That’s us done for today. Our report of De Minaur v Michelsen will soon be live so please check back for that, but otherwise, join us again for more tomorrow. Peace!
Updated
Looking ahead to tomorrow, we begin with a potential classic, Coco Gauff taking on Paula Badosa – who finally seems able to control a massive game – and move to Tommy Paul, playing terrific stuff, taking on Alexander Zverev.
The evening session then opens with Aryna Sabalenka v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, before concluding with Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz. Not bad, eh?
Over in Sydney, the Ashes are settled:
I’d love to see Keys win a slam and a quarter-final against Svitolina is about as kind as the draw could’ve been to her. She wasn’t far off losing to Elena-Gabriela Ruse in round two, but hung in there before dismissing Danielle Collins in two and will be feeling pretty confident – though of course we know she can be brittle, part of what makes her so loveable.
Rune might see this as a missed opportunity; De Minaur will help Sinner is still feeling it on Wednesday.
Of course he is.
Naturally she was asked about this in her press conference, saying she was satisfied to get closure. Anyone who read the documents would understand the situation and in the locker room, the other girls were understanding so she just wants to put it behind her now.
While Swiatek was on court, WADA made the following statement about her drug-test situation:
WADA has conducted a full review of the case file related to the ITIA decision, which it received on 29 November. WADA’s scientific experts have confirmed that the specific contaminated melatonin scenario, as presented by the athlete and accepted by the ITIA, is plausible and that there would be no scientific grounds to challenge it at CAS.”
Further, WADA sought advice from external legal counsel, who considered that the athlete’s contamination explanation was well evidenced, that the ITIA decision was compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, and that there was no reasonable basis to appeal it to the CAS.”
Demon tells Eurosport he used his slice to good effect today, looking to take pace off the ball to stop Michelsen using his power while keeping him off balance.
He then notes that here’s no expectation on him to beat Sinner and he’s glad to be an underdog again with nothing to lose, otherwise, saying that on court, he’s thinking gotta win to get more wedding budget.
That’s us done with play for today, so let’s review the action:
Elina Svitolina beat Veronica Kudermetova 6-4 6-1 and will meet Madison Keys next, who out-Ryabkinad Rybakina to eliminate the no six seed 6-3 1-6 6-3.
Jannik Sinner beat Holger Rune in four sets and will now face Alex de Minaur who beat Alex Michelsen in three.
Gael Monfils gave Ben Shelton plenty but was forced to retire hurt trailing 2-1; he meets Lorenzo Sonego next, conqueror of the heroic Learner Tien.
And Iga Siwatek battered lucky loser Eva Lys, setting up a quarter with Emma Navarro, who outlasted Daria Kasatkina in a war.
Updated
The main reason why not is Jannik Sinner, and Demon will have to play the match of his life to win that. He trails 9-0 in the head-to-head and it’s not hard to grasp why: Sinner is too powerful and too good a mover to be overly troubled by some elite-level scurrying. But you never know.
Demon is into his first Aussie Open final having done likewise in the other three slams last year. “It means the world,” he says. “I love you guys so much … there’s nothing in the world I wanna do more than play well in Australia.” He’s glad to have made the last eight, “but let’s go for bigger and better things, come on.”
He had chances in the second set to maybe run away with it but Michelsen raised his level and he played a poor game. Otherwise, asked about his engagement to Katie Boulter, he says that when you’re happy off the court you play well on it.
His whole career has been day by day – he’s not been a success overnight, rather improving title bits in increments, getting a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, putting a bit more on his serve, and the consistency always plays well at the end.
He’s looking forward to meeting Sinner and will have to do something he’s never done before, “but why not start here?”
Alex de Minaur (8) beats Alex Michelsen 6-0 7-6(5) 6-3
Michelsen nails a fine return but can’t back it up, so his brilliant, breakthrough Slam is over – well played old mate, well played – while De Minaur moves on to face Sinner in the last eight. For his family, the moment of release is too much – the pressure of an Aussie playing in Australia must be unfathomable – but Demon is all business.
