Australian Open results: Daniil Medvedev vs Emil Ruusuvuori thriller is ’utter madness’, 3am finish

In 2023, it was Thanasi Kokkinakis and Andy Murray; in 2024, it’s No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev vs Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.

The one cause it didn’t end nearer to the 4.15am time of the Kokkinakis-Murray match was that Medvedev blew the Fin away to like within the fifth set, successful 3-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 6-0.

Earlier than the Australian Open, the ATP and WTA launched new guidelines that will power evening classes to start previous to 7.30pm and forestall matches from happening courtroom after 11pm.

Nevertheless, the Australian Open isn’t sure by these guidelines that means that when Medvedev and Ruusuvuori stepped on courtroom at 11.15pm, there was little likelihood of them ending anytime however the wee hours of the morning.

The problem is that it was already a four-hour match earlier than the fifth set started.

Mercifully it was a speedy fifth set as Ruusuvuori pale shortly within the closing set.

Talking after the match, Medvedev paid tribute to the followers who caught round, saying he wouldn’t be amongst them if he didn’t need to play.

“Truthfully guys, I’d not be right here,” Medvedev stated. “Thanks for staying.

“If I’d have been a tennis fan and I had come, at 1 I’d be ‘okay, let’s go residence, we’ll catch the tip of the match on the TV, we’ll watch half-hour after which go to mattress’.

“So I suppose thanks guys, you’re robust.”

Medvedev stated his greatest concern was that he warmed up too early and had already drained himself out after the Anna Blinkova tiebreak in opposition to Elena Rybakina went for over half-hour.

Medvedev stated he wouldn’t go to mattress till about 6.30am, having to go to the physio after the match earlier than waking up at noon earlier than a straightforward observe tomorrow earlier than his subsequent match in opposition to twenty seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime on Saturday.

The late evening end comes after organisers had hoped to repair the late nights with an additional day at the start of the event, however on that Sunday, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka didn’t get on courtroom till 11.41pm.

Fortunately it was a dominant victory for Sabalenka who took care of enterprise in lower than an hour however the transfer uncovered it for little greater than John McEnroe referred to as it out for earlier than the event — a “cash seize”.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley claimed the transfer had “taken the sting off having the potential for late finishes”.

However he later admitted the strikes wouldn’t cease the lengthy nights.

Followers usually are not glad nonetheless, hitting out on the ludicrous scenes which occurred simply final yr.

Sports activities scientist Ross Tucker tweeted: “Medvedev vs Ruusuvuori, fifth set is about to START, at 3.15am. Tennis wants a time coverage (eg: “At 1am, end the present set, then resume play the following day”). These guys will probably be consuming breakfast earlier than going to sleep, then one among them performs better of 5 once more in 24h.”

Sports activities journalist Ryan Sidle tweeted: “Daniil Medvedev and Emil Ruusuvuori have simply began the fifth set of their match on the Australian Open. It’s 3.15 am in Melbourne! That’s utter insanity.”

It was a stacked day on the Australian Open with upsets aplenty, together with ladies’s World No. 3 Rybakina, World No. 5 Jessica Pegula and males’s No. 8 Holger Rune crashing out of the event.

12.24pm — Tomljanovic out of Aussie Open

Ajla Tomljanovic’s Australian Open has ended by the hands of rival Jelena Ostapenko.

The eleventh seed was too robust in the long run regardless of a powerful fightback from the Aussie, ultimately taking the outcome 6-0 3-6 6-4.

Tomljanovic was blown off the courtroom within the opening set however battled again within the second to even the match up at one set apiece after two.

However Ostapenko got here residence robust, hitting again at Tomljanovic’s break early within the third with two of her personal to shut out the win.

The pair have a historical past collectively after Tomljanovic accused Ostapenko of faking an harm at Wimbledon in 2021.

Ostapenko was down 4-0 within the third set and referred to as for a medical timeout, claiming the harm required rapid remedy fairly than ready for the change of ends.

Tomljanovic informed the umpire: “You recognize she’s mendacity proper?” however Ostapenko was allowed to go away the courtroom to get remedy.

In a frosty change on the internet, Ostapenko stated: “In case you suppose I’m faking, you may speak to the physio.”

Tomljanovic answered: “I hope you are feeling higher”, and Ostapenko replied: “Your behaviour is horrible. You might have zero respect.”

Tomljanovic hit again: “You’re one to speak.”

Ostapenko then labelled the Aussie “the worst participant on tour.”

