A record 93,000 fans flooded into Melbourne Park on Super Saturday for more women’s upsets, Legends in action and a second-straight night epic that went to a match tiebreak – Nick Kyrgios ending his residency in Melbourne Arena with a riveting, roller coaster win.
1. John Millman isn’t feeling any better about his Federer heartbreaker
The Aussie’s early-morning epic loss, from 8-4 up in the match tiebreak, was the talk of Melbourne Park. “I watch almost everything,” Rafa Nadal reported after coasting past countryman Pablo Carreno Busta. “Millman was great,” raved Simona Halep, “Congrats to him.”
The man himself had a different take …
2. Coco is upsetting the doubles draw too
Less than 24 hours after her stadium-shaking upset of defending champion Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff was on Court 8 with partner Caty McNally. Before an animated crowd, the teens toppled No.8 seeds Kveta Peschke and Demi Schuurs 6-3 6-4 (identical to the Osaka scoreline). Youth was served: Team McCoco, combined age 33, versus Czech veteran Peschke, who is 44.
3. Gael Monfils believes he’s a Slam chance
The French showman ended the run of qualifier Ernests Gulbis in straight sets – he’s never lost to the Latvian – to book a fourth round against Dominic Thiem. “He beat me most of the time we play,” said the No.10 seed. “Always tricky and [he’s] improve[d] a lot on hard court.”
Playing in his 52nd Grand Slam, with his best run a semifinal at the 2016 US Open, Monfils believes he’s a Slam contender at 33.
“I love the game,” said the crowd favourite, who has two wins over Nadal, his potential quarterfinal opponent. “I love waking up every morning with the goal to win for the first time a Slam. And I have a strong belief I can make it.”
4. Players don’t like to think that upsets are contagious
But it’s amazing how often we see the domino effect after big-name exits. The lesser lights are emboldened, while some remaining seeds fall into the yawning gap in the draw that’s opened before them.
Half the women’s matches on Saturday were upsets, following Friday’s big departures of former champions Osaka, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, as well as No.10 seed Madison Keys.
The biggest name to go was Karolina Pliskova, the second seed pipped in two tiebreaks by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. No.5 Elina Svitolina went out 6-1 6-2 to the unseeded Garbine Muguruza (who has a perfect record against the Ukrainian in Grand Slams), while No.6 Belinda Bencic was skittled 6-0 6-1 by Anett Kontaveit, and No.19 Donna Vekic ousted by teenager Iga Swiatek.
Pliskova, who’d given the Russian a set in their six previous meetings, had a shocking day at the office, and not much praise for her opponent. “I was about 40 per cent today of my game,” said the subdued Czech, who will carry to Roland Garros the unwanted tag of the game’s best player without a major.
5. Nick Kyrgios is the last Aussie man standing
“This is just epic, man,” said an overcome Kyrgios, after winning the longest match of his career, over No.16 seed Karen Khachanov, in four hours 26 minutes.
The 6-2 7-6(5) 6-7(6) 6-7(7) 7-6[10-8] saga had everything: Kyrgios leaving the court for a leg injury, getting into it with the umpire over a time violation and a bloody towel, mopping up on his opponent’s side of the court, lost match points in the third and fourth sets before finally clinching it in the match tiebreak on his first opportunity. That’s right: three match points in three different sets. He does things differently, does Kyrgios.
A droolworthy fourth round with No.1 Rafa Nadal awaits.