8h ago<\/p>\n
Saturday’s reports and reaction<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n Ruud beats Cilic! 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Cilic wins third set v Ruud 4-6 4-6 6-3<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Mensik beats Quinn 6-2 7-6(5) 7-6(5)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Ruud wins the second set v Cilic 4-6, 4-6<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11h ago<\/p>\n Rybakina beats Valentova: 6-2, 6-3<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11h ago<\/p>\n Djokovic beats Van de Zandschulp: 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Swiatek beats Kalinskaya: 6-1, 1-6, 6-1<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Djokovic wins the second set v Van de Zandschulp: 3-6, 4-6<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Fritz beats Wawrinka: 7-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Wang beats Noskova: 7-5, 6-4<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal statement<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 13h ago<\/p>\n Kalinskaya wins the second set v Swiatek: 1-6, 6-1<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 13h ago<\/p>\n Naomi Osaka withdraws<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 13h ago<\/p>\n Djokovic wins the first set v Van de Zandschulp: 6-3<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 14h ago<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n <\/a>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Saturday’s reports and reactionShare<\/a><\/p>\n Laura Robson, the presenter on TNT Sports, describes it as \u201cpure kismet\u201d that Jannik Sinner\u2019s match against Eliot Spizzirri was halted when it was due to extreme heat. The Italian was cramping badly at the time and said afterwards that he \u201cgot lucky\u201d.<\/p>\n Below you will find links to all our Australian Open<\/a> news pieces from today, including a report on Naomi Osaka\u2019s injury-enforced withdrawal. Stan Wawrinka also bowed out today, at 40, after a four-set defeat by Taylor Fritz.<\/p>\n \u201cI had so many emotions here the last 20 years because of you guys,\u201d Wawrinka told the crowd after his loss. \u201cIt\u2019s been an amazing journey. I won my first grand slam here. I\u2019ve always enjoyed being back, so much support, and the reason I was still playing is because of you, because of the love of the game, the emotion you can give me. I\u2019m sad to leave but it\u2019s been an amazing journey.<\/p>\n \u201cAll those years, guys, I saw you enjoying the tennis, I saw you supporting us, I saw you drinking [he laughs and so do the fans] \u2013 the other day I told you about it \u2013 and now I can enjoy. If you don\u2019t mind I would like to share a beer with Craig [Tiley, tournament director].\u201d<\/p>\n Wawrinka then went to the drinks box and grabbed a couple of cans, one for him and one for Tiley, and they have a drink. A nice way to bow out. (Apparently, it was ginger beer).<\/p>\n Stan Wawrinka thanks the fans after his final appearance at the Australian Open. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/EPA<\/p>\n That is the lot from us for today. Thanks for reading and we\u2019ll be back tomorrow for more.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.08 EST<\/p>\n The Australian Open\u2019s clique of champions didn\u2019t have it easy on Saturday. Jannik Sinner survived<\/a> despite severe cramps. Novak Djokovic was almost disqualified<\/a> for a near miss with a ballgirl. Stan Wawrinka played at Melbourne Park for the last time. And Naomi Osaka was an 11th-hour withdrawal<\/a> from her third round clash with an abdomen complaint.<\/p>\n By comparison, Australian Maddison Inglis \u2013 the unheralded qualifier who at 28 is still hoping to crack the top 100 \u2013 had it easy. After the walkover from the Osaka match, Inglis waltzes into the fourth round and a clash with the No 2 seed Iga Swiatek, a week after she was almost eliminated in the first round of qualifying. \u201cI was down two match points in that match,\u201d she told Channel Nine. \u201cTennis is pretty crazy like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m definitely relieved,\u201d Ruud tells the on-court interviewer Barbara Schett. \u201cMarin is a tremendous player, still at 37 or 38, he still rips the ball, plays so well, and it\u2019s amazing to see. He\u2019s had an incredible career, a finalist here, won the US Open final, a final at Wimbledon, the semis at Roland Garros, so he\u2019s almost \u201crun\u201d all the grand slams. So it\u2019s really really tough matches against him always, but yeah like you said, super-happy not to be out there in the fifth with him at this point. Happy to be talking to you instead.