Nevertheless, Tomljanovic is much from the one individual Ostapenko has had run ins and blow ups on the tour, together with calling an umpire “blind” on the Brisbane Worldwide.

However she’s into the third spherical and Tomljanovic’s comeback tour must proceed on the subsequent event.

10.54pm — Insane document epic blows Aussie Open away

Russian World No. 57 Anna Blinkova has pulled off one of many wildest victories seen on the Australian Open, defeating World No. 3 and 2023 Australian Open Finalist Elena Rybakina in a 31-minute tremendous tiebreaker.

Blinkova ultimately gained 6-4 4-6 7-6 with the tiebreak going to 22-20.

“Have you ever seen something like this?” one of many commentators stated because it bought to 17-all closing set tie breaker.

“The absoulte madness of this match will probably be talked about for days.”

Learn extra right here.

Australian Open Day 5 schedule and outcomes

Rod Laver Enviornment from 12pm (AEDT)

Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] defeated Danielle Collins (USA) 6-4 3-6 6-4

Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [2] defeated Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 6-4 6-7 6-3 7-6

From 7pm

Anna Blinkova (RUS) defeated Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [3] 6-4 4-6 7-6

Daniil Medvedev (RUS) [3] defeated Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 3-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 6-0

Margaret Courtroom Enviornment from 12pm

Casper Ruud (NOR) [11] defeated Max Purcell 6-3 6-7 6-3 3-6 7-6

Clara Burel (FRA) defeated Jessica Pegula (USA) [5] 6-4 6-2

From 7pm

Arthur Cazaux (FRA) defeated Holger Rune (DEN) [8] 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-3

Victoria Azarenka (RUS) [18] vs Clara Tauson (DEN)

John Cain Enviornment from 11am

Alexander Zverev (GER) [6] defeated Lukas Klein (SVK) 7-5 3-6 4-6 7-6 7-6

Sloane Stephens (USA) defeated Daria Kasatkina (RUS) [14] 4-6 6-3 6-3

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [13] defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4

From 7pm

Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) [11] defeated Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-0 3-6 6-4

10.45pm — 21yo World No. 122’s beautiful upset

French 21-year-old Arthur Cazaux has shocked World No. 8 Holger Rune in a four-set boilover on Margaret Courtroom Enviornment.

The 20-year-old Dutch World No. 8 was anticipated to make brief work of the World No. 122 however the Frenchman shocked Rune in a 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 stunner.

It the best ranked males’s participant to be eradicated from the event as but.

Coming into the event as a wildcard with simply two tour-level victories, Cazaux blew the Australian Open huge open with the win.

“It was a loopy match, it was an enormous battle… sorry my voice is gone!” Cazaux stated in an emotional post-match interview. “Holger is a superb participant and I’ve identified him for a very long time. I knew I needed to be prepared.

“Thanks everybody for a very good environment. The environment was loopy! Merci beaucoup!”

It comes simply days after Holger Rune hit out on the Netflix Curse.

“I feel it’s silly, to be sincere. No offence,” he stated.

10.22pm — One Aussie man left

Thanasi Kokkinakis has joined the lengthy line of Aussies who’ve been so shut however thus far on this Australian Open thus far.

Kokkinakis fell to No. 3 seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4 because the lastest Aussie to take it to his rather more fancied opponent.

The Aussie blew the roof off John Cain Enviornment when he broke Dimitrov to assert the third set however he was damaged at 4-all within the fourth, with the Bulgarian serving out the match to maneuver into the third spherical.

Whereas Alex de Minaur is the one Aussie male left, the Aussie males have painted themselves in glory this Australian Open, with a lot of them taking units off, or pushing rivals proper to the restrict.

Sadly, they simply haven’t been in a position to recover from the road.

10pm — Emma Raducanu’s Aussie woes proceed

2021 Wimbledon champion Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open woes have continued, struggling one other second spherical loss on the years’ first open.

The previous World No. 10, who’s at present ranked No. 296 after an harm lay off, has been knocked out within the second spherical for the third straight yr.

Raducanu, who was battling soreness earlier than the event, fell to China’s Wang Yafan 6-4 4-6 6-4 to be bundled out of the event.

9.35pm — Thanasi Kokkinakis resurrection blows roof off AO

Australia, there’s nonetheless hope.

Down 6-3 6-2 to thirteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov, it appeared Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis was heading for the exit.

The Aussie was making an attempt exhausting however the Bulgarian appeared to have all of the solutions of their second spherical conflict.

