The fourth round was a real treat for tennis fans. It was more of a treat in fact. It was a big box of them freely thrown around like it was the tennis God’s birthday.The tennis review looks at what were the most delicious and some of the less savoury points.
OMG-hide-behind-the-sofa-is-this-really-happening result of the round: A. Ivanovic beats S. Williams 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
No one predicted this. Not even the most ardent Ivanovic fans would have really believed that Ana was going to win this. The Serb though came out with the intent to do damage to Serena, pushing her to the limits from the very first game, and after a nervy first set which Ana somewhat predictably lost, she buckled down, hit that forehand like it was Roland Garros 2008 and took advantage of her fine form, the crowd and Serena’s out-of-sorts play to beat Williams for the first time and make it through to her first Melbourne last eight since 2008. It was the kind of match which was shocking, thrilling and inspiring and made all those hours spent watching whatever-type-affairs worth it.
Performance of the round: R. Federer beats J. Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
It was a little like we had gone back in time to ’05 as Federer won 34 of his 41 advances to the net in his immaculate defeat of Tsonga. This is the kind of play which won Federer all those slams and the decision to team with Edberg is easily the wisest one he could have made at this stage of his career. The performance of the tournament.
It’s-about-time-for-all-these-time-violations award: The umpires
Nadal, Jankovic, Cibulkova, and Sharapova were some of the players given time violations. Nadal in particular got upset as his third one meant he lost his first serve. But all the tutting and glares in the world are not going to get you your way, even if you are Nadal, against a clampdown on what had become one of the uglier parts of the game.
Errant ball tossing award: Sharapova
Cibulkova pointed out in her post match interview after her defeat of the Russian that Sharapova’s errant ball tossing MAY have been on purpose. Much like her grunting louder than ever set point down? Much like her medical time out at the end of the second set?
Fluffed shot of the day: K. Nishikori
That missed forehand at 30-30 5-4 in the third set against Nadal will haunt Nishikori. The Japanese certainly deserved the third set after pushing an in form Nadal all the way in the first two sets. But when his opportunity came and a mid court forehand begged him to put it away, he, to put it bluntly, and politely, messed it up.
Hot-mess-should-have-stayed-at-home award of the round: Maria Sharapova
Watching Maria hit error after error and look clueless on the Rod Laver arena was both distressing and fascinating. The game’s most marketable star, one of its most prolific spokespeople and, when on, arguably its most exciting player was made to look one dimensional and desperate by not only her clued up opponent Cibulkova but by her own too too early return to the game.
Temper temper award: Jankovic
Jankovic got shouty at the start of third set about Halep’s taking her time to return. Even took to barking at her box as she and Halep were inches from each other at the change over. But throwing her toys out the pram did not help her as she failed to win another game.
Take-that-bitches performance of the round: Li Na beats E. Makarova 6-2, 6-0
The backhand volley that won Ni La match point was the high point of a high quality exhibition of power tennis from last year’s finalist against the two time quarter-finalist Makarova.
Clown of the round award: Fognini
The challenging of clearly correct calls, throwing his racket at his opponent in mock anger when losing rather than trying to compete even harder with it, and shaking hands with Djokovic and umpire before the match was over meant that all that was missing from Fognini was a red nose and oversized shoes. Shame that the crowd thought they had bought tickets for a tennis match, the last 16 of a Major in fact, and not the circus.
Set point saver of the round: Anderson.
Kevin Anderson saved eight of them in the second set against Berdych.
Choke survivor of the day: Cibulkova
Cibulkova led 5-0 in the second before Sharapova won 20 of 25 points to make it 5-4. Dominika found her game again, took the set and then the match.
Living up to the hype award: Dimitrov beats R. Bautista-Agut
Dimitrov has done more than expected in reaching the last eight. His presence in the quarter-finals at the same time as a revived Federer will do wonders for the ATP as the legend and his future heir are showcased in the later stages of a Major.
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