Australian Open - Day Seven

The top half of the draw reaches the fourth round stage and pick of the day's matches are:-

Andy Murray V Mischa Zverev - Murray to win in 3 or 4 sets.

Roger Federer V Kei Nishikori - This is hard to predict. For me Federer has to win in straight sets as if this becomes a long match Kei becomes warm favourite. Nishikori in 4 for me.

Stan Wawrinka V Andreas Seppi - Stan to win in 3 or 4 sets.

Jo Tsonga V Dan Evans - Tsonga to win in 4. However, if Dan frustrates Tsonga and gets in his head Dan could win.

Bloody hell CC, we're still playing  Day 6!! Stop confusing me 

Surprised there are no comments here.

Murray struggling big style V Zverev. Two sets to one down and struggling to cope with Zverev's variations. Murray could be on his way out - the microscopic saving grace? No 1 spot is safe but that is clutching at straws.

Zverev playing the right way screwing with Murray's mind.

Zverev breaks first game in the fourth set.

Wawrinka two sets up on Seppi. Tsonga and Evans on serve in the first set.

Yeah, Andy's going out here. 5 straight games for Zverev with 3 straight breaks. His mind is frazzled. Zverev is literally making no unforced errors.

This could actually be a bagel given the way they both look at the moment.

Murray is a player who functions far better when he has a settled mind and game plan. He has neither today. Zverev's tactics have screwed his mind and he has not been able to devise a game plan

In better news, Evans takes the first set against Tsonga.

Better news on Hisense in that Evans takes the first set on a tie-break.

lol beat me to it BS.

Every time he's had a chance to turn this around, he's played a couple of shocking points. Could easily ditch this service game after the poor effort from 15-30.

If Murray exits as is looking increasingly likely then who goes favourite? Rafa? Roger?

Wawrinka.

Born Slippy wrote:Wawrinka.

Yes that is who I would make favourite but the bookmakers I think will take a different view.

Solid game but just have the feeling Zverev will serve it out from here. He's looking absolutely rock solid on serve.

Born Slippy wrote:Solid game but just have the feeling Zverev will serve it out from here. He's looking absolutely rock solid on serve.

And not just that Murray has had chances (a lot) today and hasn't taken them in any case.

Zverev a game away from the win in four sets.

People will be asking what happened and the facts are Zverev has played the match of his life and Murray has been poor. Credit Zverev though as his variation and game plan and screwing Murray's mind. Bad bad day at the office for Andy.

Oh dear, what a disaster. Needs to hold and pile the pressure on.

Seppi to serve to set 3

I can see Federer beating Nishi and Wawrinka and then losing to Nadal in the final. That looks the most likely outcome.

Can see Zverev winning this game to love. He's served well throughout and his volleying has been unreal.

Yeah, rock solid final game from Zverev. The 6 games in a row from 2-2 in the third were decisive. Brilliant overall performance from him. It's successive slams thrown away by Andy though - he should have found enough to win this one.

Zverev wins in 4. Very well played indeed. As for Andy - oh dear.

I am hoping now for a new slam winner. Say Nishikori or Raonic or Dimitrov.

Tsonga romping away with the second set.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

I knew Zverev had a good chance to make QF but after Rafa won I thought it was not to be.

So nice to see a guy beat top player coming forward. We should have more of that.

I was hoping there would be a Zverev in the quarter finals...just not the elder one. Match of his life

Born Slippy wrote:Yeah, rock solid final game from Zverev. The 6 games in a row from 2-2 in the third were decisive. Brilliant overall performance from him. It's successive slams thrown away by Andy though - he should have found enough to win this one.

I wouldn't say this was a slam thrown away as it was only a fourth round exit and he had tougher challenges in the rounds ahead. I'd have agreed if this had perhaps been a round or two later.

Tsonga and Evans level at one set-all. Tsonga serving at 4-3 in the third set.

Tsonga takes the third set 6-4 and is one set away from the quarters.

Federer soon to get underway against Nishikori.

Nishikori blitzing Federer

1-5 to 6-5 Federer

Nishi takes 7-6 in the TB. U'd expect him to go on and win from here.

emancipator wrote:Nishi takes 7-6 in the TB. U'd expect him to go on and win from here.

Agreed. It was a lengthy first set as well so for Roger to win it will mean him being out there for three hours plus. Tough ask for a man in his mid 30s.

this is Federer you know

2-1 up in sets

Actually a great performance from Zverev and an OK not a very poor one from Murray. Sometimes, it doesn't mean that the top player was terrible, just because they had a shock defeat


Nice to see that style winning. Andy take note, as you could play more like this as well

banbrotam wrote:Actually a great performance from [size=41]Zverev and an OK not a very poor one from Murray. Sometimes, it doesn't mean that the top player was terrible, just because they had a shock defeat[/size]


[size=41]Nice to see that style winning. Andy take note, as you could play more like this as well[/size]

Murray missed a lot of shots I'd normally expect him to get and his serve was broken far too many times by a player not renowned for his return of serve. Zverev 100% deserved to win though and as you say Murray should take note of the tactics Zverev used.

