American Amanda Anisimova, ranked 60th in the world, saved two match points and smashed winners at will to beat reigning champion Naomi Osaka 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-5) in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday.
Anisimova produced a superb display to knock out the Japanese and disappoint those who had been salivating at the prospect of a fourth-round showdown between the four-time major winner and Australian world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty.
“I just want to soak in this moment,” Anisimova told reporters. “It sucks we couldn’t both win today.”
Osaka, who has won all her major titles on hardcourts, had two opportunities to close out the match in the 10th game of the deciding set. But she watched helplessly as the 20-year-old Anisimova, who has seen her ranking plummet due to injury issues, saved both and then converted her first opportunity in the deciding super tie-break with an ace to seal the match.
The American dropped her racquet and hid her face with her palms as the crowd at the Margaret Court Arena exploded in appreciation. It was the fourth time that Osaka failed to successfully defend a grand slam title.
“I almost felt like I was fighting for my life out there in some games.”
“I fought for every point. I can’t be sad about that,” she added. “I’m not God! I can’t win every match.”
World No. 1 Barty firmed as favourite for the title when she breezed past Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3. “It shows how often the draw pans out like you guys think, hey?,” said Barty.
Barty, who is aiming to end Australia’s 44-year wait for a homegrown champion, had lost only three games in her first two matches and continued that dominant form with an early break of the 30th seed’s serve.
French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova fought back from going a set behind to hand Jelena Ostapenko a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat while Victoria Azarenka dismantled 15th seed Elina Svitolina 6-0, 6-2 to storm into the fourth round, showing glimpses of the form that earned her back-to-back Melbourne Park titles, but the 32-year-old said she will not get carried away.
“I try to take it day by day. That mentality, to stay in the present, continue to do what I can in the moment, that’s been helping me more rather than comparing.”
In-form world No. 6 Paula Badosa had to fend off a comeback from Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk in an arm-wrestle of a baseline battle to advance. Badosa had to fight right until the very last point but finally secured the 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory on her fifth match point after two hours and 19 minutes in the Melbourne sunshine.
Nadal powers ahead
Sixth seed Rafael Nadal dropped his first set at this year’s Australian Open but still powered through to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat of Karen Khachanov. The Spaniard was sensational as he took a two-set lead. But Khachanov, seeded 28th, threw caution to the wind in the third set, stalling Nadal’s charge with some ferocious hitting.
Olympic runner-up Khachanov had lost all seven previous meetings with 2009 Australian Open champion Nadal but briefly looked capable of mounting a comeback. Nadal seized back control with a break of serve at the start of the fourth, however, and with the clock having ticked past midnight on Rod Laver Arena he finished it off in a hurry.
Alexander Zverev admitted he had been far from perfect but still eased into the fourth round without dropping a set after a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Radu Albot. The world No. 3, still seeking the grand slam title that many have predicted for him, struggled with his serve at times but was always in full control against the 32-year-old Romanian qualifier.
The German needed just one break of serve in each set to set up a last 16 clash against what is likely to be more formidable opposition in the shape of Denis Shapovalov.
Five-set epic
World No. 7 Matteo Berrettini overcame a gripping fightback from teenage Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz to win a heavyweight slugfest 6-2, 7-6(3), 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10-5). The Italian won a final set super tie-break after an enchanting four hours and 10 minutes, the see-saw contest resembling more of a boxing match than tennis.
The 18-year-old Alcaraz came into the match having defeated the Wimbledon runner-up in a final set tie-breaker in their only previous meeting at Vienna last October. Berrettini had his revenge in similar fashion but on a bigger stage.
