Shelton, 22, will face Monfils in the last-16 after the 38-year-old shocked Taylor Fritz.
Sinner has found life a little less easy but now has his break. He’s 4-2 up. Meanwhile Palolina is in danger in the second set with Svitolina, and is 3-5 down there.
Musetti must again serve to stay in the match with Ben Shelton. He duly does so, and it’s a tie-breaker. 6-6, Shelton 2-1 up. Here comes a test of nerve. Shelton stuffs a volley at the net to go 0-1 down. Musetti is just as nervous, missing a crosscourt winner and then being outdone on a long rally. Then Shelton misses a drop volley. 3-2 up. Musetti cannot capitalise, and rages at his bench as he can only net. A slip as Shelton then falls victim to a drop. He’s 4-3 up, and serves a bomb of an ace. 5-2 after Musetti outlasts the rally. 5-5 after a whipped backhand. Shelton lands his first chance at match point after a stop-volley stops a Musetti charge. He serves, then guides his winner and himself through to the fourth round with a forehand.
Bit of a wobble on the Sinner serve, taken to deuce, but then the world No 1 pulls off an amazing winner, landing the ball on a postage stamp. Then Sinner makes another error for deuce. Big serve sees it out.
Shelton’s adrenaline is taking him close but too many mistakes. A poor service return and a blammed winner, going out and Musetti levels at 5-5.
Musetti and Shelton is building towards a dramatic conclusion, and the Italian needs to hold serve to stay in the fourth and the match, 5-4 down. Paolini is already a set up on Svitolina, by the way, winning it 6-2.
Giron, at 4-1 down, is exerting some muscle. His second ace takes him back to 2-4 down on Sinner. Now all he has to do is break the Sinner serve.
Shelton and Musetti has turned, and a break back in serve takes it to 3-3 in the fourth with a chorus of “Italia, Italia”.
Sinner, 3-0 up, seems to have far too much for Giron, who is speedy around the court and looks relieved to have won a game. 3-1, it goes, but now for the Sinner serve.
Talking of Italians, Jasmine Paolina, a losing finalist in 2024 at SW19 and Roland Garros, is playing Elina Svitolina, and it’s going with serve. To complete the Italian dominance on show courts, there’s a right old battle going on between Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti, though it appears the American has the fourth set in hand, leading 3-0 and two sets to one.
Early break for Sinner, and Giron’s second serve looks vulnerable, to say the least. 2-0 to Sinner.
Sinner takes 1-0 lead
Sinner took a while to decide, but he will serve first, and bar a double fault, takes the first game with some ease.
G’day, here comes the knock-up on a sunny court. Giron, at 31, is experienced but it would be quite the shock if he beats Sinner. This is the furthest he has ever reached at Melbourne.
John Brewin has brewed a coffee and taken his seat in time to cast an eye over reigning men’s champion Jannik Sinner taking on Marcos Giron on RLA. There is plenty more action to keep you going with Jasmine Paolini (4) meeting Elina Svitolina, and Danielle Collins perhaps renewing her love-hate relationship with the Australian crowds against fellow American Madison Keys later on. Enjoy …
The big guns are making their way onto the show courts to start their warm-up but we have one match from the day session still being played. And it looks like this one will be finishing under lights with Ben Shelton (21) and Lorenzo Musetti (16) all square at 6-3, 3-6, 4-4.
Lorenzo Sonego will face Learner Tier in the round of 16 after finishing over the top of Fabian Marozsan in a 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 6-1, 6-2 win. The Italian is into the fourth round for the first time at Melbourne Park as he eyes a breaking grand slam quarter-final but with an qualifier riding a wave of momentum in his way.
Learner Tien continues his dream run and this time has done it in straight sets as he polishes off Corentin Moutet 7-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the round of 16. He’s barely 19 years of age!
Jack Snape is at Melbourne Park and has taken a closer look at how Alex de Minaur found a way to drag himself back into the contest against a stern challenge from Francisco Cerundolo.
In a warning shot to the rest of the tournament, Alex de Minaur is feeling the goods even after a cagey four-setter against Francisco Cerundolo.
While we wrap up proceedings on RLA there is still plenty of action around the grounds.
Qualifier Learner Tien’s fairytale run looks set to continue as the 19-year-old builds a strong 7-6(10), 6-3, 4-3 lead over Corentin Moutet.
Lorenzo Sonego is closing in on victory over Fabian Marozsan with a 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 6-1, 4-0 stronghold on court 3.
Ben Shelton (21) leads Lorenzo Musetti (16) 6-3, 2-4 with the Italian serving to extend his lead in the second set.
Alex De Minaur didn’t have it all his own way, and the relief on his face is telling, but finally the No 8 seed wears down the brave Francisco Cerundolo to move into the round of 16 for the fourth consecutive time at Melbourne Park.
