Australian Open 2025: Djokovic in motion; Sabalenka, Alcaraz progress on day 4 – reside | Australian Open 2025
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Key occasions
Novak Djokovic (7) took time to ease into his work however the ten-time champion has discovered his big-serving opponent, taking the opening set towards Jaime Faria 6-1.
Jiri Lehecka (24) is thru to the third spherical after Hugo Gaston retired halfway by means of the second set. The Czech was up 6-3 3-1.
The story of Alcaraz’s victory was all about his serve. Not normally the recipient of many low-cost factors, the Spaniard despatched down 14 aces, near his tour-best.
Two fast matches in a row, and receiving much less bodily punishment than regular, Alcaraz’s standing on this draw is growing each day. Up subsequent is the winner of Thompson v Borges.
Carlos Alcaraz (3) beats Yoshihito Nishioka 6-0 6-1 6-4
The second significantly spectacular demolition job in a row for the Spanish third seed. Carlos Alcaraz’s bid to turn into the youngest man to safe a profession grand slam is off to a blistering begin.
Tomas Machac (26) survives a fourth set tiebreak (the third in a row) towards the large Reilly Opelka to ship their match right into a decider.
Whereas Novak Djokovic (7) has an early break towards the large serving Jaime Faria within the opening set.
After a gradual begin, Naomi Osaka is shifting and hitting like a two-time former champion, dominating the second set towards Karolina Muchova (20) to ship their match right into a decider.
Novak Djokovic (7) has simply stepped onto Rod Laver Area for his second spherical conflict with Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria.
Whereas dwelling favorite Jordan Thompson (27) has simply received underway on John Cain Area towards one other Portuguese, Nuno Borges. The winner of that contest has the unenviable job of taking up Carlos Alcaraz in spherical three.
Former champion Naomi Osaka has damaged Karolina Muchova (20) early within the second set as she bids to stay within the contest.
Massive serving Reilly Opelka is 2-1 up in units over Tomas Machac (26) behind a staggering 29 aces.
Whereas Jiri Lehecka (24) has taken the opening set off Hugo Gaston.
BREAKING NEWS: Yoshihito Nishioka has received a recreation!
Sadly for the unseeded Japanese, Carlos Alcaraz has received 12. The Spanish tyro is cruising 6-0 6-1.
That’s simply eight video games dropped in 5 units to this point for the 21-year-old.
Mirra Andreeva (14) beats Moyuka Uchijima 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-8)
The 17-year-old 14th seed sneaks by means of to 3rd spherical by the pores and skin of her enamel. Moyuka Uchijima served for the match at 5-4 within the third set however couldn’t recover from the road. Mirra Andreeva then simply saved the ball in play and invited her opponent to make errors, establishing a rollercoaster tiebreak.
Andreeva raced right into a 6-3 lead, solely to be pegged again, after which overtaken 6-8. {The teenager} gathered herself, held her nerve, and received the ultimate 4 factors.
Polish twenty third seed Magdalena Fręch awaits in spherical three.
Mirra Andreeva (14) has dug deep to ship her conflict with Moyuka Uchijima right into a closing set tie-break.
Elsewhere, Karolina Muchova (20) has raced to the primary set 6-1 over former champion Naomi Osaka.
And Carlos Alcaraz (3) has already damaged Yoshihito Nishioka within the second set. That one could possibly be heading for a double bagel.
One other end result to replace you on: Tokyo gold medallist Belinda Bencic has backed up her victory over Jelena Ostapenko by dishing out with Suzan Lamens. Bencic is getting back from maternity depart and can face the winner of Muchová v Osaka in spherical three.
Within the time it’s taken me to tie up some free ends within the ladies’s singles, Carlos Alcaraz has handed Yoshihito Nishioka a bagel. The Spaniard received 12 of 13 factors on his personal serve and 12 of 15 on the serve of his Japanese opponent. That set took lower than 20 minutes!
Laura Siegemund beats Qinwen Zheng (5) 7-6 5-3
China’s Qinwen Zheng turns into the largest casualty of the Australian Open to this point. Final yr’s overwhelmed finalist was soundly overwhelmed by a terrific efficiency from the German veteran.
That’s Siegemund’s first win over a top-10 participant at a slam, and first over a top-10 participant in three years. She’s by means of to a career-best third spherical in Melbourne.
Carlos Alcaraz is our subsequent headliner of the day, however earlier than we examine in on the Spanish third seed, let’s take a fast spin across the courts.
Qinwen Zheng (5) is in determined hassle towards veteran Laura Siegemund on John Cain Area. The German will serve for the match at 5-3 within the second set.
Mirra Andreeva (14) can be struggling, on the verge of defeat to Moyuka Uchijima.
Karolina Muchova (20) has raced to a 4-0 lead over Naomi Osaka.
Reilly Opelka and Tomas Machac (26) are locked at one set apiece on serve within the third.