Updated
…but this time, Michelsen hits long, then another error and De Minaur has match point.
De Minaur races to 30-0, nets, then larrups a forehand long. Serving for set two, he made four consecutive errors and was broken … and this time, Michelsen, way behind the baseline, sends a lovely forehand winner down the line to create an opportunity for himself at 30-40…
Email! “I find it so so hard to get excited by De Minauer,” ventures Victor K. “No actual weapons beyond speed. Sure, he’s a pro’s pro but even Ferrer –who had no weapons – had more weapons that Alex does. And like Ferrer, who got the equivalent of BBC Lifetime Sports Personality Award (remember when Giggs won that?) he will reach one slam final based on the overall career body of work. Admirable guy with a great attitude, but you must have more weapons to win slams than just court speed.”
I agree – I think I said below and have definitely said elsewhere that Demon won’t win a Slam. But I enjoy watching the different styles and, in particular, players extracting every last bit of ability from the raw materials with which they have to work, so.
Michelsen holds meaning, at 6-0 7-6 5-3, De Minaur will now serve for the match.
Updated
At 30-15, Michelsen clatters a forehand return down the line for a winner but when a net-cord sits up for him, he snatches at it in excitement, whamming long. The American, though, isn’t going away, big, aggressive shots from the baseline earning him deuce. From there, though, De Minaur closes out for 2-0 5-2 and, brave though the challenge has been Michelsen doesn’t seem ready to play well enough for long enough to beat so consistent an operator.
As evidenced in this game, a missed forehand volley handing Demon 15-30. And when Michelsen floats a backhand long – admittedly responding to a good shot from the Aussie – he faces two break points. And it only takes one, a forehand return cracked long from well outside the tramlines far too good; De Minaur leads 6-0 7-6 4-2, and he’s two games away from the last eight.
A hold apiece means De Minaur leads 2-0 3-2 and Michelsen must be rueing how poorly he started. He knows he has the game the compete at this level, and the next step is to find the consistency.
A really fun point, won by Michelsen when De Minaur nets a volley. “Once again, says the umpire, “can I ask, I believe it’s the same person, to stop screaming during the rally.”
Perhaps they’re on loan from Arsenal; De Minaur holds for 2-0 2-1.
After losing to Michelsen in round one, Stefanos Tsitsipas said as follows:
The game has shifted more towards a physical game, so the margins become smaller meaning that you’re not getting as many free points. Innovation has stepped in and allowed players to serve even bigger than before. I definitely put emphasis on that.
Power has taken over, meaning everyone can hit hard now. You just have to be precise as well, combine those two, and you have the ultimate player.”
I’m sure this is true – Michelsen, Fonseca and Tien whack it like grown-arse men – though if Tsitsipas sorted his backhand, he’d find it easier to cope.
If De Minaur wins here he meets Sinner in the last eight. I’m not sure what he could possibly do to win that one, but a gorgeous forehand down the line gives him 40-15 and he might just’ve righted himself after dipping in the middle of the second set. He holds for 1-0 and I’d not be surprised to see him put Michelsen under pressure next game…
…and he goes down the T, but when Demon floats a return on to the baseline, the riposte flies wide! And doesn’t the Aussie enjoy the moment, noising up the crowd in manic fashion; he leads 6-0 7-6.
Michelsen, though, holds twice for 5-4 and somehow returns a body-serve that floats to the corner – I’ve no idea how he managed that. He hen looks to have the point on his racket thanks to big forehands … only for Demon to frame a winner cross-court as he comes in before firing the timeliest of aces down the T. Michelsen must now serve to stay in the set at 5-6…
Updated
Finding a fine length, Michelsen hits the baseline twice and the second time elicits the error, only to rush a volley and return the mini-break immediately at 2-2. But he’s giving Demon all he can handle now, his much bigger game illustrating why the Aussie will struggle to ever win a major: there are too many players who can override his speed with huge weapons and greater power. Still, he leads at 4-3.