<\/p>\n What was his mindset when down a break in the fourth?<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t have many break chances since the second set, so I was kind of frustrated with not even getting any chances \u2026 not being able to play in his service games. I was thinking: \u2018Fifth, here we go\u2019 and was getting ready for a tough deciding set. But suddenly a few mistakes came out of his racket, and I was there to put one extra ball in, and luckily I had a few points that went my way, and that\u2019s how tennis is.\u201d<\/p>\n Casper Ruud of Norway celebrates. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAP<\/p>\n Ruud hit 25 aces today \u2013 his record.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, wow. Becoming a serve-bot. It\u2019s not typical that I get 25 free points in a match with my serve. So my shoulder is working, yeah, let\u2019s hopefully keep it going. Next match I am playing someone who, if he has a bad serving day, has 25 aces [No 8 seed Ben Shelton] so it\u2019s going to be really tough.\u201d<\/p>\n Maria, Ruud\u2019s fiancee, is about to have a baby. Schett asks about her potential stress levels back at home.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I hope I didn\u2019t stress her too much tonight,\u201d Ruud says. \u201cEven though I was pretty stressed myself. I can\u2019t really control how the matches go. Hopefully she stays in there, and in a few days I\u2019ll get to see her, whenever I\u2019m done here, or if I get a call I\u2019m going to be on the way back home. So I have to say a huge thank you to Maria, she\u2019s back home, patient, and letting me be here, so if she\u2019s watching, I just want to let her know that I\u2019ll be home soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Barbara Schett starts talking names for their imminent daughter and suggests some Australian Open-themed options such as Margaret, Evonne \u2013 or Barbara.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, we\u2019ve been through 200 different names and we haven\u2019t really settled one yet, so anything is up for grabs,\u201d says Ruud. \u201cBut not sure if Margaret is the one we will go for. Daphne is a nice name. Not sure how that would work in Norway. We\u2019ll find something out. Could be Daphne, could be Barbara, who knows? We\u2019re up for suggestions. We\u2019re going to wait to see her, and see if a name is more suiting.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he\u2019s off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.48 EST<\/p>\n Here you will find the updated men\u2019s and women\u2019s draws, and tomorrow\u2019s order of play in the singles.<\/p>\n Quick GuideAustralian Open: fourth-round drawsShow<\/p>\n Men’s singles<\/p>\n (1) Carlos Alcaraz v Tommy Paul (19)<\/p>\n (10) Alexander Bublik v Alex de Minaur (6)<\/p>\n (3) Alexander Zverev v Francisco Cerundolo (18)<\/p>\n (11) Daniil Medvedev v Learner Tien (25)<\/p>\n (5) Lorenzo Musetti v Taylor Fritz (9)<\/p>\n (16) Jakub Mensik v Novak Djokovic (4)<\/p>\n (8) Ben Shelton v Casper Ruud (12)<\/p>\n (22) Luciano Darderi v Jannik Sinner (2)<\/p>\n Women’s singles<\/p>\n (1) Aryna Sabalenka v Victoria Mboko (17)<\/p>\n Yulia Putintseva v Iva Jovic (29)<\/p>\n (3) Coco Gauff v Karolina Muchova (19)<\/p>\n (12) Elina Svitolina v Mirra Andreeva (8)<\/p>\n (6) Jessica Pegula v Madison Keys (9)<\/p>\n Wang Xinyu v Amanda Anisimova (4)<\/p>\n (5) Elena Rybakina v Elise Mertens (21)<\/p>\n Madison Inglis v Iga Swiatek (2)<\/p>\n Sunday’s order of play (singles only)<\/p>\n Rod Laver Arena<\/p>\n Day: Sabalenka v Mboko, Alcaraz v Paul<\/p>\n Night: Bublik v De Minaur, Svitolina v Andreeva<\/p>\n Margaret Court Arena<\/p>\n Day: Gauff v Muchova, Medvedev v Tien<\/p>\n John Cain Arena<\/p>\n Day: Putintsteva v Jovic, Zverev v Cerundolo<\/p>\n Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.44 EST<\/p>\n Ruud beats Cilic! 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7<\/p>\n Cilic serves wide, and jogs in to tuck away a simple winner back across the court. A huge ace out wide is next. That\u2019s 30-0. Another sizeable serve is hammered down by the Croatian, and that\u2019s 40-0. Then a second serve is returned strongly by Ruud, and Cilic flops a backhand into the net as the match clock ticks past three hours.<\/p>\n Two gynormous forehands by Ruud leave Cilic standing next up, and that\u2019s 40-30, and then a double fault, and it\u2019s deuce \u2013 the Norwegian suddenly two points away from victory.