We’ve had heat, we’ve had rain. Today we got the wind, enough to blow a dog off a chain. And maybe help turn a few upsets – Berrettini (8), Dimitrov (18), Paire (21), Evans (30) and Hurkacz (31) are among the men’s seeds already going home.
1. The retiring brigade is not so retiring
Pundits had Caroline Wozniacki bowing out on Wednesday to teenager Dayana Yastremska in her farewell tournament. Hold the bouquet. The 29-year-old lives to fight another day, clawing back from 5-1 down in the first set and 4-0 down in the second to upset the Adelaide finalist and No.23 seed 7-5 7-5 at Margaret Court Arena.
Maybe a career-end date takes the pressure off. Another retiring type, underrated former No.6 Carla Suarez Navarro, who announced this year is her last, took out the highly-fancied Aryna Sabalenka in two taut tiebreaks.
2. Ash Barty is getting comfy at Rod Laver Arena
We have a new Barty bromide: “It’s incredible to play on this beautiful court,” the world No.1 repeated, after cruising past Polona Hercog 6-1 6-4 in the refurbished stadium.
While it’s not exactly feeling like her living room, Barty is taking up permanent residence in RLA, much like Roger and Rafa. The last time she played outside the main arena was her 2018 loss to Naomi Osaka – and that was rescheduled to Margaret Court Arena.
3. No, Naomi can’t regain No.1
Confusion crossed the face of defending champ Osaka when the post-match interviewer following her victory over Zheng Saisai asked about her chances of regaining the No.1 ranking here.
“Oh really?” Osaka queried. “Ash is like 2000 points ahead of me, and I have to defend this [title]. I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m going to drop out of the top 10, for real.’”
Osaka knew the numbers. In fact, the only player who could have potentially unseated Barty is Simona Halep. But the Aussie would have had to lose her Adelaide semi and her opener at Melbourne Park, while the Romanian needed to win the title. Moot point.
4. We have the Osaka v Gauff rematch
“I think I’ll be less nervous this time,” said ascending 15-year-old Gauff, again showing her class in a 4-6 6-4 7-5 defeat of Sorana Cirstea, coming from 3-0 down in the final set. “The US Open was my first time in Ashe [stadium]. This time I’m going to be more aggressive.”
If their US Open clash was a 6-3 6-0 blowout to Osaka, the aftermath was one of the heartwarming moments of the tennis year, when the victor insisted Gauff join her for the on-court interview. A gesture that elevated both players, and the game itself.
“It was definitely a good moment for both of us,” a still appreciative Gauff related. “But I think more for the little girls and boys watching, who can kind of see what sportsmanship is.
“It just shows what being a competitor really is. You might hate the person on the court, but off the court you love them. When it’s all said and done we still look at each other with respect.”
5. Melbourne heartbreaks never end for Grigor Dimitrov
We had a lot of fun with the WORLD’S LOUDEST TRACKSUIT, but it was tough to see the amiable Bulgarian go out to Tommy Paul in a fifth-set tiebreak, as eerie storm clouds moved across the Wednesday evening sky like a spectre of his doom.
Dimitrov was upset last year in a four-hour scrap with Frances Tiafoe, another young American. In 2017 he lost a slashing semifinal to Rafa Nadal, pushing the Spaniard the whole way in an epic that fell just short of five hours.
Wednesday’s 6-4 7-6(6) 3-6 6-7(3) 7-6(10-3) loss was Dimitrov's earliest Melbourne exit since 2012. The No.18 seed was two points from victory, serving for the match at 5-4 in the fifth and 30-love. Dimitrov will also rue a 4-0 lead in the second-set tiebreak. He’s never come back from two sets down.