However the 27-year-old Aussie has bounced again with a vengeance, respiration new life into John Cain Enviornment after taking out the third set 6-4.

“What a set from Thanasi Kokkinakis. Hung round lengthy sufficient,” John Millman informed Channel 9.

“Fought off lots of early stress from Dimitrov, particularly together with his personal service video games. And that serve, it was an improved serving efficiency from Kokkinakis which saved his nostril in entrance. That’s the benefit of serving first.

“As a result of then, out of nowhere, will get the important break of serve. And extra importantly, extending this match right into a fourth set. And doesn’t he like that?”

Whereas there’s nonetheless a protracted option to go for Kokkinakis, the Aussie crowd is true behind him.

With Ajla Tomljanovic’s match nonetheless to play after this, it could possibly be a late evening for Australian tennis followers.

7.20pm — Carlos Alcaraz survives scare

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is into the third spherical of the Australian Open after edging previous Lorenzo Sonego in a hard-fought four-setter.

It was a tiebreak from going to a fifth setter however the 20-year-old held his nerve to assert a 6-4 6-7 6-3 7-6 win.

7pm — Monster upset shakes up AO

American world quantity 5 Jessica Pegula Thursday grew to become the best seed to depart the Australian Open, upset by younger French star Clara Burel 6-4 6-2.

The fifth seed had no solutions to the 22-year-old, who arrange an all-French third-round conflict with Oceane Dodin, conqueror of Italy’s Martina Trevisan.

“I’m nonetheless shaking,” Burel stated, who has by no means gone past a Grand Slam second spherical earlier than. “I’m simply actually glad to be by means of.

“That’s good that I play Oceane, as a result of it means one among us will probably be within the fourth spherical. I’m positive will probably be a terrific match.”

Pegula gained the Montreal WTA 1000 trophy final season in addition to a title in Seoul.

It’s been a tricky outdated day for the People with Pegula’s shock upset, former World No. 12 Jennifer Brady revealing she can be taking time away after a protracted harm lay off and would assist coach the UCLA ladies’s tennis workforce as she recovers, and the shock reveal Danielle Collins would retire this season.

With AFP

6pm — Alexander Zverev fumes up at journo

Sixth seed Alexander Zverev has been left fuming over a reporter’s query after he booked his place within the third spherical.

Zverev wanted 4 hours and 40 minutes to assert a 7-5 3-6 4-6 7-6 7-6 thriller in opposition to Lukas Klein within the Australian Open second spherical.

However in his post-match press convention, Zverev has raged after a reporter requested about his ongoing authorized points.

Zverev is ready to go on public trial in Might over allegations he allegedly assaulted former associate Brenda Patea in 2020.

He has been “accused of bodily abusing a girl and damaging her well being throughout an argument” in Berlin over three years in the past.

The previous world quantity two was ordered to pay fines of 450,000 euro ($A750,000) over the alleged assault in October. He contested the ruling which meant the case now goes to trial.

He has frequently denied the allegations being levelled in opposition to him. The case in opposition to the tennis star will start on Might 31.

In a 90 second press convention, the place simply two questions had been requested, one reporter requested “Relating to your upcoming trial, do you propose to attend in individual?”

It was clearly not a query Zverev needed to reply.

“Wow. That’s a query. I simply performed 4 hours, 40 minutes,” Zverev stated.

“That’s not the primary query I actually need to hear, to be sincere.

“I’ve bought no concept. It’s in Might.”

It’s the second straight match which has been dominated by the upcoming courtroom battle, who gave an icy show after his first match as nicely.

Even earlier than the date was made public, Zverev was under-fire after he starred in Netflix’s Break Level documentary, which didn’t even brush on the difficulty.

4pm – One other agonising Aussie defeat

Quite a few Australia’s male gamers have demonstrated huge battle in latest days, sadly with out a lot to point out for it.

Whereas Alex de Minaur marches on, the likes of Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin and Chris O’Connell all fell brief in combative matches in opposition to a lot increased ranked opponents.

Now we will add Max Purcell’s identify to the checklist.

The 25-year-old Sydneysider was removed from intimidated in his conflict with world No. 11 Casper Ruud, forcing the match all the best way to a fifth set tiebreak.

Nevertheless it wasn’t to be, in the end falling 6-3 6-7 6-3 3-6 7-6, together with a 10-7 scoreline in that deciding tiebreak.

“It’s reduction for Casper Ruud as he was in critical, critical hazard on this match,” Jim Courier stated in commentary.