Watching Sabalenka’s willpower at this time jogged my memory of an interview she gave right here in Melbourne again in 2019. On the time she had solely simply grazed the highest ten of the WTA Rankings, and was nonetheless two years away from attain a quarter-final at a slam, however her confidence and ambition have been sky excessive, unabashed at declaring she needed a calendar yr grand slam on her CV. If she will be able to determine clay and grass, it’s hers for the taking.
Aryna Sabalenka (1) beats Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3 7-5
One of the best hardcourt participant on the circuit continues her unimaginable run on the Australian Open however she didn’t have all of it her personal approach towards the world No 54. However from 1-4 down within the second set she dug deep to show the tide and slug her approach into the third spherical the place she’s going to face Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
Bouzas Maneiro can depart together with her head held excessive. She performed aggressively all through, particularly towards the Sabalenka serve, crafting proactive factors and committing to her photographs regardless of the event.
Two double faults from Bouzas Maneiro and her spirited effort is starting to fade towards the world primary. Sabalenka will serve for a spot in spherical three.
Sabalenka holds instantly after breaking to claw her approach again from 1-4 to 5-5 within the second set. Bouzas Maneiro will rue failing to serve out the set when she had the chance, her aggression dipping somewhat, coinciding with Sabalenka asserting her energy from the baseline. The Spaniard will do effectively now to withstand the Belorussian’s momentum.
Jonathan Howcroft
Thanks very a lot Martin. What a spectacular day of tennis that is. The scheduling has to this point been lopsided, favouring the even days, like this, the place we get to get pleasure from Sabalenka, then Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Gauff, all in fast succession.
My consideration will stay on the ladies’s primary seed, for now, who has simply damaged again towards Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, however stays in a second set dogfight.
Jonathan Howcroft will take the reins for the following few hours however right here is the present state of play in the principle singles matches throughout Melbourne Park.
Laura Siegemund leads Qinwen Zheng (7) by 7-6(3), 2-0 on JCA.
Tomas Machac has fought again to take the second set in a tie-breaker in a immediately even contest with Reilly Opelka. The rating for the American stands at 6-3, 6-7(1), 1-1.
And we’re right into a deciding set on courtroom 3 as Moyuka Uchijima pulls again the second to make the scoreline 4-6, 6-3, 1-1 towards Mirra Andreeva (14).
However the principle curiosity is on RLA the place Jessica Bouzas Maneiro is serving to take the second set from Aryna Sabalenka (1) at 5-3.
Jessica Pegula (7) beats Elise Mertens 6-4 6-2
Jessica Pegula is into the third spherical after easing previous Elise Mertens on MCA. The American was in a position to depend on her typically dependable first serve whereas drawing simply sufficient errors from Mertens.
The tables have turned on RLA as Jessica Bouzas Maneiro breaks Aryna Sabalenka then holds serve to take a 4-1 lead within the second set. The No 1 seed continues to be making too many errors however that’s due partially to Bouzas Maneiro’s consistency and confidence from the baseline.
Olga Danilović beats Liudmila Samsonova (25) 6-1 6-2
The primary winner of the day is Olga Danilović because the Serbian takes simply 65 minutes to ship Liudmila Samsonova packing. Samsonova struggled together with her first serve all through to make one other early exit at a match that has hardly been her pal throughout what’s now six visits.
After each gamers had their points with holding serve within the opening set, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro begin the second set doing simply that. The reigning champion serves at 6-3, 1-2.
Olga Danilović has one foot within the third spherical because the Serbian leads Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 5-2. The No 25 seed will serve to remain within the match.
It’s all heating up on JCA as Laura Siegemund stuns Qinwen Zheng in a tie-breaker. Too many errors proved pricey for the No 5 seed because the German veteran wins the primary set 7-6(3).
Aryna Sabalenka is hardly having all of it her personal approach however holds serve to win the primary set towards Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3 in 44 minutes. The Belarusian edged the set with 16-9 winners however each gamers will need to step up their service video games from right here.
Jessica Pegula claims the primary set from Elise Mertens 6-4 on MCA, however there’s a tighter contest over on JCA the place Qinwen Zheng and Laura Siegemund are heading to a tie-breaker.
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro has put up a courageous battle to this point on RLA however Aryna Sabalenka is firing now. The Spaniard is serving to remain within the set after the world No 1 pushes out to a 5-2 lead. However can Bouzas Maneiro maintain serve for the primary time at this time?
A mini-upset is brewing on Kia Area as Olga Danilović wins the primary set towards Liudmila Samsonova 6-1 in underneath half an hour. The No 25 seed has then taken an early 2-1 lead within the second set after instantly breaking the Serbian.
No 14 ladies’s seed Mirra Andreeva has taken the primary set from Moyuka Uchijima 6-4. {The teenager}’s serve is up and working with 5 aces to none within the first set whereas Andreeva can be on prime 16-6 for winners.
