Tag: Aleksandar

The Australian Open continues as Novak Djokovic faces a stern test against Tomas Machac and Jack Draper bids to set up a clash against Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round.

But Jacob Fearnley’s debut run is over after the 23-year-old Scot was beaten in straight-sets by second seed Alexander Zverev, who is yet to drop a set in Melbourne.

British interest in the men’s singles now lies with Draper who will expect another hostile crowd when he takes on Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic after surviving a marathon test against Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Djokovic, meanwhile, has dropped sets to inexperienced opponents in Nishesh Basavareddy and Jaime Faria so the 24-time grand slam champion will expect an even tougher challenge against Machac, a player who beat him in their last meeting.

In the women’s singles, Aryna Sabalenka continued her winning run at the Australian Open while Coco Gauff battles Leylah Fernandez, but two-time champion Naomi Osaka is out after she was forced to retire from her match against Belinda Bencic.

Follow all the latest scores and results from Melbourne Park below:

Australian Open latest scores and results

• Australian Open third round begins in Melbourne

• Jacob Fearnley beaten in straight sets by second seed Alexander Zverev

• Jack Draper faces another Australian favourite in Aleksandar Vukic

• Carlos Alcaraz awaits winner in fourth round after win over Nuno Borges

• Novak Djokovic faces Czech seed Tomas Machac on Rod Laver Arena

• Aryna Sabalenka through to fourth round despite shaky win

• Naomi Osaka forced to retire after first set against Belinda Bencic

Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 5-1 Tomas Machac

08:48 , Jamie Braidwood

Break! For the third game in a row, Machac loses the first couple of points on serve and Djokovic quickly gets a look at another three break points.

Machac is pushed into the forehand miss out wide and Djokovic takes the double break.

Australian Open Novak Djokovic 4-1 Tomas Machac*

08:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Incredible game between Djokovic and Machac, but it’s the 10-time champion who emerges with the hold to consolidate the break.

Machac had the crowd on their feet by winning a lengthy opening point with great defensive coverage behind the baseline.

Djokovic, though, responded with a high level, finishing the game off at the net. The 37-year-old has really had to raise it here.

Australian Open *Novak Djokovic 3-1 Tomas Machac

08:37 , Jamie Braidwood

It’s been a difficult day for serving in Melbourne, with a breeze swirling around the Rod Laver Arena.

For the second game in a row, Machac faces 0-30 on serve and will again face break points as Djokovic stepped in on the forehand after a net-cord from the Czech.

Djokovic catches the line on the return but Machac saves with excellent hands at the net.

But Djokovic takes the break on the fifth opportunity, as Machac nets on the backhand.

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic 2-1 Tomas Machac*

08:33 , Jamie Braidwood

Machac comes into the net and pops over the volley into open court to get to 30-30 on the Djokovic serve.

But he can’t do enough to force the break point. Djokovic instead holds with the backhand winner down the line.

Machac, though, has shown enough in three games to suggest that this will be as competitive as many thought.

Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 1-1 Tomas Machac

08:28 , Jamie Braidwood

Incredible recovery from Machac! He looked to be slumping into a horror opening service game, facing 0-40 after netting.

But Machac saves all three, and in style. He displays wonderful athleticism to reach a Djokovic drop shot and find the angled pick-up on the third break point.

He holds from there. Excellent start from Machac.

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic 1-0 Tomas Machac*

08:24

Is that a hint at what’s to come? Machac drags Djokovic into deuce in a six-minute opening service game, with competitive exchanges in the baseline rallies from the start.

Djokovic gets his hold but is made to work for it, as Machac drifts a return long.

Australian Open: *Novak Djokovic 0-0 Tomas Machac

08:17 , Jamie Braidwood

Tomas Machac had a breakthrough year last season, with his straight-sets victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Shanghai quarter-finals being the highlight. He also beat Djokovic in the Geneva semi-finals.

But he lost to Jack Draper in the last-16 of the US Open and played an absolute horror. The 24-year-old is yet to make the breakthrough at the grand slams but this is his opportunity.

Djokovic will serve first.

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic vs Tomas Machac

08:10 , Jamie Braidwood

Here we go! The players are out onto the Rod Laver Arena. Novak Djokovic will have to be at the top of his game today, assuming the extremely Tomas Machac turns up.

Elsewhere, Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez are set to begin their clash on the Margaret Court Arena. It’s a tasty match between two of the brightest players in the game.