Purcell has spent a lot of his profession within the mid-200s, having seemingly centered on his doubles profession.

However since cracking the highest 100 in March final yr, Purcell hasn’t seemed again, creeping up into the 40s, the place he’s stayed since August.

If his efficiency in opposition to Ruud is something to go by, increased honours are on the playing cards.

Not solely will Purcell rise to be Australia’s second ranked males’s participant behind Alex de Minaur except Thanasi Kokkinakis makes the semi-finals, Courier additionally paid the 25-year-old the final word praise.

“A Forty fifth-ranked participant on this planet performed like a high tenner on the market. There was every kind of disruption coming Casper Ruud’s means,” Courier stated on 9.

“There have been 101 internet approaches in that match from Max Purcell. That was old-school, traditional tennis and it might have scared the daylights out of Casper Ruud.

“I let you know what, we’d not see too many matches with increased constant high quality on this event than that. That was unbelievable. That’s not hyperbolic.

“You have a look at winners to unforced errors, the service share, the type of play, it had nearly all the things.”

At precisely the identical time as Purcell was in that fifth set tiebreak, sixth seed Alexander Zverev was concerned in one other in opposition to little identified Serbian Lukas Klein.

Klein, taking part in in solely his second main draw, stole the second and third units off the German and virtually had him within the fourth.

However Zverev persevered and took the fourth in a tense tiebreak to ship it to a fifth.

The pair, each sweltering even with the roof closed, each broke one another’s serve within the fifth but it surely was Zverev who ultimately reigned supreme.

A ridiculous passing shot after chasing down an unimaginable drop shot from Zverev had the gang screaming for the underdog.

Nevertheless it wasn’t to be, Zverev taking the ultimate tiebreak 10-7 for a 7-5 3-6 4-6 7-6 7-6 victory.

2.55pm – Zverev takes it to 5 units, Aussie staying alive

Alex Zverev has fought again on the demise as Lukas Klein threatened to ship him tumbling within the fourth set. The pair went to a tense tiebreak and had been even at 5-5 till the Slovakian hit two unforced errors into the web and gave Zverev the higher hand.

He took the fourth set and the pair now enter a fifth for an opportunity to enter the third spherical.

In the meantime, Aussie Max Purcell has taken his personal match in opposition to Casper Ruud to 5 units, surging again to take the fourth set 6-2.

2.20pm – Zverev being put by means of the ringer

We could possibly be witnessing the largest upset of the event right here.

World No. 6 Alex Zverev bought off to a strong begin in opposition to Lukas Klein, taking the primary set 7-5. However he’s shortly started to crumble because the Slovakian roared again to take the following two units 6-3 6-4.

Klein, who’s taking part in in his second grand slam draw, has gained extra break factors this afternoon and is within the sizzling seat to make his first ever look within the third spherical.

1.50pm – Aussie preventing for third spherical spot

Aussie Max Purcell has begun his match in opposition to World No. 11 Casper Ruud however has bought off to a shaky begin. The Norwegian secured an early break and had him down 4-1 early within the piece.

Purcell has been serving nicely to kick off the second spherical conflict, smashing 4 aces and hitting his first serve at an 80 per cent success price.

A short rain delay stalled the match, however Ruud broke by means of instantly after and ran away with the primary set 6-3.

Purcell reemerged within the second set, forcing his increased ranked opponent to a tiebreak.

The Aussie sealed the deal within the tight square-off, taking the set 7 (7) -6 (5).

12.20pm – Zverev takes the primary set

Alex Zverev is continuous his Australian Open marketing campaign at present and is off to a terrific begin in opposition to Lukas Klein of their second spherical match. The Slovakian No. 163 confirmed some promise in opposition to the sixth seed Zverev, however was ultimately minimize all the way down to dimension.

Zverev has bought lots of adverse consideration this week surrounding home violence accusations. He has been “accused of bodily abusing a girl and damaging her well being throughout an argument” in Berlin over three years in the past.

He has frequently denied the allegations being levelled in opposition to him and can start his case on Might 31.

12pm – Ugly tennis feud set to reignite

A Wimbledon feud from over two years in the past could possibly be set to reignite this week as an Aussie goes face to face with an outdated rival.

Of their 2021 match, Ajla Tomljanovic was livid that opponent Jelena Ostapenko had referred to as for the coach however didn’t seem like hampered by harm in any way.

“In case you suppose I’m faking, you may speak to the physio,” Ostapenko stated.

