Two all-new women’s quarterfinalists in Sofia Kenin and Ons Jabeur, more Fabio Fognini melodrama, a first-set scare for Roger Federer and Ash Barty books a reunion quarterfinal with Petra Kvitova. Happy Australia Day.
1. She lost, but Coco Gauff still had a blast
Gauff’s Cinderella run ended in a sunny, packed Melbourne Arena 6-7(5) 6-3 6-0 at the hands of fellow youngster Sofia Kenin, the No.14 seed. It was a scoreline that reflected fatigue, perhaps mental as much as physical.
But what a credit to the 15-year-old Gauff that she focused on the fun.
“Even though I lost, I still had a lot of fun,” said the supreme young athlete who ignited the tournament with her Friday night upset of defending champion Naomi Osaka. “I mean now, looking back, I’m not as disappointed anymore. “
Gauff was taken aback at how she was embraced by the locals. “The Australian crowd is unbelievable. I really, really truly love it here.
“Yeah, I was surprised. I got the Aussie chant today. I don’t know if it was because it was Australia Day. I really didn’t think I would be such a favourite.
“The whole stadium was really rooting for me in all my matches. Hopefully I continue to get an Aussie chant. I guess I’m an adopted Australian now.”
It’s not all over for Gauff. The Floridian and partner Caty McNally can expect raucous Aussie Oi chants at their doubles tomorrow.
2. The mind games have started
Quarterfinal debutantes Kenin and Ons Jabeur had career-shaping wins on Sunday, 21-year-old Kenin taking out Gauff while Tunisian trailblazer Jabeur ended the run of No.27 seed Wang Qiang, conqueror of Serena Williams, 7-6(5) 6-1.
They face off on Tuesday for a semifinal slot. Kenin revealed that after their wins they ran into each other in the cooling-down area on stationary bikes. Instinctively, they started sizing each other up.
“It was funny, we’re both biking next to each other,” the intense, spirited Kenin reported. “She’s like, ‘Good job.’
“I’m like, ‘You too.’ It was fun, a funny moment.
“She’s like, ‘Are you feeling tired?’
“No, I’m good. She’s like, ‘Yeah, me too.’
“I’m like, ‘OK, I’ll see you on Tuesday then.’”
3. Tennys wins through the fog of Fognini
Combustible Italian Fabio Fognini brought the chaos in a 7-6(5) 7-5 6-7(2) 6-4 loss to No.100 Tennys Sandgren at Melbourne Arena on Sunday night.
Arguing with his opponent and the umpire over a time violation penalty, Fognini also summoned supervisor Gerry Armstrong to the court – careful Fabio, Armstrong was the umpire who booted John McEnroe out of the AO exactly 30 years ago.
At the end of the first set, Fognini left the court for a seven-minute bathroom break. He resumed for a game then went to his chair, removed his shirt and called for medical attention for his hand, though it was not a change of ends. He incurred a point penalty, while Sandgren stormed off the court, accusing French umpire Damien Dumusois of going easy on the world No.12.
“He gets his own rules because you’re afraid to step on his toes,” the American charged.
Fognini, defaulted at the US Open in 2017 for abusing a female umpire, went on to taunt his opponent in the third set: “I gave you everything. I gave you the blister, I gave you the warning, point penalty, so I can do nothing more,” he called across the net. Just another day in FabioWorld.
We can expect a bit more decorum when Sandgren takes on Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. Told who his opponent was by John McEnroe following his four-set win over Marton Fucsovics at Rod Laver Arena, Federer had some fun with Tennys’ Swedish name. “He was not gonna be a baseball player, that’s for sure,” the Swiss kidded. Roger’s played a lot of tennis, but tongue in cheek: “I’ve never played against Tennys.”
A mere $127 million separates them in prize money.
4. Djokovic junior coming soon
All-time AO champion Novak Djokovic is winning so clinically, Sunday’s victory a 6-3 6-4 6-4 dissection of No.14 seed Diego Schwartzman, that he’s been expansive on a lot of off-court topics. Today, the sporting development of his children, son Stefan, five, and daughter Tara, two.
“So far it has been great in terms of tennis relationship with me and my son,” said the defending champion and involved dad. “He’s willing to play with me, he travels with me but also on the TV he knows what's going on. He knows Roger, he knows Rafa, couple [of] others as well.
“His favourite shot is forehand. He’s been telling me he’s been born with backhand. I don’t know; I’m a father first I can’t really put myself in the role of the coach.
“Look, I’m giving him all the time and space he needs in the world. I want him and my daughter to express honest desire to pick up a racquet and hit against the wall …”
Then Djokovic pulls up; he hasn’t consulted the boss. “It’s still very early to talk about it …. my wife says.”
5. Same time next year for Barty-Kvitova
Two pure shot makers and beloved figures are meeting up again in the quarterfinals. AO 2019 finalist Petra Kvitova overcame Maria Sakkari in three and world No.1 Ash Barty beat Alison Riske (her Wimbledon nemesis) for the first time, also going the distance.
“I like her; she’s a great person,” Kvitova said of the Australian. “Will be a great match-up.”
The Czech was untouchable last January in a 6-1 6-4 result. But Barty won their next three clashes and vaulted to No.1 from No.15 in a dream season.
“It depends if help or not,” replied the No.7 seed, on her clear-cut win in the same round 12 months ago. “You know, I think Ash is great. She has to have such a big pressure on her. She’s dealing with it like probably no one else.
“Sharing [the] court with her it’s always a pleasure.” Ditto for the fans.