Australian Open: Jacob Fearnley on defeat to Alexander Zverev

07:57

Jacob Fearnley had no complaints after exiting the Australian Open in a straight-sets defeat to Alexander Zverev, as the Scot reflected on another breakthrough week.

“Extremely good opponent,” Fearnley said of Zverev, who won 6-3 6-4 6-4. “I thought I played some good tennis, some good moments, some low moments.

“I don’t think there was too much in it. Just a few points here and there. I think that’s what those top guys do so well. They keep composed, and their base level just stays the same throughout the whole match. Mine went quite up and down, which I think is what cost me the match.

“Obviously an extremely, extremely good week for me. An unbelievable tournament. I’m looking forward to coming back in the future.”

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic vs Tomas Machac

07:43 , Jamie Braidwood

Novak Djokovic faces his biggest test of the Australian Open so far when he takes on Tomas Machac on the Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic has so far dropped sets to inexperienced opponents in American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy and Portuguese Jaime Faria.

And the 24-time grand slam champion will expect another step up when he takes on Machac, who won their last meeting in Geneva last season.

Machac also had a win over Andy Murray last last season, who is now sitting on Djokovic’s bench.

That will get underway from 8am GMT.

When does Jack Draper play Aleksandar Vukic at Australian Open?

07:31 , Jamie Braidwood

So it could be Carlos Alcaraz next for Jack Draper, as the British No 1 bids to reach the Australian Open fourth round for the first time

But Draper plays another Australian in Aleksandar Vukic, after surviving a five-set thriller against Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Draper overcame a hostile atmosphere and “abuse” from the home fans as he defeated Kokkinakis in what was the longest match of the 23-year-old’s career.

But Draper said that the jeering home crowd actually increased his energy and made him play better against Kokkinakis.

Vukic, 28, is through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time and the World No 67 will have the crowd’s backing as he looks to continue his run.

He is one of two Australian players left standing at the tournament – along with eighth seed Alex de Minaur.

When does Draper play Vukic at Australian Open and how can I watch on TV?

Australian Open: Carlos Alcaraz drops set but races through

07:26

Carlos Alcaraz dropped his first set of the Australian Open but the Spaniard quickly put it behind him to beat Nuno Borges and reach the third round.

Alcaraz is quietly going about his business in Melbourne, as the Spaniard bids to become the youngest player to win all four grand slams at the age of 21.

He came through a third-round clash with Portugal’s Borges 6-2 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3.

Alcaraz is through to the fourth round, where he will face either British No 1 Jack Draper of Australian hopeful Aleksandar Vukic.

Australian Open: Naomi Osaka retires against Belinda Bencic

07:15 , Jamie Braidwood

A tough end to Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open. The former World No 1 is forced to retire at the end of the first set to Belinda Bencic.

Osaka led 5-2 in the first set but began to struggle to with her stomach and took painkillers after calling the physio onto court.

Bencic came back to force the tiebreak, winning the decider 7-3, before Osaka decided to shake hands at the net.

Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka through after shaky win

07:10 , Jamie Braidwood

Aryna Sabalenka dismissed concerns about her serve after beating Carla Tauson 7-6 6-4 to reach the fourth round.

The match on the Rod Laver Arena began with seven consecutive breaks of serve, with the World No 1 struggling with the conditions on the Rod Laver Arena.

“After a few games the balls became much heavier and it’s hard to serve aggressive, powerful serves, so you just try to direct the serve somehow and start building the rallies,” Sabalenka said.

“Tauson received it very well and I did too and that’s why it was such a rather unusual match. Thank God that I succeeded in managing the conditions.”

Jacob Fearnley bundled out of Australian Open in straight sets

07:05 , Eleanor Crooks

Jacob Fearnley’s fine Australian Open debut ended with a straight-sets loss to second seed Alexander Zverev in the third round.

The Scot continues to take the upper levels of the professional game comfortably in his stride and he did not look out of place against one of the tournament favourites on Margaret Court Arena.

But he could not maintain any sustained pressure on Zverev, who wrapped up a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory in two hours and two minutes.

Fearnley struck marginally more winners, with his forehand causing Zverev consistent problems, but there were also 34 unforced errors compared to only 15 for the German.

It has nevertheless been an excellent week for Fearnley, who defeated Nick Kyrgios and the Australian crowd in the first round before coming from a set down to see off Arthur Cazaux in round two.

Jacob Fearnley bundled out of Australian Open in straight sets