We have seen a few comebacks at the Australian Open but this is definitely one of the most unexpected.
In the women’s doubles second round, Czech pair Marketa Vondrousova and Mariam Kolodziejova defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia and Shuai Zhang after saving nine match points.
Up 3-6, 7-6, 5-0 and 40-0, victory seemed a foregone conclusion for the Chinese-Brazilian pair.
Read next
Surely there was no way into it?
Vondrousova–Kolodziejova won five straight games before forcing the deciding set into a tie-break, which eventually ended 16–14 in their favour.
They will play their third round match against Kostyuk and Ruse later today.
12:05 pm where is peng shui
Shuai Zhang said she is “just waiting for good news” when it comes to compatriot Peng Shuai and the women returning to China.
Peng is not believed to have been seen or heard from since 2 November 2021, when she went public with allegations that a former senior vice-premier and high-ranking member of the ruling Chinese Communist Party sexually assaulted her 10 years ago. was harassed.
The allegations were posted on the social media website Weibo before being removed after 30 minutes.
Global fears for her safety followed and continue to this day, despite the Chinese authorities releasing videos and interviews claiming to be from Peng.
Not satisfied with the authenticity of the videos, phone calls and stories of Peng’s safety, the WTA suspended all competition in China – a decision expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship.
Even his 2023 calendar is blank after the US Open in September.
WTA chief executive Steve Simon said in April 2022 that the stance would not change until a resolution was found regarding the former world No. 14.
When asked about the WTA returning to her country because it was dependent on Peng’s safety, Shuai said, “I don’t know about that question.”
“I focus too much on myself, and I don’t know too much about it, and it’s not in my control.
“I am like everyone else.
“I just know from the news or the WTA website.
“But I am completely the same as everyone else.
“just waiting [more] Good News.”
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach was pictured with Peng on several occasions during last year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, yet many continue to question their legitimacy.
Earlier this month, the WTA said it had received confirmation that Peng was safe, but had yet to meet her in person.
“We stand by our position and our thoughts are with Peng,” he said in a statement. “The WTA continues to work towards a resolution.
“While we have always indicated that we are hopeful that we will be in a position to operate WTA events again in this region, we will not compromise our founding principles in doing so.”
10:05 am 2:16 am Finish: Australia Open condemned as Djokker demands change
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka advanced to the quarterfinals at 2:17 p.m. on Monday after a late night win over China’s Zhu Lin.
The 24th seeded Belarusian won 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and will play Jessica Pegula of the United States is the top female seed left in the draw at number three.
The organizers of the tournament were widely criticized a few days ago when Andy Murray and home player Thanasi Kokkinakis fought until 4:05 am.
The match between Azarenka and unseeded Zhu started late at Rod Laver Arena as the previous encounter between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner went to five sets.
It turned out to be a grueling clash, which began late on Sunday and ended in the early hours of Monday, with a nearly empty stadium by that point.
“It was two hours and 40 minutes of absolute pressure,” the 33-year-old Azarenka said afterward.
Asked what time she would be in bed, she replied: “I don’t even know what time it is.
“Maybe I’ll stay up until 6:00 a.m., then put on a mask and sleep through the day.”
Broadcaster and former player Pam Shriver questioned the timing of the encounter, which was due to the previous game.
earlier in the tournament Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic both sought schedule changes from Australian Open officials to keep up with the amount of late-night play,
The opinion of the players is always important for organizing the tournament. “Whether it is decisive, we know it is not because it comes down to the TV broadcasters. They are the ultimate decision makers.
“For the crowd, it’s entertaining, it’s exciting, having matches [at] midnight, 1, 2, 3 am. For us, it is really gruesome. Even if you go through such matches and win, you still have to come back. Your sleep cycle is completely disrupted, not really enough time to recover for another five-setter.
“After what we’ve seen this year something needs to be addressed in terms of the schedule.”
8:25 AM Greek god approves rocket
Stefanos Tsitsipas took inspiration from watching Rod Laver stay calm in the face of attack and battle for a third consecutive Australian Open quarter-final.
The Greek third seed extended his winning streak this year to eight matches with a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Italian 15th seed Jannik Sinner at Rod Laver Arena. . four hours.
The win set up a clash against surprise package Jiri Lehka for a place in the semi-finals as the sixth seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime stunned the 21-year-old 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), Beaten 7-6 (7/3).
The upset put the Czech into the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time, after first round exits at all four majors last year.
“I stayed really calm, just like Mr Rod Laver used to do in his day,” Tsitsipas said as the crowd roared their approval and Australian legend Laver saluted the Greek player from the stands.
“It was a long match, I felt like I had scored a century playing tennis on this court.
“What a good night. That was brilliant, ‘a ripper’ as they say here. I’m really looking forward to sharing moments like this on the court, especially in Australia.
“I’m trying to do my best here, it’s not easy. I had an incredible opponent on the other side of the court today.”
7:43 AM Sinner Key?
Forget reading forms, there’s a new theory in town.
Janick Sinner could be the key to identifying the reigning Australian Open champion, and here’s why.
7 am Bad Boys Behaved: Did Kyrgios lose the Aus Open $105K?
Owen Leonard
All-night matches, flag bans and bathroom break denials aside, the Australian Open is reclaiming its ‘Happy Slam’ status with tennis’ bad boys behaving, the fine tally shows.
The men have so far been fined a total of A$23,700.60 – just 18 per cent of last year’s A$129,276, which was recorded by the end of the two weeks.
The women have combined for just A$6463.30 in comparison, meaning they will come close to their 2022 tally of A$13,645.80, but a far cry from the umpire abuse and racket smashes seen in the men.
The fines collected are reinvested in the Grand Slam Player Development Program, which gives grants to selected players at the start of their careers.
The men, however, are far more subdued than in previous years, a trend expected to continue given the early exits of serial offenders Denis Shapovalov and Daniil Medvedev, as well as the absence of Nick Kyrgios.
Shapovalov was fined A$21,546 in 2022 – almost the same total this year in week one – but did not commit any breaches at the tournament before his third-round exit.
Medvedev was fined A$17,236.80 last year and was one of four players in the tournament to be fined A$4309.20, but Sebastian Korda put him in trouble.
The other three fined the same amount – Oscar Otte, Stan Wawrinka and Adrian Mannarino – are now out of the reckoning.
The PG-rated feel of the tournament is no doubt aided by the return of Kyrgios, as well as the $14,364 fine that the crowd favorite was tipped for in 2022.
Kyrgios was fined more than twice as much at Wimbledon, which involved a furious stoush with Stefanos Tsitsipas – usually one of tennis’ biggest philanthropists himself.
However, the Greek star has yet to be fined a cent at this year’s Australian Open, perhaps courtesy of the fact that she won her first three matches in straight sets.
When his tournament heats up in two weeks, history shows there’s every chance his attitude will be too.
For now, officials appear to be on track for an unusually meager collection.
But with the hottest matches yet to come, fans avoiding rackets, chair umpires and angry balls hurled into the crowd are not out of the woods yet.
Read next
notes