Key events
-
Cilic wins third set v Ruud 4-6 4-6 6-3
-
Mensik beats Quinn 6-2 7-6(5) 7-6(5)
-
Ruud wins the second set v Cilic 4-6, 4-6
-
Rybakina beats Valentova: 6-2, 6-3
-
Djokovic beats Van de Zandschulp: 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
-
Swiatek beats Kalinskaya: 6-1, 1-6, 6-1
-
Djokovic wins the second set v Van de Zandschulp: 3-6, 4-6
-
Fritz beats Wawrinka: 7-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
-
Wang beats Noskova: 7-5, 6-4
-
Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal statement
-
Kalinskaya wins the second set v Swiatek: 1-6, 6-1
-
Naomi Osaka withdraws
-
Djokovic wins the first set v Van de Zandschulp: 6-3
-
Preamble
A quick reminder of today’s men’s singles results:
-
J Sinner (It, 2) bt E Spizzirri (US) 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4
-
B Shelton (US, 8) bt V Vacherot (Mnc, 30) 6-4 6-4 7-6(5)
-
T Fritz (US, 9) bt S Wawrinka (Swi) 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4 6-4
-
N Djokovic (Ser, 4) bt B van de Zanschulp (Neth) 6-3 6-4 7-6(4)
-
J Mensik (Cz, 16) bt E Quinn (US) 6-2 7-6(5) 7-6(5)
Cilic wins third set v Ruud 4-6 4-6 6-3
A fourth set beckons after some imperious hitting from Cilic, who nails a couple of forehands down the line on the way to holding his serve.
Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 5-3 Ruud (*next server)
A huge slice of luck gives Cilic a crucial break! The veteran’s return hits the top of the net and bounces the other side – Ruud had no chance. There’s an apology and Cilic now serves for the third set.
Mensik beats Quinn 6-2 7-6(5) 7-6(5)
The young Czech and 16th seed is through to the fourth round for the first time after holding his nerve in another tight tiebreak in the third set. The 20-year-old will face Novak Djokovic next!
Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 4-3 *Ruud (*next server)
Cilic smacks a forehand crosscourt at a devilish angle to go 30-15 up but Ruud hangs on in there. The No 12 seed wastes a chance at 30-30 with an overhit backhand and Cilic seals the game with an ace.
Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 3-3 Ruud (*next server)
All square as Ruud holds again. I have to say I’m a fan of Cilic’s subtle stripy white shirt.
Mensik v Quinn has gone to a tiebreak in the third set, the Czech player two sets up.
Casper Ruud is looking to get beyond the third round in Melbourne for only the second time in his career and the first since 2021. He was knocked out in the second round by Alexander Zverev last year. The No 12 seed is back on serve.
Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 3-2 *Ruud (*next server)
Cilic thunders down an ace at 30-15 before wrapping up another hold with a first serve that Ruud wafts into the net.
Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 2-2 Ruud (*next server)
Hello everyone. This third set is motoring on nicely. Ruud closes out a hold to 15 with an ace down the T.
Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 2-1 *Ruud (*denotes next server)
And another hold for Cilic. Your move, Caspar.
Billy Munday is here while I take a break.
*Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 1-1 Ruud (*denotes next server)
With serve early doors in the third set.
Just one of the day’s big stories: Naomi Osaka withdrawing due to injury.
“I thought I could push through it,” she said. “I played my last match with some pain, and I thought maybe if I gave myself a break before my match today, I would be able to handle it, but I warmed up, and it got a lot worse.”
Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 1-0 *Ruud (*denotes next server)
The Croatian holds to open the third set. He spurned a golden chance to break his opponent at the end of the second. Can he make any progress on the Ruud serve in the third?
Mensik 6-2, 7-6, 3-3 Quinn is a latest score in the men’s singles third round.
Ruud wins the second set v Cilic 4-6, 4-6
Well, here is a bit of meaningful pressure. At 0-30 Cilic gets a stroke of luck, the ball flicking off the net and down on Ruud’s side. Three break points. Ruud saves one point with an ace. Then a big second serve that Cilic sends long. That’s 30-40.
