Australian Open 2024

Another major with an embarrassingly poor dept in the field. Few problems for Djokovic it seems, as the only youngster who looks half decent in Alcaraz, is poor on this surface, and it's Djokovic's strongest.

Alot of talk about Sinner, but I'd expect him to be straight setted by Djokovic. He's improved and gone up a level, but a slam match against Djokovic is different. For me the problem with this younger generation, isn't the talent per say, but their mental strength and just how poor it is.

How many times have many of these young guys have the old guard beat, and on the ropes, only to completely capitulate, again and again? Brutal, the lot of them bar Alcaraz.

And the annoying thing is, when they collapse, it's not as if Djokovic or Nadal starts to play better and apply pressure, it's generally completely self inflicted bottling. You can see the panic in their posture, face and presence when they see the winning line.

And for all this talk of Sinner, he's done as much collapsing, if not more, than the rest of them. So it's not so much a question of whether he's good enough, it's a question of him having the balls to stand up to the pressure of the moment.

You need the mentality of a Nadal, Hewitt or Djokovic, to rock onto the scene, and fully believe you'll batter any champion in your way. I'd very much have my doubts on Sinner, but hope I'm wrong for the sake of the game in general

It looks like Eurosport have finally dumped Alize Lim. Thank fúck.

Yeah that was pretty painful. He has at least been somewhat competitive up until now, but yeah think it is time to retire as you say he will likely hang on for one last Wimbledon.

Took a lot of effort for Draper to get past Giron really upped things when under the cosh...throwing up at the end not usually a good sign!

Nice go see her back playing and looking fit. Her next round match looks winnable on paper anyway.

Hmmm.... he's running out of steam fast, Tsitsipas nicked the second set tie break and it seems to have been a turning point. Starting to run away with it now.

Maybe the 4th set will rejuvenate Thompson......

7th deuce at 6-5 Thompson in 3rd set.... Thompson hanging on like a good-un

And it goes to a tie break!

Is there a suspicion Dokovic is injured or something?

He's hitting forehands like it's a warm up.....

Once Popyrin blew those set points in the 3rd I'd have put my house on Djokovic winning in 4.

And similar acknowledgement from Sonego for a brilliant Alcaraz shot from practically in the stands.

This is quite the match!

I'm really hoping it goes to a 5th, even though I really want to see Raducanu as well.....

Oh dear..... I really wish it had gone to a 5th, it's most entertaining tennis I've seen in quite a while! But Alcaraz made no mistake in the second tie break.

Rybakina might provide a decent match though.

And now looks like she's struggling not to be sick. Didn't this happen to her before?

I thought she was sneezing earlier in the match but I think now it was retching.

I wonder is it the stress that gets to her? Or just lack of match fitness?

Anyway, I've decided I'm rooting for Wang in this one, she's a total scrapper and fighter, I love watching her.

It's well into night time over there, can't be that hot.

Wang looks like she's getting annoyed by all the dramatics, hopefully she can channel that in a positive way and not let it distract her.

She still has a break in this set, just needs to hang grimly on!

Delighted for Wang! Not impressed that ES didn't show the interview with her (I hate all those stupid interviews, but that's one I was actually looking forward to).

Back to Rybakina now, who's not having it all her own way at all 😳

The pair of them are all over the shop!

I'm not surprised at Blinkova, this would be a huge scalp for her - but I thought Rybakina was made of pure steel!

Uh oh......

At this stage I'd say matches have been won quicker than this tie break!

I didn't get to watch it all live but yikes!

Medvedev shown up again as the absolute donkey he is, like Zverev. These tall players can get nearly the top of the game by size alone, but are limited. For a time a few years ago, it seemed like this new generation would be dominated by 6'5 donkeys. Thankfully the likes of Alcaraz and a few others have come through.

Nothing worse than watching a game played out by two limited players over circa 6'4, only there as they bullied their way up the rankings on serve and size. Granted Medvedev and Zverev would have a bit more about them than the likes of your Isners of this world, but still limited, as we've repeatedly seen since

And she did.

I think the commentators said the winnings for this match alone are more than her career winnings so far!

It took 5 match points, but fair dues to her, she hung in.

A right little pocket rocket (she came up to about Haddad Maia's elbow).

Norrie through in 4 sets, he is limited but makes things tough and really battled in that one fair play.

Very much so, really fought and saved a lot of break points, he has plenty of heart and doesn't tend to roll over, he came into this tournament with a bit of a wrist problem as well.