1. The Hopman Cup might be the tune-up of champions
Winners on Day 3 included Roger Federer, Belinda Bencic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari, Angie Kerber, Ashleigh Barty and Frances Tiafoe, who toppled No.5 seed Kevin Anderson, from 6-4 3-0 down, in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.
MORE: The Americans make their move
All came into Melbourne Park via the Hopman Cup. So too Serena Williams, who was undefeated (in singles) in Perth. That’s half the field. Barty and Sakkari, who didn’t cross paths in Perth, meet in the third round on Friday.
MORE: Five things we learned on Day 2
The Hopman Cup is looking like the tune-up of champions. It’s certainly done the job in the past for Federer and Williams. Not the least startling aspect of Federer’s unicorn-sighting AO2017 win was the fact that his sole lead-up (after six months on the sidelines) was the Hopman Cup.
In Wednesday’s last day match at Rod Laver Arena, Federer had some tight moments before prevailing 7-6(5) 7-6(3) 6-3 against a feisty Dan Evans, who had the first-set tiebreak on his racquet at 5-3 with two serves to come. How much did recall from their last meeting help the defending champion get through? That was back in 2017, the first match of Federer’s fairytale comeback at the – you guessed it …
2. WTA teens are on a tear
There’s so much excited talk about the ATP’s Next Gen, but some fearless teens on the women’s tour are making a mark in Melbourne. Bianca Andreescu, Amanda Anisimova, Anastasia Potapova (all 17) and Dayana Yastremska (18) all get to test themselves against big-name seeds in the third round.
American Anisimova, who ousted Lesia Tsurenko in round two, next faces Aryna Sabalenka. Qualifier Andreescu – who defeated Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams en route to the Auckland final, again as a qualifier – plays No.13 Anastasija Sevastova. No.89 Russian Potapova takes on Madison Keys at Melbourne Arena, and Yastremska, conqueror of veteran Sam Stosur, meets No.23 seed Carla Suarez Navarro.
Wildcard Kimberly Birrell is not a teenager at 20, but an even bigger outsider, ranked No.240. On Wednesday on Court 3, the Queenslander continued her giant-killing summer, defeating No.29 seed Donna Vekic 6-4 4-6 6-1. She takes on Kerber in the third round.
3. Don’t forget about Tomas Berdych
The heavy-hitting Czech played just 22 matches last season, sidelined for five months with an injured back, but has already hit a formidable level on his return. Ranked 57, he demolished Kyle Edmund, the No.13 seed and AO 2018 semifinalist, 6-3 6-0 7-5 in the first round. In round two on Wednesday, Robin Haase was allowed just seven games.
Berdych, 33, next has a winnable third round against No.18 seed Diego Schwartzman. And after that? The winner of Alex De Minaur v Rafael Nadal. He has history with both at Melbourne Park, defeating the Aussie in the first round last year, and Nadal in a 2015 quarterfinal 6-2 6-0 7-6(5). Forgotten man of Melbourne Park? Maybe not for long.
4. There are no ‘plastics’ on the women’s tour
Sloane Stephens was in a chatty mood after her win over junior doubles partner Timea Babos. In 2010 they won Wimbledon and the French and US Opens as 17-year-olds. The American couldn’t remember how she came to partner with the Hungarian (the reigning doubles champ here with Kristina Mladenovic) but she recalled they were both newbies on tour. “When we were starting to come in the locker room we were babies and like, mortified. Now we’re the scary people.”
MORE: Stephens beats her ‘frenemy’
But it’s not like Mean Girls, no malevolent queen bees and wannabes. “There’s no ‘plastics’ on the tour,” Stephens said. It’s plenty friendly. “I’d say I know a lot about people’s lives, who’s engaged, who’s having babies. I wouldn’t say we have dinner every night because we have other stuff to do.”
5. Roberto Bautista Agut is tougher than he looks
The Spaniard took out another crowd favourite in John Millman on Wednesday night, following Monday’s emotional Melbourne Park farewell by Andy Murray. Both went to five sets, after Murray and Millman threatened to turn the contest on its head after coming back from two-set deficits.
MORE: Bautista Agut repeats the dose
Back in the day, Bautista Agut would have been called a tournament wrecker. That’s a bit harsh; the 29-year-old is an extremely disciplined pro, both in his shot-selection and emotional control, much tougher than his wiry frame suggests. The No.22 seed always loomed as a danger here, following his upset of No.1 Novak Djokovic en route to the Doha title. He’ll be the underdog in his next match against No.10 seed Karen Khachanov, and maybe even more dangerous.