<\/p>\n Cilic nails a massive serve down the middle \u2013 but Ruud, showing the defensive instincts of Novak, gets the ball back and then takes control of the rally and wins the point! That\u2019s match point!<\/p>\n Then a second serve for Cilic and a hush settles on the arena \u2026 he soon sends a forehand wind and it\u2019s game over! The players meet at the net and shake hands. Ruud back from the dead in that fourth set, and in that game from 40-0 down.<\/p>\n Ruud playing some nice stuff and I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll have a chat now, including on the impending arrival back at home \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.30 EST<\/p>\n *Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 6-5 Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Thanks Billy. Ruud races to 40-0 and Cilic obligingly spoons a forehand return wide to end the game with little fuss. It seemed like a five-setter was in the offing, but now Cilic has to serve to save his skin.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 5-5 *Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Cilic gobbles up a short return from Ruud at 30-15 up to set up game point. Ruud\u2019s return is long and this fourth set goes on. Luke McLaughlin is back to see you through.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 4-5 Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Ruud breezes through his service game and, after holding the upper hand in this fourth set, Cilic finds himself serving to stay in the Australian Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 4-4 *Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Ruud breaks back! Cilic shows some signs of nerves as he misjudges a volley at 30-0 up and then sweeps a backhand well wide for 30-30. A double fault follows and then another backhand goes awry. A gift for Ruud, really.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 4-3 Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Cilic breaks! Ruud wobbles on serve and finds himself at 0-30. A commanding crosscourt forehand sets up three break points for Cilic \u2013 he snaps up the first as Ruud goes long with a backhand. The 37-year-old is in the groove now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 3-3 *Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Some textbook serve-and-volley sets up three game points for Cilic and he powers a serve down the T that Ruud barely connects with to hold to love.<\/p>\n Marin Cilic bashes a backhand to Casper Ruud. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.28 EST<\/p>\n The roof is coming on the Margaret Court Arena as the clock strikes midnight. There\u2019s still a decent crowd in. It is Saturday night after all. Cilic to serve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 2-3 Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Ruud wastes little time to hold to 15. The winner of this one will play No 8 seed Ben Shelton after his straight-sets victory over Valentin Vacherot earlier.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 2-2 *Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n A chance arises for Ruud as Cilic double faults at 15-15. An ace follows for 30-30. Then another thunderous serve sets up a net approach and a second point in a row. Ruud then clears the baseline and shows his frustration at an opportunity lost to break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 1-2 Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n After a let and a first serve into the net, Ruud aces a second serve down the T to hold to 15. It\u2019s approaching midnight in Melbourne.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 1-1 *Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Both players hold their first service games of the fourth set. Cilic has swapped his stripy shirt for a purply one. More sartorial updates to follow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And today\u2019s women\u2019s singles results:<\/p>\n A Anisimova (US, 4) bt P Stearns (US) 6-1 6-4<\/p>\n Wang X (Chn) bt L Noskova (Cz, 13) 7-5 6-4<\/p>\n E Mertens (Bel, 21) bt N Bartunkova (Cz) 6-0 6-4<\/p>\n I Swiatek (Pol, 2) bt A Kalinskaya (31) 6-1 1-6 6-1<\/p>\n E Rybakina (Kaz, 5) bt T Valentova (Cz) 6-3 6-3<\/p>\n M Inglis (Aus) bt N Osaka (Jpn, 16) w\/o<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A quick reminder of today\u2019s men\u2019s singles results:<\/p>\n J Sinner (It, 2) bt E Spizzirri (US) 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4<\/p>\n B Shelton (US, 8) bt V Vacherot (Mnc, 30) 6-4 6-4 7-6(5)<\/p>\n T Fritz (US, 9) bt S Wawrinka (Swi) 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4 6-4<\/p>\n N