Nadal, Tsonga v Shapovalov Wednesday At Australian Open; Svitolina, Wozniacki Headline Women

by Staff | January 16th, 2018, 5:07 pm
  • 41 Comments

After a very strong start, Rafael Nadal returns to action Wednesday at the Australian Open. The World No. 1 will take on Argentine Leonardo Mayer who took a set off Nadal at the US Open last year.

Nadal’s 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 opening round win over Victor Estrella Burgos was his most dominant win at the event. He is trying to reach the third round at the Australian Open for a 12th time.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will try to avenge a second round US Open loss to teen Denis Shapovalov. The Canadian shocked Tsonga in New York in their only meeting.


Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov, who could collide in the fourth round on Sunday, both play in the evening. Kyrgios meets Viktor Troicki while Dimitrov plays his second straight qualifier, former UCLA standout Mackenzie McDonald.

Marin Cilic, Pablo Carreno Busta and Andrey Rublev are also on court.

In the women’s draw, Elina Svitolina faces a tough test against Katerina Siniakova. Former No. 1 and Australian Open semifinalist Caroline Wozniacki meets Jana Fett and following her big win over Venus Williams, Belinda Bencic returns against Luksika Kumkhum.

Also, 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk continues her breakout run against Olivia Rogowska.

WEDNESDAY AUSTRALIAN OPEN SCHEDULE
Rod Laver Arena
K. Siniakova v E. Svitolina (4)
J. Fett v C. Wozniacki (2)
R. Nadal (1) v L. Mayer
7:00pm
G. Dimitrov (3) v M. McDonald
D. Gavrilova (23) v E. Mertens

Margaret Court Arena
M. Kostyuk v O. Rogowska
D. Shapovalov v J. Tsonga (15)
J. Ostapenko (7) v Y. Duan
7:00pm
A. Cornet v J. Goerges (12)
A. Dolgopolov v M. Ebden

Hisense Arena
A. Pavlyuchenkova (15) v K. Bondarenko
B. Bencic v L. Kumkhum
J. Sousa v M. Cilic (6)
N. Kyrgios (17) v V. Troicki


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41 Comments for Nadal, Tsonga v Shapovalov Wednesday At Australian Open; Svitolina, Wozniacki Headline Women

Tennis Vagabond Says:

Great match between Shapovalov and Tsonga. Tsonga is battling uphill with his serving problems, but otherwise, some terrific, unpredictable play.
Shapovalov hits shots that no one else hits. He’s playing near a top ten level now.

Could be that 2017 was the Window for Thiem and Zverev. 2018 they could be brushed aside by Novak, Del Potro and Shapovalov.


RZ Says:

I don’t think Shapo is going to win this. He seems unfocused at the finish line.


kjb Says:

meltdown!


RZ Says:

I’m guessing he was mentally fatigued in the last few games. Rushed shots and overran some balls. But his future is as bright as the shirt he was wearing.


skeezer Says:

Up 5-2 in the 5th, then woopsie. Cough.


Nits Says:

He is an exciting prospect reminds me sometimes of Nadal with his forehead and Federer with his backhand.


el_matador Says:

aside from the game in the 3rd set,where he donated the break to rafa with 3 df..this is one of the best matches I have seen Leonardo play and still he could not win a set..rafa looks relentless


j-kath Says:

Well done, Rafa…onwards and upwards.


Van Persie Says:

Did not see any match today, but see Rafa (I watched the scores) has done well against Mayer, who is not an “easy” player, so I assume very good signs for Rafa.

Grigor in trouble??? Does he want to go home or is Mc Donald so good?


Wog Boy Says:

VP,
Usually McDonalds are supersized, this one is undersized, but plays absolutely nice tennis and is reading Grigor’s game really well. He is joy to watch…. and double break for him in fourth set.

He reminds on Nishikori for some reason.


Van Persie Says:

Thank you WB,

So there will be deciding set. 5-0 for Mc in the 3.


Wog Boy Says:

Triple break and possible bagel in forth. Problem for Dimitrov is that he is in the shock and he can’t shake it off, I can see him losing the match in fifth set, he just doesn’t have any plan since the match doesn’t go according to script.


Wog Boy Says:

And bagel it is, no good Grigor.


Van Persie Says:

^^ yes sorry, wanted to tell in the 4, not 3.

Dimitrov is not the most patient on tour. Mc might win this match


Daniel Says:

That’s the thing with this side of the draw. None is reliable. Dimi, Kyrgios, Cilic can go out at any minute.

Hope Dimi regroups, he will destroy my draw.


Van Persie Says:

Daniel, Fed side of the draw has the “physically crippled”, Rafa’s side has the guys with “mental issues” lol


Van Persie Says:

^^ so we have a ballance :D


Wog Boy Says:

^^. :)))


el_matador Says:

I agree with you about this half,daniel..& I’ll never believe dimitrov can win a slam until he wins a slam..a 50% nole and 60% stan is more dangerous than him in a slam..if he somehow wins tonight & can reach semi,it’ll be a practice session for rafa


Wog Boy Says:

If McDonald wins it’ll be only his second win on ATP tour and that against world #3, commentator just said it.
He is fired up and fans are with him.