Michelsen is turning almost every point into a ruckus but misses a forehand at 15-all; from there, Demon closes out in short order, and we’ll now have a second-set breaker that could be extremely interesting. If Michelsen, the youngest member of the top 50, can take it, we’ll really be talking; he quickly holds for 1-0 courtesy of a big serve and forehand.
I wouldn’t say that break was coming, but Michelsen has improved through this set such that it’s not a total shock; he didn’t have to do much to secure it, but De Minaur was under more pressure than previously, which might have affected his mindset. The American holds to 30, guaranteeing himself a tiebreaker at the least; the home favourite must now serve to stay in set two.
Updated
Down 15-0, Michelsen sets up the next point only to whack a forehand just wide, his 32nd unforced error of the match. That is not sustainable at this level, especially against a scurrier of Demon’s consistency and precision; of course, as I type, errors present the opportunity for the break-back at 30-40 … then down comes a double! From 6-0 5-4 30-0, four mistakes in a row and we’re back on serve in the second!
At 30-all, Michelsen spots Demon well behind the baseline, so plays a nice serve-volley point then another, getting away with a poor and conservative first volley to dispatch a second. The home favourite will now serve for a two-set lead at 6-0 5-4.
In comms, they’re wondering why Michelsen, who explained pre-match that he’s left-hand dominant but plays righty, hence his devastating backhand, didn’t just play lefty given the advantage it confers. They conclude that when he took up the game as an infant, it probably wasn’t on anyone’s mind that one day he’d be doing what he’s now doing. Anyroad, De Minaur holds under pressure, so Michelsen will now serve to stay in set two at 0-6 3-5.
I’ve just checked out tomorrow’s night session! Yes, I know i was only recently pontificating about staying in the moment, but we begin with Sabalenka v Pavlyuchenkova – if I’m honest, I was starting to whinge about my preference for Gauff v Badosa – and then I saw it’ll be followed by Djokovic v Alcaraz. We’d’ve took it.
Updated
Michelsen rushes through a love-hold, and though De Minaur leads by a set and a break, he’s under a little bit of pressure now at 6-0 4-3.
In Sydney, England are in trouble again.
Another long rally forces De Minaur to find a winner for deuce, then Michelsen misses the line by a fraction and larrups a forehand long. Demon leads 6-0 4-2, but he’s in a match now, the bellow with which he greets his hold evidencing the change in circumstances.
Michselsen is playing pretty nicely now, a terrific point turned with a backhand and finished with a volley; it gives him 30-all, then his forehand takes over the next point and that’s 30-40. The American has a bigger game than the Aussie and now he’s cut out the unforced errors that pockmarked the early stages, this is a proper match.
De Minaur is just too good and too consistent for Michelsen – no small achievement given the youngster has beaten both Tsitsipas and Khachanov to reach this point. But the American saves two break point in holding for 0-6 2-3. He’ll feel like he’s in the match now, but can he make an impression on the return?
Updated
Oh, but as my mouse dies, Michelsen holds to get on the board and at least avert the embarrassment of another bagel at 0-6 1-2. If Stefan Edberg’s 6-0 6-0 6-0 win over Stefan Eriksson at Wimbledon 1987 was on YouTube, I’d embed it here, but it isn’t.
Back to The Demon, he’s giving Michelsen a proper sonning off, leading 6-0 2-0.
The old security guard at my daughter’s school used to sing this when he saw me coming; apparently I swagger like the Bee Gees in this video, and I can’t believe I’m admitting to that. I guess it’s not quite as bad as David Davis MP, famously described as “a man who can even swagger sitting down.”
Navarro, wrapped in a towel, explains that they played “that song, Staying Alive,” at 5-4 in the third, and it seemed appropriate – this whole tournament, she’s been staying alive.
Prior to today, she’d been on court twice as long as her opponent, and says that the longer she plays, the more she finds her form. It’s awesome to have the crowd cheering them on and she appreciates people staying out to watch long sets.
She then thanks her coach, Peter Ayres, who never says anything negative, and that’s her third grand slam quarter in a row. She’s a very, very fine player now, and though it’s hard to see her beating Swiatek, her tenacity gives her a chance.