Djokovic (Ser, 4) bt B van de Zanschulp (Neth) 6-3 6-4 7-6(4)<\/p>\n J Mensik (Cz, 16) bt E Quinn (US) 6-2 7-6(5) 7-6(5)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Cilic wins third set v Ruud 4-6 4-6 6-3<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Marin Cilic\u2019s forehand helps to keep him in the match. Photograph: Jaimi Joy\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.00 EST<\/p>\n Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 5-3 Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n A huge slice of luck gives Cilic a crucial break! The veteran\u2019s return hits the top of the net and bounces the other side \u2013 Ruud had no chance. There\u2019s an apology and Cilic now serves for the third set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Mensik beats Quinn 6-2 7-6(5) 7-6(5)<\/p>\n 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<\/a> next!<\/p>\n Jakub Mensik celebrates after defeating Ethan Quinn. Photograph: Dar Yasin\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.40 EST<\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 4-3 *Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 3-3 Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n All square as Ruud holds again. I have to say I\u2019m a fan of Cilic\u2019s subtle stripy white shirt.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.25 EST<\/p>\n Mensik v Quinn has gone to a tiebreak in the third set, the Czech player two sets up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 3-2 *Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Cilic thunders down an ace at 30-15 before wrapping up another hold with a first serve that Ruud wafts into the net.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic* 4-6, 4-6, 2-2 Ruud (*next server)<\/p>\n Hello everyone. This third set is motoring on nicely. Ruud closes out a hold to 15 with an ace down the T.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 2-1 *Ruud (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n And another hold for Cilic. Your move, Caspar.<\/p>\n Billy Munday is here while I take a break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 1-1 Ruud (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n With serve early doors in the third set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Just one of the day\u2019s big stories: Naomi Osaka withdrawing due to injury.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I could push through it,\u201d she said. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.08 EST<\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-6, 1-0 *Ruud (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Mensik 6-2, 7-6, 3-3 Quinn is a latest score in the men\u2019s singles third round.<\/p>\n Jakub Mensik of Czech Republic in action. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.05 EST<\/p>\n Ruud wins the second set v Cilic 4-6, 4-6<\/p>\n 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\u2019s side. Three break points. Ruud saves one point with an ace. Then a big second serve that Cilic sends long. That\u2019s 30-40.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 4-5 *Ruud (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Now the 27-year-old Ruud can serve for the set. It doesn\u2019t feel like Cilic is going to be able to apply any meaningful pressure.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.53 EST<\/p>\n *Cilic 4-6, 3-5 Ruud (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Any thoughts on the action, including Djokovic\u2019s earlier win, or anything else? Do send me an email<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 3-4 *Ruud (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n 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\u2019s second serve, makes it 40-15, and an ace seals it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Cilic 4-6, 2-4 Ruud (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n The Croatian will serve, seeking to stay in touch in this second set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.44 EST<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The roof is closed due to extreme heat during Jannik Sinner\u2019s match against and Eliot Spizzirri. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.43 EST<\/p>\n Cilic 4-6, 2-3 *Ruud (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n A comfy hold for Cilic. This match looks potentially similar to Djokovic\u2019s win earlier: regular moments of brilliance, but a bit short on genuine drama. We shall see.<\/p>\n![\"Jack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769292131_787_Jack_Snape.png\")
Jack Snape<\/p>\n