Ruud pumps his fist when he saves the third break point, and again when he serves solidly again to fashion an advantage. It goes back to deuce, Ruud then saves yet another break point, and edges through with an ace to seal the second set.
Ruud has reached three grand slam finals: the French Open twice (2022 and 2023) plus the US Open in 2022. His best result here in Melbourne is the fourth round in 2021.
Cilic 4-6, 4-5 *Ruud (*denotes next server)
Now the 27-year-old Ruud can serve for the set. It doesn’t feel like Cilic is going to be able to apply any meaningful pressure.
*Cilic 4-6, 3-5 Ruud (*denotes next server)
Some more elite serving from the Norwegian. He is playing very fluently and with beautiful rhythm. Cilic must serve to stay in the second set.
Any thoughts on the action, including Djokovic’s earlier win, or anything else? Do send me an email.
Cilic 4-6, 3-4 *Ruud (*denotes next server)
Cilic starts off with a confident serve and volley, the volley being an overhead smash that wins the point quicksmart. A wild backhand return from Ruud, on Cilic’s second serve, makes it 40-15, and an ace seals it.
*Cilic 4-6, 2-4 Ruud (*denotes next server)
The Croatian will serve, seeking to stay in touch in this second set.
It’s approaching 11pm in Melbourne, and the temperature has dropped to about 29C. If the forecast is correct, Tuesday will see daytime temperatures into the early 40s.
Cilic 4-6, 2-3 *Ruud (*denotes next server)
A comfy hold for Cilic. This match looks potentially similar to Djokovic’s win earlier: regular moments of brilliance, but a bit short on genuine drama. We shall see.
*Cilic 4-6, 1-3 Ruud (*denotes next server)
So Ruud holds, and Cilic needs to find something from somewhere in this second set.
Mensik 6-2, 7-6(7) Quinn is the latest from Show Court Arena, Mensik having just sealed the second-set tiebreak.
Cilic 4-6, 1-2 *Ruud (*denotes next server)
The Norwegian is a set and a break up.
“I’m happy with the win, definitely,” says Rybakina.
“Today there were a lot of tight games. I was focused. I’m happy to be in the next round.
“I feel for now, it’s not my best tennis yet. Hopefully I can show it. I’m slowly trying to work on some things. Not every day is the same. But yeah, hoping for better confidence in the matches. There are a lot of things I’m working on.
“Elise Mertens is a tough opponent. We played a couple of months ago. The most important thing is for me to focus on my game, stay aggressive, and we’ll see what’s going to happen.”
Rybakina beats Valentova: 6-2, 6-3
Rybakina, the No 5 seed, rounds it off with a typically power-packed forehand cross-court. I didn’t see much of that but it looked like a mismatch based on the final game. Rybakina’s power is too much for most and she’s through to the last 16.
Rybakina 6-2, 5-3 Valentova is the score on John Cain Arena.
So farewell, Botic van de Zandschulp, and see you in the fourth round, Novak.
Cilic v Ruud here we come …
It’s been an eventful day in Australia. Naomi Osaka withdrew from the women’s singles, and play was suspended due to extreme heat.
“He very nearly hit a ball kid, which was crazy,” says Henman of Djokovic as the studio analysis begins.
So Courier didn’t ask Djokovic about nearly hitting the ball girl, but he hinted at some sort of contrition by saying he is too stressed on court.
What advice would Djokovic give to his younger self?
“Calm down you jerk. I’m too stressed on the court very often. Too much tension at times. I would say patience is a big one. When we are younger, regardless of the area of life we are involved in, I think we want everything here and now, today. Just having a bit of patience and trust in the process – and surrounding yourself with the right people, I think that’s a big one – that’s one of the biggest keys I think early on in the career of the young tennis player … you have to build your character so you understand what kind of people you want around yourself. People who can connect with you on a private level … There has to be a good chemistry, there has to be a good atmosphere, from which you can extract good vibes and good energy that can serve you for your great performance.”