Nishikori saves a couple of break points before breaking serve in the next game to lead 4-2 in the fourth set. Zverev will be hoping this goes long into the fifth set.

Born Slippy wrote:Yeah, rock solid final game from Zverev. The 6 games in a row from 2-2 in the third were decisive. Brilliant overall performance from him. It's successive slams thrown away by Andy though - he should have found enough to win this one.

I fail to see why when winning Wimby and The Olympics in the space of six weeks, its seen as some abject failure when getting knocked out of the US Open a couple of weeks later to one of the worlds best players and reaching the quarters

It shows the ridiculously high expectations expected off the Top 2. Novak doesn't win a slam for three events and now this means the worlds ended judging by the OTT reactions to some

Before Roger, even with Sampras, occassional shocks were normal, with credit given to the conqueror. Now it's about, laying into whichever one of the Big 5 has had the latest failure

I'm totally cool about this. Frankly, Andy's played well about very once (O2 final) since Wimby and as we all know won't let this ruin his career

Of course he'll be back banbrotam nobody is saying otherwise but however you look at it it was a very disappointing loss for Andy. Saving grace? The No 1 slot looks to be his for a good month or two now. Hopefully, he can get back to winning ways at the upcoming Masters events.

Nishikori levels at two sets all. Goes favourite now.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Of course he'll be back banbrotam nobody is saying otherwise but however you look at it it was a very disappointing loss for Andy. Saving grace? The No 1 slot looks to be his for a good month or two now. Hopefully, he can get back to winning ways at the upcoming Masters events.

In my reply to BS, I'm referring to the US Open loss as it don't see that as an event "thrown away" when he'd just won The Olympics and Wimbledon

Nobody's not calling this a disappointing loss. Any loss is disappointing, when you're world No.1

Hope Kei goes on and wins the whole thing, but the usual issue - i.e. his inability to be at his physical best for seven five set matches will take it's toll

Another twist as Federer breaks and Nishikori flexing his leg at times. Federer leads 2-0 in the fifth.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

banbrotam wrote:Actually a great performance from [size=41]Zverev and an OK not a very poor one from Murray. Sometimes, it doesn't mean that the top player was terrible, just because they had a shock defeat[/size]


[size=41]Nice to see that style winning. Andy take note, as you could play more like this as well[/size]

Murray missed a lot of shots I'd normally expect him to get and his serve was broken far too many times by a player not renowned for his return of serve. Zverev 100% deserved to win though and as you say Murray should take note of the tactics Zverev used.

Andy's serve is the always the first thing to go, when things aren't going to plan.

I never read too much into his serve troubles - look at his 2013 Wimby win, for instance. It's fair to say it was worrying given the quality of the returner

I maintain, it was the great but unique play that Zverev had - that did him and if the German can take that to Wimbledon who knows

banbrotam wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Of course he'll be back banbrotam nobody is saying otherwise but however you look at it it was a very disappointing loss for Andy. Saving grace? The No 1 slot looks to be his for a good month or two now. Hopefully, he can get back to winning ways at the upcoming Masters events.

In my reply to BS, I'm referring to the US Open loss as it don't see that as an event "thrown away" when he'd just won The Olympics and Wimbledon

Nobody's not calling this a disappointing loss. Any loss is disappointing, when you're world No.1

Yes I also disagreed it was a slam flung away - it wasn't. Even if Andy had won today his bigger tests lay ahead. I would have agreed if this had been the semi and waiting in the final already had been a player he would have been hot favourite to beat. But that just wasn't the case.

banbrotam wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:

banbrotam wrote:Actually a great performance from [size=47]Zverev and an OK not a very poor one from Murray. Sometimes, it doesn't mean that the top player was terrible, just because they had a shock defeat[/size]


[size=47]Nice to see that style winning. Andy take note, as you could play more like this as well[/size]

Murray missed a lot of shots I'd normally expect him to get and his serve was broken far too many times by a player not renowned for his return of serve. Zverev 100% deserved to win though and as you say Murray should take note of the tactics Zverev used.

Andy's serve is the always the first thing to go, when things aren't going to plan.

I never read too much into his serve troubles - look at his 2013 Wimby win, for instance. It's fair to say it was worrying given the quality of the returner

I maintain, it was the great but unique play that Zverev had - that did him and if the German can take that to Wimbledon who knows

For me it is all psychological. When he is settled into a rhythm and has a game plan in his head he is fine. Zverev played such a varied game today it gave him no rhythm and couldn't formulate a game plan. That unsettled him totally and explains the serve being off and shots being missed I would normally bank on him to get. Plus there was the small matter that Zverev played the match of his life. It happens as we saw with Djokovic, Federer and Nadal in the past.

How on earth is Federer playing this well against a top player after 6 months out?! And outlasting him physically The man is incredible.

Federer wins in five sets in around three and a half hours. A long match but playing Zverev it won't be as intense a match so such a long match may not affect him. Such is the way though it iseems he still could have to face Wawrinka and Nadal to create history. I can't see it myself.

As to how Roger does it well the long time off probably helped a great deal to recharge the batteries and leaving him feel refreshed. Fed has always had great touch and that is something you don't lose. The question will now be can he do another three matches here physically without his level dropping?