was worthy of Cornet and Lacoste and the great second set Sharapova and Cornet put on.

Survivors of the round: All the players.
It is hot out there, the players are not giving up and the fans are getting some great performances.

Close but no cigar award: Radwansaka beats Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Pavlyuchenkova led a set and a break and certainly has the big game to put out Radwanska but it is never over until it is over against Agnieszka and once more Pavvy’s inconsistency got the better of her. As did the consistency of Radwanska. 39 winners on Pavvy’s side is all well and good but 49 errors against someone of the steady caliber of Radwanska is not going to cut it.

Home girl done good award: Casey Dellacqua beats Jie Zheng 6-2, 6-4
Back in 2008, Casey beat Schnyder and Mauresmo on her way to the fourth round and this year the 120th ranked Australian has done it again, taking out 2010 semi-finalist Zheng in straights.

Home girl lost but done good anyway: A. Ivanovic beats S. Stosur 6-7 (8), 4-6, 2-6
Stosur had a tough opponent in Ivanovic, the recent Hobart winner, and had her chances but Ana’s 46 winners outdid her 40 errors, an impressive performance from the former French Open Champion.