Where is Djokovic physically, asks Courier.
“Really good. It’s been a great start. Things can change. I’m not getting ahead of myself, last year, I got too excited too early in some of the grand slams.
“Getting to the quarters and semis and then getting injured in three out of four last year. Well, anyway, I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money. I am still around, still hanging in there. Obviously Alcaraz and Sinner, the two best players in the world, they’re playing on a different level from all of us right now … but when you enter the court, and the ball rolls, you always have a chance – particularly here, the court that has given me the most in my career. I look forward to the next battle.”
Jim Courier is doing the on-court interview. Will he ask him about nearly hitting the ball girl?
“It was a pretty good treatment I must say,” Djokovic says of his opponent’s medical timeout in the first. The crowd chuckles. “He was serving extremely well from that moment onwards. I think at the beginning of the second he did struggle with the arm … I had more looks on his first serve and second serve. But then the tables turned and I must say that I relaxed a little bit too much. I was in trouble to close out the second set. From that moment onwards it was really anybody’s game. I was really lucky to get out of the trouble, the set point in the third. He had an upper hand in that point. Things happen so quickly in this sport … one shot can determine the winner. Really glad to overcome it in “straights”.
It was 48 unforced errors in the end for Van de Zandschulp.
He strolls off court, applauded by the crowd, and Djokovic himself. And Juan Mata.
Djokovic beats Van de Zandschulp: 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
That, remarkably, is Djokovic’s 400th victory at a grand slam tournament.
Double fault! 6-4 Djokovic in the tiebreak …
Tiebreak: Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 6-6 Djokovic
And that’s 6-3 to Djokovic after three errors on the bounce from the Dutchman. Three match points.
Tiebreak: Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 6-6 Djokovic
5-3 to Djokovic after Van de Zandschulp pats an attempted drop shot into the net. Could this be it?
It’s 3-3 in the tiebreak between Djokovic and Van de Zandschulp …
Ruud is a break up on Cilic at 3-2 in the first.
Rybakina has won the first set v Valentova, 6-2.
Tiebreak: Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 6-6 Djokovic
Djokovic dabs a drop shot over the net at 15-0 but Van de Zandschulp runs it down impressively. A sloppy error from Djokovic then makes it 30-30, dumping a forehand into the net … and some astonishing defence from the Dutchman earns him a break point!
He reads a smash correctly, pats back an ordinary volley from Djokovic, who can only find the net after having to chase to the back of the court. Second serve on break point, Van de Zandschulp composes himself, and stays in the point very nicely – but Djokovic opens his shoulders and dispatches an insanely good forehand winner that kisses the line and brings it back to deuce.
And yet … a fresh error from Djokovic hands Van de Zandschulp another break point. Djokovic complains about noise from the crowd, but I think he’s just trying to disrupt his opponent yet again.
The Serbian is losing his temper, which could be good and could be bad for his opponent. Probably bad. At deuce, Van de Zandschulp is in control, spanking a few big forehands everywhere – then he goes to the drop shot, and fluffs it. Djokovic quickly holds and it’s a third-set tiebreak.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 6-5 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp will have a tiebreak, at least. Djokovic must serve to stay in the set.
The Dutchman has racked up 41 unforced errors as we approach the conclusion of this third set. Djokovic has recorded 19.
Mind you, Van de Zandschulp also has 32 winners to 26 for Djokovic. He’s dangerous but wildly inconsistent.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 5-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Your move, Botic. It’s 5-5 in the third.
Oh, and also, Marin Cilic v Caspar Ruud (12) has just started on Margaret Court Arena. Why do I think that has five-set marathon written all over it?
Meanwhile Jakub Mensik (16) has taken his first set against Ethan Quinn, 6-2.
Rybakina 5-2 Valentova is a latest score in the women’s singles.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 5-4 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
And there’s another love hold. Could Van de Zandschulp raise his game, pressurise Djokovic’s serve, and nab the set? It looks unlikely but you never know.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 4-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The Serbian holds, and we move closer to a third-set tiebreak.
