Australian Tennis Open

Top Half of the Draw after Round 3

The following players  are in Round 4 in the top half of the draw:=

*   Novak Djokovic  vs  Milos Rasonic

*    Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Aslan Karatsev

*     Dominic Thiem vs   Grigor Dimitrov   

*     Alexander Zverev vs  Dusan Lajovic 

Djokovic came within a whisker from losing in round 3 playing against a relative unknown by the name of Taylor Fritz and is unfortunate in having to face one of  the better players sill in the series,

Thiem also won a nail-biter against  Kurgos,   He lost the first two sets and then had to win the next three sets.

The Bottom half of the Draw after Round 3

In the bottom of the log the following players will play each other in Round 4 on Monday:-

*   Danill Medvedev  vs  Mackenzie McDonald,

*   Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Matheo Berrettin 

*   Andrei Rudlev vs Casper Ruud

*    Rafael Nadal  vs   Fabio Fognini 

The most difficult game of the four is the one between Tsitsipas and Beretinni.   It is highly unlikely that Medvedev and Rubdev will lose in the two upcoming games - so they will most likely meet each other in the one quarterfinal.

The first result was a surprise - the qualifier Aslan Karatsev beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets,   

And Dominic Thiem - whose performances in Australia thus far this year was poor - got beaten easily by Grigor Dimitrrov - whose quarterfinal game will be against Karatsev,

So now we will have to wait and see what happens in the other two Round 4 games,  I was easily won by Zverev - so who will he met ibn the quarterfinal ?

The quarterfinals will be between -    

*      Karatsevv vs Dimitrov; and 

*       Djokovic vs  Zverev   

Djokovic  win in four sets - but in the quarterfinal I give him only a 10%  chance of bating Zverev.   

So the two Russians playing today - Medvedev and Rublev - both easily won their matches going through to the quarterfinals where they will play each other,

It is the first time in the history of the tournament that there will be three Russian player in the quarterfinals.   Fact is  that thus far the quarterfinalists are made up of -

3   Russians;

1   Serbian

1  Spaniard

1  German

1  Bulgarian

1  Greek 

The crunch matches in the quarterfinals  would  be between  Djokovic and Sverev and Nadal and Tsitsipas.    Another game difficult to predict is the one between Medvedev and Rublev - the latter has recently beaten Medvedev in n a tournament.

The Round 4 games has now been finalised and the following are the quarterfinals:=

 *      Karatsevv vs Dimitrov

 *      Djokovic vs  Zverev

*       Nadal vs  Tsitsipas

*       Mevedev vs Rublev

Based on recent results and performances in the present series both Djokovic and  Nadal are likely to lose in their respective games - with Dimitrov beating Karatsev and  the oputcome of the Medvedev - Rublev game unpreditable.

If my forecast is correct the semi's will be between -

*    Zverev vs  Dimiitrov

*    Tsitsipas vs  Medvedev or Rublev

Of the above players only Rublev thus far in the series has not lost a set at all.    .  

Looks interesting Mike

So far

Dimitrov /Karatsev 6-2

Karatsev/Dimitrov 6-4

Dimitrov /Karatsev 1-6

Dimitrov left court...pain in groin...Anti-inflammatories?

6-2 ...Karatsev through to semis. One up to the Russians.

Beware of Russophobia, Maria (Sharapova)...you just might be accused of "poisoning" your Bulgarian boyfriend...lol.

On a more serious note...anti-inflammatories can be suspect...Voltaren and Panamor...the latter nearly killed me (an injection)  which a doctor administered negligently due to pain after a 12 kilometer run. They still don't know why it lead to necrotizing faciitis.

Although Dimitrov looked fine at the start...just that Karatsev is a lot better than pundits gave his chances.

Seb

I was not able to watch any tennis since Eskom has switched off  our electricity since 6 am to 6 pm today,    I have now a generator at home which I had started up to see  the Zverev - Djokovic game,   

I used to rate Dimitrov as a player - but I was hesitant about him winning since he ahs not been good now for years - maybe Sharapova took to much out of him. 

