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The Trend of Upsets Continues in Melbourne

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Top seed Andy Murray was sent packing by No. 50-ranked Mischa Zverev in the fourth round. The left-hander was trailing in the first set, but somehow managed to steal the set from the world No. 1. Murray came back to take the second set. It looked like the Scot was poised to finish the job, but Zverev’s determination won him the match eventually in four sets 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

“Yeah, I mean, look, I had some opportunities at the end. I think the last two service games I had chances. Maybe three service games in the last set I had opportunities. Maybe missed a couple of balls that he had been making.

“But then, yeah, he came back from all of the mistakes that he made, kept coming, kept coming up with great shots. You know, there’s not too much you can do about that. Sometimes you got to say, Well played.

“It was obviously disappointing to lose. But, you know, he did some good stuff out there,” said Murray in his post-match press conference.

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Feeling the Pressure, Kerber Loses to Composed Vandeweghe

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Clearly, she is still getting used to being No. 1.

The German player ended Serena Williams’ reign atop the rankings after picking up her second Grand Slam trophy last fall at the U.S. Open following her breakout win at last year’s Australian Open. Since then, however, her results have been pedestrian – seven tournaments, no titles and a 5-7 record against top-50 players.

Her title defense in Melbourne also ended prematurely in a 6-2, 6-3 loss to American CoCo Vandeweghe in the fourth round on Sunday.

“I was not feeling the ball at all tonight,” she said. “I was not playing good from the first point.”

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Serena Williams, Barbora Strycova Renew Grand Slam Rivalry

Williams, seeking her Open era-record 23rd major title, has beaten the Czech player both previous times. Both were in 2012 and in straight sets at majors – in the second round at the Australian Open, and in the first round at Wimbledon.

They come into Monday’s opening match on Rod Laver Arena without having dropped a set in their three previous matches. But that’s where the similarity ends: Strycova’s fourth-round appearance last year at Melbourne Park was her best result here; Williams is a six-time champion.

Still, Strycova wouldn’t have it any other way.

“That’s why you train, why you work hard, to play these matches on these stages and against the best one,” she said. “She’s a powerful player, and I’m so small.

“I don’t give anything for free, and I fight all the time. She’s human, and she is beatable.”

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No 1 Murray Loses to Zverev in 4th Round of Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Top-seeded Andy Murray is out of the Australian Open, the five-time finalist losing in four sets in a Sunday afternoon upset to Mischa Zverev.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Andy Murray of Great Britain congratulates Mischa Zverev of Germany after their fourth round match on day seven of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The No. 50-ranked Zverev attacked Murray and unsettled the five-time finalist. The lefthander won 65 of 118 points at the net in a 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 upset on Rod Laver Arena.

Murray joins six-time defending champion Novak Djokovic, beaten in the second round by wild-card entry Denis Istomin, on the sidelines for the second week at Melbourne Park.

It’s the first time since 2002 that neither the No. 1 nor the No. 2 seed has reached the Australian Open quarterfinals.

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Bryan Brothers Announce Retirement from Davis Cup

The 38-year-old twin brothers made the announcement on their Instagram account, saying that clinching the 2007 Davis Cup final was “one of the greatest highlights of our career.”

“We’ve been blessed to play for two amazing captains, Patrick McEnroe and Jim Courier, and we are extremely grateful for their leadership and trust.

“We’d like to extend our dearest gratitude to our fellow teammates, USTA staff, our friends and family, and the passionate fans who have been there for us on this incredible journey.”

The brothers are continuing at tour level and are through to the third round at the Australian Open, where they’ve won six of their record 16 Grand Slam doubles titles. They will play their next match on Monday.

The Bryans have the most victories by any doubles team in U.S. Davis Cup history, going 24-5, including 4-0 in 2007 when the U.S. won the title. The Bryan brothers beat Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev in the doubles to clinch the final against Russia.

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Venus Williams Advances to Quarterfinals

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Venus Williams has advanced to the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for the second time in three years, beating Mona Barthel 6-3, 7-5.

United States' Venus Williams celebrates after defeating Germany's Mona Barthel in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

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Williams broke Barthel’s serve in the 11th game of the second set and served out, clinching the 1-hour, 36-minute fourth-rounder on her first match point.

Williams, who lost the 2003 final at Melbourne Park to her younger sister Serena, will next play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who beat fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets earlier Sunday.

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Pavlyuchenkova Secures Quarterfinal Berth in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia –Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is the first player through to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, beating two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-3 in a fourth-round match at Rod Laver Arena.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia is congratulated by Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia after their fourth round match on day seven of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

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Pavlyuchenkova led 2-0 in the second set before Kuznetsova broke back. Pavlyuchenkova then broke her fellow Russian’s serve again at 3-all, and once more in the final game, clinching the match in 68 minutes on her second match point when Kuznestova hit a forehand into the net.

