Istomin's army: Uzbek fans celebrate hero's record run
Before this week, it's fair to say many Australian tennis fans had never heard of Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.
Before this week, it's fair to say many Australian tennis fans had never heard of Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.
When one of Australia's bright young prospects Googles himself, he sees only the images of his second cousin, who got the name and fame first. Matthew Dellavedova the Milwaulkee Bucks guard is the best-known "Delly" in the family; for 16-year-old Matthew Dellavedova, the name is a a conversation starter, certainly.
While most people are up and about this Sunday morning, Bulgarian 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov will hopefully be asleep, and for good reason.
Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils have made it through to the fourth round of the 2017 Australian Open after accounting for Gilles Simon and Philipp Kohlschreiber respectively in their third-round encounters at Melbourne Park on Saturday.
The Dasha is a doer. Late Saturday night, Daria Gavrilova edged past Switzerland's Timea Bacsinzky in three sets to move into the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second year in a row.
Australian star Daria Gavrilova has claimed a hard-fought win over Swiss 12th seed Timea Bacsinszky to book her spot in the final 16 at the Australian Open.
Rafael Nadal says you return to the tennis circuit, but you don't really feel back on it until you begin to string wins together.
It was, Serena Williams was told during the on-court interview that followed her routine 6-1, 6-3 defeat of fellow American Nicole Gibbs, exactly 19 years ago to the day that she played her first match on Rod Laver Arena. Except that, actually, it wasn't. Ah, details, details.
Your daily dose of what's happening off the court at the Australian Open.
"Yeah, sure, he's the favourite. Maybe. I don't know."
Tennis is a zero-sum game. So, even though Andy Murray had nothing to do with Novak Djokovic's defeat, he is well placed to take advantage - a process he began with an efficient victory over the big-serving Sam Querrey.
The sky - or court - is the limit when it comes to experiencing the tennis as a VIP.
For the first time in three years, there will be no local male presence in the last 16.
Tennis players are no different to a lot of you out there in the stands. We've all got plenty of potential distractions in our lives. And we also have been affected by the enormous impact of social media – in positive and negative ways.
Jennifer Brady doesn't even have a picture on the official WTA website. Nor has she played in a grand slam before this week.
As Ivo Karlovic and David Goffin posed for their pre-match photo on Hisense Arena, you couldn't help but giggle.
Former world No.1 Andre Agassi said he could have a lot to teach Nick Kyrgios but the young Australian would have to be willing to listen and learn.
Technology and training is keeping the champions in for a long set.
Bernie feeling the pinch
If he continues on his current path he could become the saddest form of sporting entertainment there is.
Bernard Tomic may still be on the "right" side of 25 but he said playing in his ninth Australian Open had made him feel practically ready to apply for a seniors card.
'Somebody was the unlucky one, it was me for this one,' Berdych said. 'It's not so much fun. I would rather be sitting in the stands watching than on the court.'
Bernard's Tomic's father once deemed Dan Evans too inferior to practice with his son, but he wasn't the person the Brit said 'doesn't know how to act on a tennis court'.
Bernard Tomic has crashed out of the Australian Open, leaving the host country without a second-week hope in the men's singles for the first time in three years.
For Denis Istomin, Thursday's ambush of reigning champion Novak Djokovic was greatest moment of his life.
Ash Barty had been here before and never before. The newest sporting code-hopper has emphatically returned to the sport she eschewed for the other summer sport but she has done so as a reawakened player and taking her game to places she had never been before.
The year after Casey Dellacqua's breakthrough 2008 charge past three top-50 opponents into the last 16 of the Australian Open, she returned, with a far higher profile and elevated expectations, and promptly lost in the first round. The second time, having equalled her best Melbourne Park result, the 2015 encore lasted just one match longer.
The chance of a Warwinka-Kyrgios showdown was consigned to the dust-bin days ago but the former Australian Open winner, affectionately known as the Stanimal, remains alive and well to push for another grand slam title in Melbourne.
A day after the biggest threat to his maiden Australian Open title was bundled out in extraordinary scenes on Rod Laver Arena, Andy Murray didn't suffer from the Novak-like jitters.
Yonex, the racquet sponsor of Nick Kyrgios, has introduced a controversial new contract clause that entitles the manufacturer to strip a chunk out of their clients' retainer for every racquet smashed.
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