With the first round of matches at this year’s final Grand Slam starting from Flushing Meadows today, a look back at a memorable matchup from the first: Naomi Osaka saving two match points against Garbine Muguruza during their enthralling fourth-round encounter. She went on to win her fourth Major, and second in Australia, after an eventful fortnight seven months ago.
Continue reading
Tag: Australian Open 2021
Australian Open 2021: Djokovic defiantly breaks Medvedev’s spirit, retains his crown again
The pressure and weight of expectation was on his shoulders, but world number one Novak Djokovic relished the challenge as his big-match experience showed. He made quick work of an in-form Daniil Medvedev to reign supreme again in Melbourne, lifting a ninth Australian Open title after a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory, ending the Russian’s 20-match winning streak with aplomb. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Jennifer Brady, wins fourth Grand Slam title
Naomi Osaka (#3) clinched her fourth Grand Slam title and second Australian Open triumph with a 6-4, 6-3 win against first-time finalist Jennifer Brady (#22), while extending her win streak to 21 straight. As a result, she becomes the first female to win four singles titles since Maria Sharapova in 2012, and youngest to do so since Monica Seles won the Australian Open in 1992.
Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Medvedev ruthlessly crushes Tsitsipas, into second Slam final
Daniil Medvedev (#4) produced some exquisite shot-making and was relentless to subdue a partisan crowd at the Rod Laver Arena, surviving a late third set wobble to win 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 against Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) – booking his place in Sunday’s final against defending champion Novak Djokovic, extending his win streak to 20 tour matches in just over two hours.
Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Djokovic ends Karatsev’s remarkable run in straight sets
World no. 1 Novak Djokovic produced his best performance of this year’s tournament so far to knock out fearless qualifer Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in just under two hours – booking a ninth Australian Open Final, where he’ll play either an in-form Daniil Medvedev (#4) or Rafael Nadal’s conqueror Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) on Sunday as he looks to again retain his title in Melbourne.
Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams, earns another Final berth
Naomi Osaka (#3) recovered from a sluggish start, down an early break and needing to save points to avoid a 3-0 deficit, to beat Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4 in an hour 15 minutes as fans returned, watching in awe as the 23-year-old once again put her idol’s aspirations for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title on ice – booking another Final appearance this weekend. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Barty knocked out, Tsitsipas’ resiliency helps him topple Nadal
World number one Ashleigh Barty was stunned in three sets against Karolina Muchova (#25), second seed Rafael Nadal relinquished a two-set advantage as Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) ended his tournament after a gruelling four-hour battle, while there were big wins for Daniil Medvedev (#4) and Jennifer Brady (#22) elsewhere on another unpredictable day of tennis in Melbourne.
Australian Open 2021: Injuries, retirements overshadow Day 8 as more quarter-finals set
Casper Ruud was forced to retire midway through his first fourth-round match at a Grand Slam, no. 9 seed Matteo Berrettini didn’t take to court against Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) with a worsening abdominal strain while Karolina Muchova (#25) recovered from 5-2 down in the first set to stun Belgium’s Elise Mertens – but also has a pre-existing ab injury and was wincing mid-match.
Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Comebacks aplenty as Osaka, Halep and Karatsev all recover
Naomi Osaka (#3) saved two match points, world no. 2 Simona Halep set up an exciting quarter-final clash vs. Serena Williams after both earned gritty three-set wins over Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka respectively. Elsewhere, Aslan Karatsev’s historic run continued against all odds while Novak Djokovic continued his unbeaten H2H streak at Milos Raonic’s expense.
Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Tsitsipas and Rublev cruise, Barty and Nadal navigate tricky wins
There were routine victories for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, Matteo Berrettini had an injury scare but managed to outlast Karen Khachanov in three tight sets. That was before Rafael Nadal and world number one Ashleigh Barty found ways to grit past tricky challenges in the night session, booking their respective places into the second week in Melbourne. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Osaka and Serena win, Karatsev shines, a Kyrgios-Thiem epic
Day 5 was one not to be missed, as Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and more navigated past potentially tricky matchups while there were surprises on the men’s side of the draw as Aslan Karatsev was ruthlessly efficient in toppling Diego Schwartzman (#8), Kyrgios-Thiem certainly lived up to the hype and an injured Novak Djokovic closed the show in dramatic circumstances. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Kenin crashes out, Tsitsipas survives, Svitolina ruthless
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas needed all five sets to outlast home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis, who again proved he can hang with the world’s best at this level – despite his injuries. Before, there was a tearful exit for defending champion Sofia Kenin while top seed Ashleigh Barty survived a scare to beat wildcard Daria Gavrilova and Elina Svitolina beat teenager Cori Gauff. Continue reading