Tomljanovic answered: “I hope you are feeling higher”, and Ostapenko replied: “Your behaviour is horrible. You might have zero respect.”

Ostapenko then labelled the Aussie “the worst participant on tour.”

However Tomljanovic, who goes face to face with Ostapenko at 7pm tonight, poured chilly water on rumours the pair nonetheless had beef.

“What occurred occurred. It’s been some time. I feel we performed one another after as soon as extra, and he or she beat me,” Tomljanovic stated.

“Look, I’ve respect for her as a participant. What occurred, that was simply in that second. I simply reacted. We by no means spoke about it.

“Yeah, we’re each going to be aggressive. That’s for positive. I do suppose no less than from my facet I respect her as a tennis participant, yeah. In that second, I wasn’t glad.”

11am – Aussies face powerful job to remain alive

There are three Australians taking part in in singles motion on Thursday, however it might be spectacular if any of them progress to the following spherical.

Ajla Tomljanovic takes on eleventh seed Jelena Ostapenko tonight and can rekindle their rivalry after a frosty change on the internet following the Aussie’s win over the Latvian at Wimbedon two years in the past.

On the boys’s facet it’s even more durable, with all three Aussies dealing with seeded gamers.

Max Purcell performs eleventh seed Casper Ruud and Thanasi Kokkinakis will must be at his greatest in opposition to Grigor Dimitrov, who’s having fun with some robust later profession kind.

10:30am – Kyrgios affords to ‘type out’ Djokovic heckler

The Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic bromance has reached new heights with the injured Aussie star jokingly providing to ‘type out’ the individual heckling the Serbian.

Djokovic fumed at a rowdy fan over a sledge that went too far throughout his win over Aussie Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday evening.

In a post-match section on Eurosport, the place Kyrgios is working in commentary, Djokovic stated it was not a pleasant environment to play in.

Kyrgios then jumped in to point out his help for the world No. 1.

“I’m prepared. Let’s do WWE within the crowd. I’ll leap in for you, I’ll go first. I’ll get that man out of right here!” Kyrgios jokingly siad.

“If you would like me to leap into the gang and kind him out, I’ll do it for you bro. I bought your again 100%.”

9.45am – Djokovic’s thriller sickness

Novak Djokovic has misplaced a set in each the primary and second spherical for the primary time since 2018, and eagled eyed viewers suspect the World No. 1 is carrying a thriller sickness.

Djokovic struggled with a wrist criticism in the course of the United Cup and stated he was “a bit below the climate” in the course of the early phases of his marketing campaign at Melbourne Park.

“I’m positively not taking part in or feeling my greatest,” Djokovic stated.

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg tweeted: “Djokovic admitted after his first spherical that he wasn’t feeling nice. And if I noticed accurately, I feel a tissue fell out of his pocket throughout that final recreation?”

The Serbian bought right into a fiery change with a fan within the crowd earlier than he closed out his victory over Alexei Popyrin.

“There have been lots of issues that had been being informed to me on the courtroom… I used to be tolerating it for a lot of the match,” he stated.

“At one level I had had sufficient, and I requested him whether or not he needs to come back down and inform it to my face.

“While you confront any individual, sadly for him, he didn’t have the braveness to come back down.

“That’s what I used to be asking him. When you’ve got braveness, for those who’re such a tricky man, powerful man, come down and inform it to my face, and let’s have a dialogue about it.”

9.30am – Tsitsipas sledges ‘egocentric’ Djokovic

Stefanos Tsitsipas is thru to the third spherical as he continues his quest for a maiden grand slam title.

The Greek star was outclassed by Novak Djokovic in final yr’s Australian Open closing however saved his dream alive with a four-set win over Australia’s Jordan Thompson.

Djokovic has by no means misplaced a closing or semifinal at Melbourne Park, and Tsitsipas joked the explanation he hadn’t gained a grand slam but is as a result of the Serbian is simply too egocentric to let anybody else win.

“Numbers don’t lie,” Tsitsipas stated.

“Novak has been in a position to win right here 10 instances, he’s a really egocentric individual!

“I feel if he wakes up someday feeling much less egocentric, a ‘sharing is caring’ kind of vibe…There are two situations: if somebody is to beat Novak that isn’t me, or it must be me. We’ve to discover a means.

“I do know that I’m able to pulling off sure issues and having a deep run on the Aussie Open, it’s one among my favorite tournaments. I used to skip faculty to look at it. It positively means rather a lot to me. The entire local weather, I really feel like I’m again in Greece, the local weather is similar to the place I come from.”