G’day! It was business as usual for much of Day 3 down-under, but fear not, drama in its many guises was also present and correct.
The men’s draw comparably saw things go by the book today/yesterday despite many a mouthwatering match-up. Novak Djokovic has seemingly and ominously already hit his stride after a commanding straight sets win over one of the U.S’ bright young things Ryan Harrison for the loss of just six games.
Elsewhere, and by no means less impressive were similar stories as Radek Stepanek (who meets the Serbinator next) and Fernando Verdasco both made a mockery of opponents rightly deemed to cause them many a problem. Feliciano Lopez and Xavier Malisse were both swept aside however, also in straight sets.
Yet despite such commanding performances one wouldn’t rate either the Czech or Spaniard as ‘dark horses’ for this year’s title, accolades that both Marcos Baghdatis and especially Tomas Berdych are correctly attaching themselves to. Ever since his dream run in 2006 Marcos has felt at home here despite those 2008 riot video dramas. Berdych is quickly materializing into a pre-Slam-triumph Murray figure; exceptionally dangerous and capable but without the silverwear to cement such a belief.
The Women’s side of things offered up – as it always does – drama and one sided victories by the bucketload. There were the commanding wins by the likes of Sharapova, Venus, Kerber and Radwanska. The story here is perhaps not today’s results but rather what’s to come with Sharapova facing the elder Williams and Jankovic meeting Ivanovic in a battle of the Serbs proving the highlights amongst many in this half.
Comeback kid of the day – Heather Watson
Showing guts and a mental strength matched with raw ability that just hasn’t been seen in the British women’s game for decades, Watson’s 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 victory sees her into the 3rd round in Melbourne for the first time.
Hero of the day – Maria Sharapova
For sheer ruthlessness Masha grabs this early gong even if heroic isn’t quite the word. True her opponent is hardly a household name, but more bagels shows ultra-concentration, commitment and belief reminiscent of the Russian’s pomp.
Zero of the day – Samantha Stosur
Not the shock of the day simply because Stosur’s home record is so poor (just the 4th round on two occasions in twelve attempts) and Zheng jie is no slouch. Amelie can give a knowing nod to this news.
Shock of the day – Valeria Savinykh defeated Dominika Cilbulkova 7-6, 6-4
There were few upsets today but and Cibulkova is hardly the last word in consistency, but this was still a surprise nevertheless.
Marathon Match of the day – Janko Tipsarevic def Lukas Lacko 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-5
Again there were many epic scuffles in both the men and women’s competitions, but for drama and theatre this one just pips it. That Lacko almost produced a ‘back from the brink’ display was only heightened by that night-match atmosphere amplifier.
Elsewhere…
Men’s Second Round Scores: Day 3
Novak Djokovic (1) defeated Ryan Harrison; 6-1, 6-2, 6-3
David Ferrer (4) defeated Tim Smyczek; 6-0, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
Tomas Berdych (5) defeated Guillaume Rufin; 6-2, 6-2, 6-4
Janko Tipsarevic (8) defeated Lukas Lacko; 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-5
Nicolas Almagro (10) defeated Daniel Gimeno-Traver; 6-4, 6-1, 6-2
Stanislas Wawrinka (15) defeated Tobias Kamke; 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), retired
Kei Nishikori (16) defeated Carlos Berlocq; 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-1
Sam Querrey (20) defeated Brian Baker; 6-7 (2-7), 1-1, retired
Fernando Verdasco (22) defeated Xavier Malisse; 6-1, 6-3, 6-2
Evgeny Donskoy defeated Mikhail Youzhny (23); 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Jerzy Janowicz (24) defeated Somdev Devvarman; 6-7 (10-12), 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5
Jurgen Melzer (26) defeated Roberto Bautista Agut; 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2
Marcos Baghdatis (28) defeated Tatsuma Ito; 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Radek Stepanek (31) defeated Feliciano Lopez; 6-2, 6-2, 6-4
Julien Benneteau (32) defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin; 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5)
Kevin Anderson defeated Andrey Kuznetsov; 6-1, 7-5, 6-4
Women’s Second Round Scores: Day 3
Maria Sharapova (2) defeated Misaki Doi; 6-0, 6-0
Agnieszka Radwanska (4) defeated Irina-Camelia Begu; 6-3, 6-3
Angelique Kerber (5) defeated Lucie Hradecka; 6-3, 6-1
Li Na (6) defeated Olga Govortsova; 6-2, 7-5
Jie Zheng defeated Samantha Stosur (9); 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
Marion Bartoli (11) defeated Vesna Dolonc; 7-5, 6-0
Ana Ivanovic (13) defeated Yung-Jan Chan; 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
Valeria Savinykh defeated Dominika Cilbulkova (15); 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
Julia Goerges (18) defeated Romina Oprandi; 6-3, 6-2
Ekaterina Makarova (19) defeated Stephanie Foretz Gacon; 6-3, 6-3
Jelena Jankovic (22) defeated Maria Joao Koehler; 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Kirsten Flipkens defeated Klara Zakopalova (23); 6-1, 6-0
Venus Williams (25) defeated Alize Cornet; 6-3, 6-3
Sorana Cirstea (27) defeated Kristyna Pliskova; 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
Madison Keys defeated Tamira Paszek (30); 6-2, 6-1
Heather Watson defeated Ksenia Pervak; 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
All Things Tennis 