”I’m kind of shocked a little,” she said afterward. ”But at the same time, so happy.”

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Tsonga’s Interview with Tennis Channel

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Despite reaching the 2008 Australian Open final (lost to Novak Djokovic) and reaching his highest ranking of No. 5 in 2012, Tsonga is still dreaming big.

“I’m still waiting for the best moment of my career,” said the Frenchman.

For more on Tsonga, watch his TenniStory:

Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Serena, Nadal Battle into Week Two

MELBOURNE, Australia – Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal both battled into the second week of the Australian Open on Saturday, though one of the legends had it far simpler than the other.

United States' Serena Williams, right, is congratulated by compatriot Nicole Gibbs after winning their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/AndUnited States' Serena Williams, right, is congratulated by compatriot Nicole Gibbs after winning their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)y Brownbill)

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Williams was the first of the two to take Rod Laver Arena and she had few problems with 23-year-old former college tennis star Nicole Gibbs, cruising past her fellow American in 63 minutes, 6-1 6-3.

The World No.2 lost serve while serving for it at 6-1 5-2 but broke one last time to close it out.

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Day Seven: Holding Court on Tennis

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Nadal — Biggest Win Since ’14 Roland Garros

It likely won’t be remembered as a classic, but yesterday’s five-setter between Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev was incredibly meaningful.  For Zverev, it was less a heartbreaking loss – after leading two sets to one, he won just five more games – than an edifying one.  In the end, it was Zverev’s fitness that betrayed him.  This become most notable when, after winning a 37-shot rally in the fifth set, the 19-year-old German began to cramp.  A match that featured many brilliant, highly physical and versatile points – between them the two came to net 58 times – ended less dramatically than had been anticipated.  Zverev had fought, but Nadal had fought harder.

Nadal knew precisely what this win had meant to win a long match versus a young challenger.  “For the confidence, for a lot of things, are very important to win these kind of matches, no?” he said after the match. “I lost the last couple of ones, matches in the fifth. I worked a lot during all December to have the chances to compete well in these kind of moments.”

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Nadal Puts Tennis World On Notice With Victory Over Zverev

It looks like the old Nadal may be back after a trademark 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 marathon win over teen sensation Zverev yesterday. I started watching in the first set after Zverev was a break up and what a match it turned out to be.

Zverev was the better player for most of the match but in the end, Nadal physically outlasted him. As we know Nadal never gets tired and his fitness was the only way he was going to win this match because Zverev was the aggressor.

The third set tiebreak was a key moment in the match and Zverev won it because he took the initiative. But from there on Nadal simply outlasted him physically. The turning point came at 2-2 and 40-40 in the fifth set where Zverev won a 37-shot rally.

WHAT. A. POINT. #Zverev #Nadal pic.twitter.com/i7X0dMDNCZ

— BreakPointBR (@BreakPointBR) January 21, 2017

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Federer Gracious in Praise of Sunday Opponent at Aussie Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — As befitting his status as a 17-time Grand Slam champion and as an astute judge of the sport, Roger Federer’s reply to a simple question about his next opponent was handled with the same aplomb as one of his stylish groundstrokes.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 20: Roger Federer of Swizterland celebrates his win in his third round match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic walks on on day five of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

The player in question was Kei Nishikori, who plays Federer in a fourth-round night match Sunday at Rod Laver Arena.

“I’m a big fan of his game,” Federer said. “He’s got one of the best backhands out there. I love how he can crush it down the line or cross-court. He’s got wonderful second serve returns. He’s fast on his legs. Strong in his mind. I know how tough he is as the match goes along. He finds his range and his rhythm, he’s tough to stop.”

Federer said he’ll need another strong service game if he’s going to give Nishikori some trouble. In Federer’s win over Tomas Berdych on Thursday, he didn’t face a break point and he won points on 95 percent of the first serves he got into play – 39 of 41, and all 16 in the third and final set.

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Nadal Holds off Zverev to Reach 4th Round at Australian Open

The 14-time major winner is on the comeback after an extended injury layoff, yet he finished stronger in the 4-hour, 6-minute match on Rod Laver Arena as Zverev tightened up with cramping and nerves.

“I enjoyed a lot this great battle. I was losing the last couple of times in the fifth set and I said to myself, today’s the day,” said ninth-seeded Nadal, who had lost eight of the previous nine times he’d trailed 2-1 in a best-of-five set match.

His 30-year-old legs, conditioned by 236 Grand Slam matches, carried him all the way.

Zverev’s creative shot-making in the first set and during the tiebreaker in the third gave the 19-year-old a confident start. But Nadal, the champion here in 2009, didn’t let him get too far in front.

In an exchange of breaks in the fifth set, Nadal broke to open, then dropped his own serve, before breaking Zverev again.