Up next for the Australian will be young American Alex Michelsen.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 6-3): De Minaur lures Cerundolo into the net with a crafty chip to the service line as the return gives him multiple options to finish off the Argentinian. The No 8 seed goes cross-court to make it 15-15 then edges towards a pair of match points. Cerundolo saves both and takes out four points at deuce but is unable to seal the fight back. De Minaur’s backhand is on a perfect length across the rally until Cerundolo nets then gives up the ghost with a double fault.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 5-3): Cerundolo stops for treatment in the change of ends and once again it seems to have worked wonders. The Argentinian pulls out a sublime cross-court backhand that lines barely on the lead to give him a 15-30 lead. De Minaur has dropped back into the habit of return too many shots to the middle of the court when he should be get Cerundolo on his bike. The No 8 seed does just that next to draw level at 30-30 then another blunder from Cerundolo at the net gives De Minuar a stronghold on the game. The Australian shows him how it should be done as he sprints from well behind the baseline to reach a drop shot and get enough under the ball to chip back over the net. De Minaur slaps his thighs again but Cerundolo ain’t laughin’. The No 31 seed will serve to stay alive.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 4-3): Oh, wow! A wonderful point from De Minaur as he races from the net to the baseline to chase down the impossible and forces a poor volley from Cerundolo. The Australian slaps himself on the thighs as thanks as much as in celebration. Cerundolo double faults at 30-40 and De Minaur breaks the Argentinian. It might have even been enough to break the No 31 seed for good.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 3-3): One of the rallies of the match lasts 23 shots until De Minaur slams a winner down the line and just inside the baseline to start at 15-0. The Australian fires in an ace next then wraps up the game to 15 with another forehand winner.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 2-3): De Minaur goes for broke as he swarms on a volley at 30-15 but the cross-court chip sails barely wide. The Australian pulls back to 40-30 and is millimetres from taking Cerundolo until the ball clips the top of the net and gives the Argentinian and easy volley.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 2-2): De Minaur has his thumb on a pressure point for Cerundolo as he tempts him to the net. The Argentinian’s volley lets him down as the No 8 seed moves to 30-15 then closes out the game after a pair of sloppy returns.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 1-2): Cerundolo might have found a second wind after a lengthy massage during a change of ends. De Minaur’s unforced error count continues to climb as the Argentinian eases through a reasonably simple service game.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 1-1): De Minaur holds his serve against Cerundolo to 15. The No 8 seed is working the Argentinian around the court more as the match goes on and his opponent shows obvious signs of fatigue. But De Minaur finishes the game with an ace, his fifth of the match.
Meanwhile, over on MCA we’ve had a huge upset as Gael Monfils knocks out the fourth seed in four sets.
The 38-year-old showman will face Ben Shelton (21) or Lorenzo Musetti (16) in the round of 16. That match has just got under way on JCA.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 0-1): Cerundolo holds to start the fourth set. The Argentinian looks set to live or die by the sword as he takes the game on with his legs already wobbly.
Thanks Jonathan. Must admit I thought this match would have been done and dusted by the time you handed back the keys. But Francisco Cerundolo has been full of fight. Whether he has enough in the tank to keep challenging Alex de Minaur remains to be seen. I’ll be with you while we find out.
And on that note I’ll hand back to Martin Pegan to see this match through and wrap up the rest of the afternoon action.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 0-0): De Minaur holds to love with ease to move up two sets to one on Rod Laver Arena! As the match clock ticks beyond three hours the Australian is now in pole position for a spot in the fourth round.
Can Cerundolo receive enough treatment to keep him competitive?
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 5-3): Following a brief massage at the change of ends Cerundolo comes out fighting, racing to 30-0 – but his legs are not happy! De Minaur keeps him moving to earn 30-15 despite the Argentine aiming to slap winners on every shot. That tactic pays dividends for 40-15, and actually unearths some of the cleanest striking of the match so far. There’s enough open court to seal the game but Cerundolo goes long, keeping De Minaur interested at 40-30, then another all-or-nothing wallop goes long for deuce.
AND DE MINAUR BREAKS AGAIN! Cramping, this time in his left hamstring, Cerundolo dumps a volley into the net. De Minaur will serve for the set.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 4-3): Two sloppy errors and De Minaur is down to 0-30, unable to find either the killer shots or the long rallies to further wound his opponent. A third, this time after a medium-length rally, and Cerundolo has three break points! The Argentine can’t capitalise on the first, after which he reaches for his left quad – which is presumably now also cramping – but he smokes a monster return winner from the second, and we’re back on serve! That is a staggering turn of events in the blink of an eye.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 4-2): Cerundolo battles on, refusing to just hand the game or the set to De Minaur. Playing for short points he gallops to a hold to 15.
The trainer has been called onto Rod Laver Arena with the Argentine pointing to his right quad… but the injury has been called cramp, which means play must continue until the end of the set.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 4-1): Full steam ahead De Minaur! The quickest easiest hold of the afternoon for the Australian.