Emma Navarro (8) beats Daria Kasatkina (9) 6-4 5-7 7-5
A booming return sets up the winning overhead and ends a brutal epic of a match, Navarro wins a fourth three-setter and claps her opponent off the court. Now, she must somehow recover to face Iga Swiatek, who was in and out in 59 minutes – versus 2 hours 40 minutes in this match.
Updated
From 30-0, Navarro makes 30-all, and another error from Kasatkina means she must face a fourth match point over an hour after her last…
I’m tired just watching Navarro and Kasatkina – this is seriously impressive behaviour – and, during another cruel, vicious rally, at 27 shots the longest in the match, the American finds a devastating backhand winner to save herself, then another on the forehand! The intensity here, and Navarro doesn’t even have the energy to celebrate, nor when a return goes long! Like a snake in the winter, she’s conserving energy to strike, and at 5-6 in the third, Kasatkina will shortly serve to stay in the competition.
Updated
Navarro does really well to save the break point, only to immediately hand over another; De Minaur breaks Michelsen a third time for 5-0 in the first.
Kasatkina now looks the stronger player and makes 15-30, but Navarro outlasts her in the next rally, slice deployed to maximum effect; fancy bending those knees? No, thought not. But then up game point, the American, at the net, hits to the occupied corner and is summarily passed, then an error means she’s down break point. Huge moment in the match…
Out of nowhere, two straightforward holds mean Navarro and Kasatkina are 5-5 in the third while, on Laver, De Minaur is now up a double-break against Michelsen at 3-0, consolidating to 30 as I type for 4-0.
…and this time, Kasatkina converts! She rests on a courtside clock and we’re level at 4-4 in the third; De Minaur now leads Michelsen 2-0
An error from Kasatkina means yet another break point and this time, Navarro steps in. But the forehand she disburses isn’t quite big enough, the Russian hanging in the point for the error, only to make advantage and err herself. At 4-3 in the third, we go to deuce number nine…
Updated
Again, Navarro earns but can’t convert break point, this time going for a winner herself and missing; she’s 8/22 in the match, ridiculous. But as I type, she moves beautifully on to a short ball, painting a fantastic forehand winner down the line. But again, she can’t convert – unlike De Minaur, who breaks Michelsen to 30 in game one.
Oh wow, Kasatkina doubles, then muscles a forehand winner on to the sideline and back to deuce we go. But another fine return from Navarro is too good … for all the good it does her, a pace-off T-serve opening the court for a backhand winner on to the sideline. Kasatkina is giving the big points everything.
Down 40-30, Navarro defends superbly – she’s in terrific shape, especially given three three-setters to reach this stage – before punishing a forehand winner down the line. But when Kasatkina goes long, she can only do likewise, burning break point for deuce. No matter, an inside-out backhand return, cross-court on to the sideline, hands her another go … and this time, she narrowly misses. Deuce again while, on Laver, Michelsen serves in game one.
Updated
Obviously Navarro has broken Kasatkina back for 3-3 then holds to 15, and this is such a good match. I fancy the American if it finishes without a breaker, the Russian if it needs one, as the former is more consistent while the latter has the bigger shots.
So what do we know about Michelsen? “If you never saw him play tennis he’s all the main male characters in Superbad rolled into one,” advises Coach Calv. “He’s a complete dufus. A nice kid though, and he hits a clean as [redacted] tennis ball.”
Updated
Alex Michelsen is on the surge and has been hitting with his now great mate, Learner Tien, who lost to Sonego earlier today. What a few days it’s been for them! Anyone else get up to similar with their pals when they were 19/20?
Back on Cain, Navarro serves at 1-1 2-2 40-40 … and Kasatkina dismisses her second delivery, clouting a forehand on to the line for a winner. And the American then goes long, ceding a second break in a row! Kasatkina leads 3-2 in the decider!
Updated
Next on Laver: Alex Michelsen v Alex de Minaur (8). Oooh yeah!
