Welcome to our dwell protection of day three of the Australian Open.
Weather wreaked havoc on Tuesday as excessive warmth noticed play suspended earlier than the rains got here rolling in, leading to 14 singles matches being stopped and pushed again into an already packed schedule.
Ultimately it was Novak Djokovic’s day because the Serbian famous person returned to Rod Laver and dazzled followers with an almighty opening spherical show.
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The circumstances at Melbourne Park on Wednesday can be in stark distinction to what unfolded Tuesday with cooler temperatures to greet followers and gamers after in a single day showers.
9.30am – ‘Tanking’ allegation levelled towards star
Thanasi Kokkinakis was in devastating type throughout his opening spherical encounter towards Italian Fabio Fognini.
His greatest rival was the Melbourne circumstances which compelled the matched to be stopped with the Aussie main 6-1, 6-2, 4-2.
The two males will return to the court docket on Wednesday to complete off their match nevertheless it was the show of the previous world quantity 9 which raised eyebrows
Channel 9 commentator Roger Rasheed was left questioning the Italian after his nonchalant efforts all through the match.
“You want to gauge Thanasi Kokkinakis’ form. Well, he’s hitting the ball nicely from both sides, serving well, got good rhythm, moving nicely. So from his side, his campaign is very solid,” Rasheed stated.
“But his opponent hasn’t yet tested him … and put him under any duress.
“Shots like that have come off the Italian’s racquet again and again.”
It was a far cry from what he has produced on the court docket over time of his profession.
“The Italian likes to play shots,” Rasheed stated.
“He’s got a big imagination on the court. He’s a shotmaker. He’s not just going to just hang around … generally he wants to be doing something with the ball.”
6.15am – Star’s x-rated comment stuns AO crowd
World quantity two Ons Jabeur confronted a more durable than anticipated opening spherical conflict, advancing into the second spherical after a hard-fought 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Tamara Zidansek.
But it was in her oncourt interview after the victory when Jabeur set tongues wagging with an x-rated comment about her husband.
The Tunisian star was requested about her restoration and if ice baths can be coming into play, her response had eyebrows elevating throughout the nation.
“Yeah ice baths and I’m going to make my husband work tonight … lot of massage and good recovery,” Jabeur stated.
After a quick pause and a few cheers from the gang, Jabeur clarified her unexpectedly x-rated remark.
“Massage guys, massage,” she stated.
“For those who don’t know my husband is also my fitness coach and does everything for me.”
6am – Chair umpire hunts down towel thief
Wild scenes unfolded on the Australian Open after Lin Zhu and Rebecca Marino had simply completed their opening spherical encounter with Zhu claiming the 6-2, 6-4 victory.
As the 2 gamers have been standing on the web shaking palms, Marino rapidly let her opponent know {that a} fan had achieved the unthinkable and stolen her towel.
“Somebody just took your towel,” Marino stated.
Enter chair umpire James Keothavong. The British umpire sprung into motion as he leapt off his chair and went after the thief.
“Oi,” Keothavong shouted as he raced throughout the court docket and out into the ocean of followers round Melbourne Park. Unfortunately the cameras didn’t choose up what occurred subsequent.
6am – Djoker, Murray reign on wild day
Novak Djokovic loved a rousing reception on a successful return to the Australian Open on Tuesday and Andy Murray rolled again the years to stun Matteo Berrettini in a basic.
On a day of bans on Russian flags and weather-induced disruption, two of the game’s greatest names belatedly introduced the main target again on tennis in Melbourne.
A heavy title favorite, the 35-year-old Djokovic was again after his deportation final 12 months due to his stance on Covid vaccines.
If the Serb was nervous about how he may be acquired by the Melbourne Park crowd, he needn’t have been – the nine-time Australian Open champion walked out to loud cheers.
Against the backdrop of chants of “Nole”, Djokovic despatched Spain’s Seventy fifth-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena packing at Rod Laver Arena, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0, to surge into spherical two.
“Thank you for giving me such a welcoming reception that I could only dream of,” stated Djokovic, who’s chasing a record-equalling twenty second main title.
“I feel really happy that I’m back here in Australia and on the court where I have had the biggest success in my career.”
Prior to that, the day had belonged to a different 35-year-old in Murray – and Melbourne’s famously fickle climate.
The Briton saved match level to defeat Italy’s thirteenth seed Berrettini 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (10/6) in 4hrs 49mins at Rod Laver Arena, the place the roof was closed due to the acute warmth.
“I will be feeling this this evening and tomorrow,” stated the previous world primary, who performs with a metallic hip after career-saving surgical procedure.
“But right now unbelievably happy and proud of myself.”
As the mercury rose, the warmth compelled play to be halted on outdoors courts. The roofs have been closed on the three essential stadiums: Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena.
Play resumed on the skin courts about three hours later, solely to be disrupted once more within the night when a storm hit, dumping torrential rain that ultimately noticed some matches suspended for the day.