Cerundolo is definitely in a lull and he’s started stretching and tapping his right quad. I think we’re going to see the trainer on court pretty soon. It’s no wonder, these are oppressive conditions and they’ve been playing 2:45 already.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 3-1): The standard has not been high all afternoon but it is becoming increasingly ragged. Cerundolo drops in another double fault to slip to 15-30 before both men trade blows miles behind each baseline. De Minaur shakes things up by coming to the net and his foe blinks, driving a backhand into the net. Two break points! A much more aggressive rally ensues with Cerundolo asserting himself from the baseline, but De Minaur is one of the best defensive players on court, and after firing a series of bombs the No 31 seed drills one into the net. DE MINAUR BREAKS!
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 2-1): De Minaur’s ninth double fault of the match allows Cerundolo a look at 30-15, but the Argentine has the demeanour of a man in a but of a lull and cannot make any further breakthroughs. This is now a war of attrition on a hot RLA.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 1-1): Now it’s Cerundolo’s turn to double fault to allow De Minaur in at 15-30, but the Australian can’t capitalise, overhitting a backhand then kicking a ball away in frustration. The Argentine still concedes deuce after failing to read a baseline half-volley – then he cannot put away an overhead! Break point… saved with an ace. A couple more handy first serves and the hold is secured, just.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 1-0): De Minaur gets away with consecutive double faults to hold to 30.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 0-0): We’re back locked at one set apiece on Rod Laver Arena! With the crowd at fever pitch before the crucial serve, then exultant after Cerundolo returns it long, a well below par De Minaur drags himself level. This match has already been going for almost two-and-a-half-hours, and we’re still miles away from a conclusion.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 6-6 [6-3]): Errors continue to pour from both sides of the net as tension, fatigue, and lack of form continues to tell. A long rally at 5-3 shapes as pivotal, so when Cerundolo finds the net the crowd erupts. De Minaur has three set points.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 6-6 [3-2]): Cerundolo pulls a backhand wide for an early mini-break to De Minaur, who holds the first point on his serve, but the Argentine is soon back in the picture after easily coming out on top in a battle of backhand slice drop shots. Cerendolo then hits four shots that are worthy winners, but de Minaur’s defence is extraordinary, until the fourth of the missiles cannot be reached. More superb defence earns De Minaur a second mini-break after Cerundolo pounded his way to an error.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 6-6): De Minaur misses an overhead on the opening point to send a ripple of nerves through the crowd, but they’re soon roaring in admiration after the eighth seed reacts with incredible reflexes at the net to flick an awkward net cord into the vacant court.
Cerundolo continues to pound the inside-out forehand winners to edge ahead in the game, but De Minaur digs deep to resist the Argentine’s power from the baseline and level at 30-30, then shows some firepower of his own, whipping a crosscourt forehand with everything he’s got for just his fourth winner of the set. An unforced error from Cerundolo completes the hold. Tiebreak time.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 5-6): Every game or two Cerundolo slips in a drop shot to bring De Minaur to the net, and it works to bring up 30-0, but also may be an indication he is trying to shorten the points.
30-0 becomes 30-30 but Cerundolo doesn’t panic, taking a half-volley off his toes at the net then crunching an unreturnable first serve. De Minaur will again have to hold to stay in the set.
On commentary, Lleyton Hewitt again voices his frustration that his player is hitting far too centrally. It has been a flat performance from Australia’s No 1 so far.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 5-5): At the change of ends, wearing an ice towel, De Minaur gestures to his box that he wants to hear more from then. He needs little support to race to a hold to 15.
I might be seeing things, but I wonder if Cerundolo is starting to feel the heat.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 4-5): Cerundolo doesn’t dwell on failing to capitalise on 0-30, racing to 40-0. Then there’s an unscheduled break in play to allow a spectator to receive some medical attention. De Minaur wanders over to his four-strong coaching posse to receive some instruction.
Following the resumption, Cerundolo loses rhythm, hitting long and then wide for 40-30, bringing the crowd back into proceedings. And that crowd is soon on its feet when De Minaur hits just his second winner of the set, driving a backhand down the line after a marathon rally.
Cerundolo goes long at deuce to hand De Minaur an unexpected break point, but behind a second serve the Argentine dominates from the baseline, taking advantage of the Australian’s conservative line and length to crunch a trademark inside-out winner to return to deuce. Both men exchange errors for a third deuce, then the 31st seed holds behind a rare powerful first serve down the T.
De Minaur will have to hold serve to stay in the second set.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 4-4): Serving at 0-15 the crowd tries to motivate the home favourite, but it’s to no avail, as De Minaur picks the wrong time to come to the net and is passed easily. He claws back to 30-30 with a couple of much needed first serves then Cerundolo dumps a second serve return into the net, and slaps a forehand wide trying to shorten a long baseline exchange. De Minaur dodges a bullet.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 3-4): Cerundolo races to 40-0 then holds to 15. For the first time in the one hour 40 minutes of this match there’s a bit of zip to proceedings.
Jim Courier thinks De Minaur might need to change his racket to one with tighter strings. He’s observed the Australian steering groundstrokes as a consequence of the way the balls are reacting in the heat, arguing players should never alter their stroke, only their equipment.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 3-3): A welcome love hold for De Minaur.
Source: theguardian.com