Swiatek says she’s just played her first night session and she’s happy to have played on Laver with such a great atmosphere. Asked how she can still improve she notes that she’s just …. 23 (it takes her a while to work it out) and isn’t yet at her peak.
She’s glad she’s able to player her game and it’s good having the fresh blood of Wim Fisette in her team, but everyone is working well together. She then thanks the Polish fans and everyone else before taking her leave. She seems in a really good place.
Iga Swiatek (2) beats Eva Lys (LL) 6-0 6-1
A merciless dismissal, but what an effort from Lys, making round four as a lucky loser. Swiatek, though, moves on to meet Navarro or Kasatkina and, fun though their contest is, it’s hard to see either troubling the Pole who is far more consistent than both.
Updated
Lovely hitting from Kasatkina eventually breaks Navarro’s scurrying resistance and raises break point, then a forehand into the net secures the riposte. Navarro leads 2-1 in the third, and I’ve not a clue who’s going to win this. The American is more solid, the Russian more aggressive.
Now it’s Kasatkina who must save break points, an inside-out forehand winner accounting for the first. But then she bangs one just long, and Navarro leads 2-0 in the third. This match, though, hasn’t been short of breaks, so this next game is huge.
On Laver, Lys has a game and it’s a break too, so she now trails Swiatek 0-6 1-4, while Navarro secures a heavily contested hold for 1-0 in the third against Kasatkina.
Something I don’t get: the desire to “make memories”. Enjoy the moment, people, not the thought of remembering something you didn’t fully appreciate at the time. Life is the present, not the past or the future.
I’ve been saving Shelton’s post-match interview for a quieter moment, so let’s do it. The interviewer tells him that Monfils is “almost your dad”; “Is that a black joke?” comes back the response.
Laughing, Shelton says he’s been watching Monfils, who has “the greatest highlight reel of all time”, since he was a little kid, and we saw some of his best work today. He hopes to still be walking without crutches at 38 and to play as he did today, entertaining everyone, is amazing, and he hopes to be able to create some memories like that with his family when he’s that age.
He knew Monfils had played a lot of tennis so wanted to make the match as physical as possible, but his opponent was serving so well and making him uncomfortable on court.
Shelton is doing well in the majors now and asked why, he explains it’s a physical and mental test coming down to who wants it more and he always backs himself when it comes to that. Over five sets it feels like you’ve got all the time in the world and he’s pretty fit so it’s working for him.
Navarro quickly makes 0-15 and then Kasatkina, who hit so freely a few moments ago, goes long for 0-30. But it’s soon 40-30 and set point, a T-serve follows, and though the Russian then makes herself a target at the net, Navarro wipes a forehand wide and will once more need to play a third set if she’s to progress! This is a belting match, level at a set apiece.
Updated
Swiatek breaks Lys at the first time of asking in set two and this is borderline cruelty; she leads 6-0 2-0, while Kasatkina has broken Navarro for -6 6-5 and will now serve to earn a decider! This is really good match that merits a third set, and I say that with no self-interest in my own entertainment whatsoever.
A fine forehand makes advantage for Kasatkina and then Navarro nets; a monstrous hold for the Russian, while the American might regret not going for more when up match point. She leads 6-4 5-5.
…but Kasatkina invents a lovely angle on the forehand, opening the court before finishing into the opposite corner. No sooner have I typed, though, then she must go again, this time saving herself with a big backhand and wel despatched overhead.
Kasatkina nets a forehand, and at advantage, Navarro has another match point…
On Cain, Navarro – up 6-4 5-4 – leathers a leaping backhand winner to make 30-all on the Kasatkina serve, and moves two points away from victory. And though the Russian then does really well to set up and execute an overhead, two further stunning passes mean she’s match-point down; a netted forehand return saves it for her.
Ben Shelton (21) beats Gaël Monfils 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 1-0 retired
It had to happen. Monfils has done an incredible job, beating Mpetshi Perricard, Altmaier and Fritz– this was a great contest until injury intervened – but no mas. He and Shelton share a lovely moment at the net – will we see him again here? Let’s hope so – but it’s the American who moves on to beat Lorenzo Sonego in the last eight, in what’s a colossal opportunity for both.
