Making the most of their absence, 2008 Australian Open runner-up Anna Ivanovic was thrust into the spotlight on Rod Laver Arena and scored a 6-3, 6-3 win over Latvian Anastasija Sevastova. He’ll retire after the tournament. And the tributes kept streaming in.
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Best memory of Lleyton Hewitt? This is his 20th Australian Open and he still has the same passion to win and compete as ever.
And from American Sloane Stephens, a simple tweet: “Epic Mate”. Very solid from the baseline.
Hewitt won the U.S. Open in 2001 and Wimbledon the following year.
Australia’s Sam Groth reaches for a shot during his second round match against Britain’s And …
World number two and four-time Australian Open runner-up Murray followed by saying: “You are an idol of mine when I was growing up”.
Stepanek took a 4-2 head-to-head edge into the match, although Wawrinka has now won their last three matches.
Murray has reached four finals in Australia, but never won the title. It’s Djokovic’s favourite – but there are plenty of rivals for the Serb. He knows how to win matches.
Verdasco double-faulted twice in a row in the tiebreaker to put Sela within two points of victory, then netted a backhand to end the match.
Milos Raonic has advanced to the third round after overcoming determined veteran Tommy Robredo 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 7-5.
“The whole match and the scoreline doesn’t reflect the amount of tough battles we had with those games, the long games we had”, Konta said afterwards.
The two-time Grand Slam champion Murray, who went Slam-less previous year, didn’t give Groth an inch – or a game in the first set, for that matter, – winning 6-0, 6-4, 6-1 in an hour and 29 minutes. “We went out for dinner last night and were laughing about it a bit”. He won the 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Wimbledon.
The Brit claimed the first set 6-0, before Groth tried to force a comeback in the second set. I was really shaking, because the sound of the lady falling was really loud. “It keeps me focused”. Groth is the opposite to both of them, coming forward all the time, using a lot of slice and attacking as much as possible.
Azarenka is seeded 14th but on form is shaping as Serena Williams’ biggest challenger at Melbourne Park.
Sousa lost here to Murray in 2013 as well as a year ago.
“He’s nearly the opposite to Groth really”, said Murray of Sousa, an opponent he has beaten in all six of their meetings including last year’s encounter in Melbourne – 6-1, 6-1, 7-5. The second round match between Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Latvia’s Anastasi…
Isner, seeded 10th, next faces either Guido Pella or Feliciano Lopez.
Tournament organisers said the spectator was treated in the stadium before being taken by stretcher for observation and more treatment.
Play was suspended on Rod Laver Arena early Thursday when a spectator fell on a stairwell in the upper level of the 15,000-seat stadium. No other details were immediately available.
Weatherwise, Day 4 took a queue from its predecessor with misty rain delaying proceedings on all outside courts at Melbourne Park once again.
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In an all-French duel Gael Monfils will face Stephane Robert on Hisense Arena.
