It was the day of drama and surprises at the Australian Open. Top seeds had to fight hard and many dark horses threw inspiring performances. Let’s look back at the very eventful day both in the men’s and women’s section of the Australian Open 2020.
The Favorites
Novak Djokovic put up a dominating show against the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka. The Serb fired 17 aces and got the job done in 3 straight sets. The road was not so smooth for another favorite Roger Federer. He was up against the inspired Aussie John Millman, the player who had shunted the Swiss out in 2018 US Open.
Millman took the 1st set looking to repeat the upset. Federer was quick to respond winning the next 2 sets. Millman rallied hard to take the 4th set and the match would now go to a decider. The 5th set went to a tie breaker and Millman was well in front requiring just 2 points to win. Federer came back from nowhere are clinched the tie breaker 10 games to 8. It was a long day at the office for the gritty Swiss but the result brought a much needed relief.
It was a day of surprises in the Women’s draw. Serena Williams in pursuit of her 24th slam was shown exit doors by China’s Wang Qiang. The American battled hard but Qiang broke late in the 3rd set and closed out the match. The surprises would not stop just there as defending champion Naomi Osaka was bundled out in 2 straight sets by the American teenage sensation Coco Gauff.
Local favourite and World Number 1 Ash Barty however restored some order by defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in 2 straight sets. Barty now remains as odds on favourite in the Women’s draw after today’s series of upsets.
The Challengers
Big serving Canadian Milos Raonic played a great game defeating the World Number 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. The match lasted for 3 tight sets and Tsitsipas tried to register a comeback many times but Raonic was just too strong on the day. Sam Querrey was knocked out in straight sets by fellow American Tennys Sandgren, the same player who had earlier beaten the World Number 8 Matteo Berrettini in the 2nd round.
Another in-form player who went down on day 5 was Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut. The World Number 9 faced the determined 2018 finalist Marin Cilic of Croatia. The match lasted for 5 sets and swung back and forth. However Cilic looked a slightly better player in the moments that would matter. The Croat closed the match raising his game in the 5th set.
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Italy’s Fabio Fognini who looks in solid touch beat Argentina’s Guido Pella in 3 straight sets. Another Argentinean star Diego Schwartzman however registered a dominant victory against the Serb Dusan Lajovic. Schwartzman would now face the Serbian superstar and World Number 2 Novak Djokovic in the 4th round. The match expected to be a pulsating encounter with both men in great form.
Wozniacki Bows Out
Danish star Caroline Wozniacki’s career ended with a defeat against the Tunisian player Ons Jabeur. The former World Number 1 who had announced that the 2020 Australian Open would be her last professional event followed her friend Serena Williams after being beaten in 2 hard fought sets.
The 2019 runner up Petra Kvitová of Czech Republic had a relatively easy day at the office. She defeated the Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in 2 straight sets and at the loss of just 3 games. Greek star Maria Sakkari also progressed to the 4th round with a great performance. She beat the World Number 11 Madison Keys of the United States in 2 sets.
That’s all we have for you on this eventful 5th day of the tournament from Melbourne Park. We will be back tomorrow to bring you the recap of another crucial day when the World Number 1 Rafa Nadal and many other great players take to the court.