Updated
To the surprise of absolutely no one, probably not even Daria Kasatkina, Navarro soon makes 15-40, then a long backhand restores parity at 4-4 in set two. My sense is that the American will, at some point, do the necessary as the nastier, more reliable competitor. Meantime on Laver, Swiatek sees out another bagel set, leading Lys 6-0, while on Court, Shelton has broken Monfils for 2-1 1-0.
On Cain, Kasatkina has turned it up, hitting more aggressively from the back and Navarro doesn’t respond, broken for 3-4 in the second. But as I type, a beautiful forehand pass, hooked cross, gives her 0-15. These two are really well-matched.
Updated
Meantime on Court, the tune of the championships is in full swing, Monfils having nipped off for a break.
You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear, oh, woah
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear, oh, woah.
Prescient even now.
Swiatek is all over Lys now, up 4-0 in no time at all while Kasatkina is fighting hard not to lose her serve again, saving a break point before Navarro swipes a backhand wide. The American leads 6-4 3-3.
Shelton makes 6-2 and looks to have found his rhythm again his injured opponent, opening body to paste an inside-out forehand winner that breaks the sideline, and he leads 7-6 6-7 7-6. It’s incredible that Monfils is still going.
Navarro is just a bit too solid and a bit too nasty for Kasatkina, I think, breaking her back to lead 6-4 3-2.
Back on Court, Shelton leads Monfils 4-2 in their third-set breaker and if he sees it out, might the Frenchman retire? I could see him convincing himself he’s good for one more set, but two?
Updated
Lys starts well, narrowly missing a backhand down the line that would’ve given her a break, before Swiatek secures her hold through deuce. She’s never gone further than the semis here, which is in some way surprising – the balls bounce slower and lower than on other hard courts, meaning the surface is more clay-like than at Flushing Meadow, where she won in 2022. And though, in 2023, it took Elena Rybakina to beat her in Melbourme, last term it was Linda Noskova. I’d be surprised if she got past Coco Gauff or Aryna Sabalenka, likely final opponents, but she’s got a good chance of getting there given standing in her way are Kasatkina or Navarro, then Svitolina. She breaks immediately for 2-0.
Updated
It’s busy in Sydney too…
Monfils is a total freak of nature, barely able to run and yet giving Shelton plenty. His anticipation is incredible – his younger, fitter opponent is really struggling to keep the ball away from him – and we’re at 5-5 in set three, the first two having been split in tiebreaks.
Updated
Eva Lys, by the way. She was sitting on the physios couch having been beaten in the final qualifying round by our old friend, Destanee Aiava, then got a message that Anna Kalinskaya had pulled out and she was on court in 10 minutes. Three wins later, here we are: She’s on Laver playing a night session against the no 2 seed, and she wins the first point of the match on return.
Kasatkina breaks Navarro in the first game of set two then fights back from 0-30 to secure her consolidation. This is a really good contest.
On Laver, Lys and Swiatek are out.
Meantime on Court, Gael Monfils, now 38, serves at 1-1 3-4 against Ben Shelton, but he’s hurt a leg and isn’t moving freely. He’s doing a decent job of hanging in there and holds for 4-4, but I’m not sure he can win from this position.
On Cain, Navarro rushed into an early lead but Kasatkina fought back and now serves at 4-5 in the first and, as I type, finds herself down 0-40; Kasatkina then flaps long, and the American takes a topsy-turvy, 41-minute first set 6-4.
Preamble
G’day one and all and welcome to the Australian Open 2025 – day nine, evening sesh!
It’s as misty-moisty Monday morning – in north London, at least – but rich light emanates from Melbourne Park. It beginss with Eva Lys v Iga Swiatek, continues with Alex Michelsen v Alex de Minaur, and also takes in Gael Monfils v Ben Shelton and Daria Kasatkina v Emma Navarro.
Let’s go!