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Lucic-Baroni, Brady Take Different Paths to Success at Slams

How they ended up here, however, couldn’t be more dramatically different.

Lucic-Baroni has been on this stage before, another lifetime ago, when she made a dream run to the Wimbledon semifinals in 1999 at the age of 17. Soon after, she was out of the sport entirely and was forced to spend years scraping her way back to the majors.

Brady, meanwhile, is experiencing everything for the first time – winning a match at a major, telling her life story at packed news conferences.

Now, one will advance to the quarters – a spot neither could have imagined at the start of the year.

“One of my goals, actually, was in the next couple years to be playing in the second week of a Grand Slam,” Brady said after her 7-6 (4), 6-2 upset of 14th-seeded Elena Vesnina on Saturday. “I wrote it down and told myself, you know. I said it, but I didn’t say it confidently.”

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Serena Williams Breezes Past Nicole Gibbs in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Serena Williams’ 17th appearance at the Australian Open remains on track – the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion beat fellow American Nicole Gibbs 6-1, 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 19: Serena Williams of the United States celebrates a winning a point during her second round match against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic on day four of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

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The 23-year-old Gibbs, making her 12th appearance overall at any major, had two game points at 1-1 in the second set, but allowed Williams to come back and break her serve.

Williams was broken at 5-2 while serving for the match, but did the same to Gibbs in the next game to complete the win in 63 minutes.

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Makarova Survives Cibulkova’s Comeback at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Ekaterina Makarova didn’t make it easy on herself, blowing a one-set, 4-0 lead over Dominika Cibulkova, but the Russian player advanced to the fourth round at the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3 win.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Ekaterina Makarova of Russia celebrates winning her third round match against Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia on day six of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

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After taking a medical timeout for an injured right elbow in the third set, the 2015 Australian Open semifinalist broke Cibulkova’s serve in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead, then held to win the match in 2 hours and 54 minutes.

Makarova won the last two games of the first set and the first four of the second. But Cibulkova, who had never lost to Makarova in three previous matches, won five games in a row to change the momentum of the game.

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116th Ranked Jennifer Brady into Fourth Round in Melbourne

U.S. qualifier Jennifer Brady has advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 win over 14th-seeded Elena Vesnina.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 19: Jennifer Brady of the United States celebrates winning her second round match against Heather Watson of Great Britain on day four of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

It is the 21-year-old Brady’s first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament after she qualified in her first attempt at Melbourne Park. She had failed in previous attempts to qualify for the U.S. Open (three times) and Wimbledon and the French Open last year.

Brady will next play either Maria Sakkari or Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the Round of 16.

No. 16-seeded Barbora Strycova beat No. 21 Caroline Garcia 6-2, 7-5 to reach the fourth round, where she’ll meet either Serena Williams or Nicole Gibbs.

Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Azarenka’s Exclusive Interview with Tennis Channel Live

Tennis Channel Live caught up with former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who dished on the joys of motherhood and tennis.

Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Djokovic Suffers Shock Upset to Istomin in Melbourne

This has to go down as one of the biggest upsets in recent years probably only surpassed by Nadal’s French Open loss to Soderling in 2009. Djokovic had won the Australian Open five out of the last six years.

It is his best tournament and after returning to form in London last year and Doha this year you’d thought he is for sure the favorite to win the title. I didn’t even bother to watch the match because of the hours, thinking Istomin would hardly provide resistance.

How wrong I was. But any player around the top 100 can have a day like Istomin did where they just can’t miss and basically play flawless tennis. That’s just tennis and upsets happen. Djokovic didn’t even play badly in the 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 defeat.

CPA Australia Shot of the Day: Watch Novak Djokovic master the art of court coverage.@cpaaustralia #ausopen #beheardberecognised pic.twitter.com/1R1V1W5C7w

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2017



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Beyond the Baseline Podcast: Pliskova, Wozniacki, Cibulkova from Melbourne

On this week’s episode, Wertheim discusses Karolina Pliskova, Dominika Cibulkova and Caroline Wozniacki from Melbourne.

Following Day 4 at the 2017 Australian Open in Melbourne, Wertheim sits down with three remaining women in the draw—No. 5-seed Pliskova, No. 6-seed Cibulkova and No. 17-seed Wozniacki—to talk about their matches at the tournament so far. With Pliskova, Wertheim discusses her chances at the title, her twin sister and what it’s like to play with her, her run at the U.S. Open and more. With Cibulkova, Wertheim discusses her win at the WTA Finals in October, what it’s like to be in the tournament without Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova and more. With Wozniacki, Wertheim talks about her recent form (she’s won 25 matches since last summer), her run at the U.S. Open, her health and preparation before matches and more.

Listen to this week’s episode:

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By Jon Wertheim

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