The eighth day of the Australian Open, the last day of the fourth round, had a bit of everything a slam needs- upsets, drama and feels.
The upsets were:
Kanepi defeating Sabalenka (2) in three sets, winning a final set tiebreak. This was a big one. Sabalenka has been beset with double faults and just about squeezed into round four. The veteran Kanepi made her seventh slam quarter final in her 23rd season on tour by being the one to finally remove the second seed. It was a see-saw match with Kanepi serving for the match in the third only to be broken. In the final set tiebreaker, Kanepi thought she had it won at 9-7 and gave a very mild celebration. Fortunately for her, she managed to get it done on the next point.
Cornet defeating Halep (14) in three sets. This was a tough fought battle. At the end of the match, interviewer Jelena Dokic acknowledged Cornet’s emotions at finally reaching a slam quarter final after 60 main draw appearances (3rd highest after Sugiyama and Schiavone). Dokic talked about how she herself had hoped to play Cornet in the 2009 quarters when Cornet had match points and a 5-2 lead against Safina. Cornet later paid respects to what a great player Dokic had been and how she was as great a commentator. Everyone listening went for the tissues.
Collins (27) defeating Mertens (19) in three sets. Collins came from a set down.
Though it was not an upset, the women gave us another three setter- Swiatek (7) coming from a set down to beat Cirstea.
There were no upsets in the men’s draw. There were some very competitive matches. Tsitsipas (4) and Fritz (20) gave us five set drama. Felix Auger-Aliassime (9) beat in- form Cilic (27) n four. Medvedev (2) beat Cressy in four, too, and had a little gif worthy outburst at the officials and his opponent. Medvedev was denied a toilet break in the first set and then complained the umpire let Cressy take too long on his serve and that Cressy was ‘lucky’ and the situation ‘boring’. Medvedev even admitted after the match that there had been some theatrics to get into his opponent’s head and that he regretted his behavior.
A very strong eighth day at the Australian Open and the perfect lead in to tomorrow’s quarter finals.
Here are the QFs for the men and women’s games.
Men:
Monfils (17) vs Berrettini (7)
Shapovalov (14) vs Nadal (6)
Two veterans versus young players.
Sinner (11) vs Tsitsipas (4)
FAA (9) vs Medvedev (2)
Old next gen vs new next gen.
It’s a very good line up- two slam champs (Nadal, Medvedev) and two runner ups (Berrettini, Tsitsipas), three players widely tipped to be future slam champs (Shapovalov, FAA and Sinner) and one of the game’s most popular, entertaining athletes (Monfils).
Women’s.
Barty (1) vs Pegula (21)
Krejcikova (4) vs Keys
Collins (27) vs Cornet
Swiatek (7) vs Kanepi.
This is not as random as QF line ups can get on the WTA.
We have three former Australian Open semi-finalists (Barty, Keys, Collins). Three former grand slam champs (Barty, Swiatek, Krejcikova, two of them reigning) and a slam runner up (Keys). Two vets (Cornet, Kanepi), one of them a multiple slam quarter finalist.
The next two days could be something special.
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