Wog Boy Says:

I feel for Vallverdu, he is going to have nervous breakdown.


gonzalowski Says:

el matador, but I think, it can be said that Rafa has lost two GS final (last AO and another one can’t remember), so it’s not so esay IMO for Rafa


Van Persie Says:

Am not Grigor’s fan , but also do not dislike him. But also feel for him. ould be disappointing for him to lose in 2nd round like that.


gonzalowski Says:

soory I meant lost this two F after very fatiguing SF agianst Dimitrov


Wog Boy Says:

VP,
He really lost all the confidence, he is netting BH he is netting FH, second serve nonexistent, if he gets out of this good luck.


Van Persie Says:

Come on Grigor, one more game!! Perhaps he’s reading TX during the breaks :)


Van Persie Says:

Yey, he won. Glad for him, honestly :)


Wog Boy Says:

Respect for little man, at the end Grigor got lucky, double fault and bad serve gave Grigor win.


Van Persie Says:

Did Grigor cry at the end?


Wog Boy Says:

No, he is just doing interview:))
Funny thing is that he knew McDonalds since he practiced with him in California, but didn’t realize he is so good.


Daniel Says:

The only positive for Grigor is that he already have his usual meltdowns early on. Of o ly it was assure he woulb mentally strong throughout.

As it is, of he plays R16 agaisnt Kyrgios, I think Nick will have a better chance. Won their last match, had a title already this season and if he wins R3 in straighst again he will be in a position we’ve never seen him before. 3 straight sets wins on a 7 match winning streak full of confidence and playing at home. Their QF side is basically a no show, so who ever wins that R16 will have a chance to play Nadal in semis.


Daniel Says:

2 interesting contest in R32 already: Dimi x Rublev and Nick vs Tsonga. And one of Seppi, Dr Ivo, Edmund or Basilash (never saw him play) would be in QF. Part of 2017 madness will continue with lower ranked players having decent runs in Slams.


el_matador Says:

gonzalowski,
after watching rafa today,I think he’s the man to beat now..even his serve looks like its got extra pop like in 2010..the way leonardo played today,he could easily beat anybody bar rafa,novak & roger..but he didn’t even come close to winning a set..I think rafa’s still not given up on catching roger in the slam count..it feels like we’re still stuck in 2008


el_matador Says:

it would be nice to see nole or my man delpo crash the feadal party & win the whole thing..that would make the season more enthralling..& I think nole means business again..it must hurt his pride to see his 2 nemesis still winning things like they’re in their 20s


gonzalowski Says:

el matador, I agree Rafa continues on trying to catch Roger. About today, I think on the 3rd it has been Rafa, by not playing with precision, who has enabled “the other Leo” to almost win the set.


Willow Says:

Gonzo Rafa lost in 3 different finals against Novak in 2012, Stan in 2014, and Roger last year, he is 1 from 4 in AO finals ….


Willow Says:

Imagine Rafa winning this AO and then the FO, having 18 GS and been in touching distance of Federers 19, and the conversation we would be having then, just a theory !


gonzalowski Says:

It’d be exhausting, all day against “the Cult” defending Federer’s Goatitude!


Willow Says:

Gonzo lol, if they see him as GOAT then fair enough, he can have it for all i care, its always been good enough that my favorite is an all time great, its one caveat of tennis i care very little about, the rest can knock themselves out about it, Madmax is a very passionate Federer fan, and we have had our differences, but she likes Federer for been Federer and the tennis he plays, not for his records ….


Daniel Says:

I loved when Djoko was super confident winnign 6-1 sets at will. Maybe he has a Nadal issue in their match up, who hasn’t. He choose to play Nadal on his terms outlasting and breaking his will, but we saw in the past many players go full attack and it rewards them.

Example, Djokos return. He has the tools to hit many more agreesive retunr but he tends to go to the safe nullyfy shot, instead of attacking from the get go. Maybne now with his age and healthy issues he will be forced to be more effective and more agressive, and to me that is when he plays his best.


Daniel Says:

^posted wrong tread.

If Nadla wins these AO things changes pretty fast. But, otoh iof Djoko wne on to win RG 2018 and also complete Double career Slams he would be right back in conversation. If he has a years with 2 Slams and neither Fed nor Nadal wins 2. He will most likelly be #1 and back in conversation at 14. For him the ideal would be Fedal win none and he 2.

Also, if Fed wins these AO and Nadal doesn’t win RG 2018, than things can pretty much ne settled. Nadal will be 32, Wimbledon is basically done for him and he will still be contender for USO. But if everybnody is back ad helathy it will be harder for him.

We are reaching to a closer point on the GOAT debate as Fed (36) is heading his end, and Nadal also if he will keep hving fitnees issues or not. And Djoko with somehting to say also in the mix.

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