Neither participant can maintain serve in a considerably surprisingly tense encounter on RLA. Bouzas Maneiro once more takes Sabalenka to deuce however this time takes to recreation shortly off an error from the world No 1 then a forehand winner by the Spaniard. A lot of this match is being determined by whether or not or not Sabalenka lands her photographs although. Sabalenka leads the primary set 3-2 with Bouzas Maneiro to serve.
Over on 1573 Area, and Reilly Opelka has taken solely 25 minutes to say the primary set from Tomas Machac 6-3. The American despatched down 9 aces and hit a prime pace of 219km/h to win 18/20 first serves in a blistering begin.
Aryna Sabalenka breaks Jessica Bouzas Maneiro for a second time in as many service video games, this time to fifteen, because the 22-year-old Spaniard’s serve already looms as the principle challenge towards the Belarusian powerhouse.
Aryna Sabalenka breaks Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to 30 on the first try however the Spaniard bounces again instantly. Bouzas Maneiro pulls away to a 0-30 lead following a pair of unforced errors from Sabalenka, then takes the sport to deuce and 4 break-back factors – the third from an enormous confidence booster with a elegant cross-court forehand winner. The world No 54 brings out a backhand winner to lastly end off the sport and put the primary set again on serve.
Jessica Pegula is up towards Elise Mertens on Margaret Courtroom Area with the primary few video games shortly going to serve. Mertens leads the No 7 seed 2-1.
Aryna Sabalenka with a usually dominant begin because the reigning ladies’s single champion holds serve to fifteen towards Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro are ending their warm-up on RLA with the roof now open in an indication of confidence that the rain has handed. The world No 1 breezed into the second spherical with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Sloane Stephens. Tennis reporter Tumaini Carayol may hardly have been extra impressed.
Over the following fortnight, Sabalenka will try to turn into the primary girl in 26 years – since Martina Hingis – to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles. She opened up her title defence in Melbourne with an imperious efficiency, dismantling the previous US Open champion Stephens.
Teenage sensation and No 14 seed Mirra Andreeva is up towards Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima on courtroom 3. Uchijima races by means of the primary recreation to like.
Gamers at the moment are warming up on the surface courts with the motion to get underneath approach shortly. Qinwen Zheng and Laura Siegemund on John Cain Area has been the one match in a position begin nearer to the scheduled 11am, with China’s No 5 seed holding a 2-1 lead within the first set as each gamers maintain serve early.
Now for the climate. Gray skies throughout southern Victoria have already left some drizzle on Melbourne Park and postponed play beginning on the surface courts till 11.30am.
However the worst already appears to have handed to depart us with a muggy, overcast day however hopefully no additional interruptions.
We hope you don’t enterprise too removed from the Guardian’s inimitable Australian Open weblog however will perceive if you wish to come out for a sneak peek at AO Animated.
Our reporter on the bottom at Melbourne Park, Jack Snape, describes AO Animated as “near-live, commentated protection of the Australian Open, free to anybody internationally through YouTube, enhanced through a stream of feedback from a like-minded on-line neighborhood”.
It was a particular night time for tennis’s glamour couple as Australia’s Alex De Minaur brushed apart Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in 142 minutes all whereas having one eye on the rating on the neighbouring Kia Area. De Minaur’s fiancé, Katie Boulter, needed to work more durable to progress to the second spherical however ultimately sealed her place in Australian Open historical past for Nice Britain.
You need to be focusing by yourself match, then swiftly you see the outcomes of Katie’s match,” De Minaur mentioned. “You strive to not pay an excessive amount of consideration and deal with your self, however the sheer indisputable fact that it’s all the time coming round, it makes it tough.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hiya and welcome to reside protection of day 4 on the 2025 Australian Open. The motion has simply began on the surface courts at Melbourne Park with one of many greatest names within the recreation set to kick off on the present courts at 11:30am.
The focus will firstly be on two-time defending champion and world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka up towards Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Rod Laver Area, with Novak Djokovic to observe towards Jaime Faria on the identical courtroom.
Because the second spherical of the singles will get underneath approach, listed below are a number of the matches we’ll be keeping track of through the day session:
11.30am: Aryna Sabalenka (1) v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
11.30am: Jessica Pegula (3) v Elise Mertens
1pm: Carlos Alcaraz (3) v Yoshihito Nishioka
1pm: Jordan Thompson (27) v Nuno Borges
1pm: Naomi Osaka v Karolina Muchova (20)
2pm: Novak Djokovic (7) v Jaime Faria
There may also be loads of Australians in motion all through the day beginning with Jordan Thompson and Ajla Tomljanovic, in addition to Aleksandar Vukic, Talia Gibson and James Duckworth. Thanasi Kokkinakis can be a part of the night time session with a testing match-up towards Nice Britain’s nice hope Jack Draper.
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, defending Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, No 3 ladies’s seed Coco Gauff, and No 2 males’s seed Alexander Zverev may also be on present on a blockbuster day 4.
I’ll be with you for the primary couple of hours with Jonathan Howcroft to take the reins for the majority of the afternoon. Let me know your ideas and predictions on e-mail or @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
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