Now we will have two Russians of the four players in the semi.   Never happened before - unbelievable.   Going back to the start of the Australia Open - it happened 3 times in the history of the game that the finals were played by two players from the same country in the years 1669 to 1976 and  in the years  between 1973 to 2 000 it happened another three times.   Since 2001 to this year it never happened.    Can it happen this year?                 

Djokovic 6  6  6  7

 Zverev    7  2  4  6

I am really surprised about Zverev losing.    He was up 3-0 in three of the sets and then went into reverse  - not attacking at all and he lost in two of the three sets.   I think he needs to see a sport psychiatrist - one do not surrender the way he did in two of the three sets.    This has been his problems for a while now - he gets beaten like he was yesterday.

As to Nadal - after the first two sets I thought the match was over and stop watching the match.    Then when I returned the game was in the 4th set - which Tsitsipas won when Nadal effectively threw in the towel.  

In the fifth set Nadal was trying to win with his services - when balls came back he hardly won any points,   After he lost the eleventh game in the set 0-40 - he tried to recover and hit some winners  - but in the end he lost by surrendering.

Now we have the semi between Djokovic and Karatsev tomorrow and the one between Tsitsipas and Medvedev on Friday,    I favor Medvedev to beat Tsitsipas on Friday and if Djokovic gets beaten tomorrow he should get   kicked in the but,   However, I do not think he can either beat Medvedev or Tsitsipas in the final.          

Djokovic won his semi 6-3,6-4, 6-2 and will now have to face either Medvedev or  Tsitsipas in the final.   I think he hope it i s Tsitsipas - in the EOYT in London  Medvedev wiped the floor with him.       

Medvedev won all 3 sets ...through to final.

Looking a bit tired but a likable man, unpretentious, smiles easily and talks very well in a foreign language.

Hope he wins Mike...he's a very good ambassador for his country.

Seb

I saw Djokovic play him in the round robin match in the End Of Year Championship in London last year,   Medvedev won 6-3, 6-3 and  he will beat  Djokovic in three sets.

Both Medvedev and Rublev are great gentlemen and both are good ambassadors for Russia.   Love to watch them play tennis.      

Yes, Mike, a pure decent man, good at his job with no frills...a true Russian man. I hope he wins...if he loses he won't throw an egoistic tantrum...that's why i respect and love Russians.. 

Do not write off Djokovic he is injured but a fighter and a class act in every way.

Djokovic is like Federer and Nadal suffering from advancing years of age,     He won against Sverev who suffered from stage fright and then had a rather dubious semi against Karatsev.    He will use injury as an excuse for losing against  Medvedev.        

Seb

Just a question please.   Karatsev's  price money in reaching the semi is $AUS  730 000,,which  converted to Roubles amounts to circa  42 500 000 = would that make him  in Russian terms a wealthy chap?           

Wealthy no but still it's a healthy sum...the average Russian would be very comfortable with it.

Wealthy Russians like all other foreigners gage they wealth on USA dollars.

On another note, I was a bit disappointed in the final however ...I thought it would go all the way and expected a 4-5 hour battle.

Well done Novak...you are an absolute clinical machine and Daniil well done for reaching the final...it just was  not your day...but I'm sure it's just a matter of time you will find a way to crack your opponent...you have done it before. As you mature you will master the mind-set and not become unglued . You showed great sportmanship in your loss and it's enlightening to see the friendship you and your opponent enjoy.

I agree the Russian showed his class in defeat.

His time and day will come.....soon.

A gentleman even in defeat, says a lot.

The whole string…..congratulations nowhere to be seen

Lisnte dim so and so he she or it

 Since  you know bugger-all about everything in life I would suggest you ask Mozart to think on your behalf.    Since he is prejudiced his advice will send you spiraling down further on your idiocy supreme reaqding .   LMAO   ,