2021 Australian Open

[Sir David Gray]

Grand Slam tennis returns but not as we know it.

The Australian Open players and officials had to quarantine for 2 weeks upon their arrival in the country, some of them were fortunate in that they were allowed out for a few hours each day however some players had to remain in their room full time for 2 weeks as their flights had cases of Covid-19.

The Australian Government allowed fans to attend at around 50% capacity but after 13 cases were detected in Melbourne, the tournament has banned fans for at least the next 5 days and the whole of Victoria is in lockdown.

Anyway the tennis continues and shortly the last remaining British singles player, Cameron Norrie, plays his third round match but it doesn't get much harder than 20 times Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal.

For anyone who is interested the match will be live shortly on Eurosport 1.

[Sir David Gray]

Norrie breaks to go 3-2 up first set but Nadal breaks straight back - 3-3.

[Sir David Gray]

First set Nadal, 7-5.

Norrie playing really well.

[Sir David Gray]

Norrie's been playing so well so far but Nadal's just increased his level and is now 4-2 up second set.

[Sir David Gray]

Second set Nadal, it's all over.

[Sir David Gray]

Nadal wins 7-5 6-2 7-5.

I'd like to have seen Norrie win a set, he played well.

[G B Young]

Nadal wins 7-5 6-2 7-5.

I'd like to have seen Norrie win a set, he played well.

Norrie's a decent player but we're a long way from seeing another Andy Murray blazing a trail for British tennis.

I'm still bemused about why they let this tournament go ahead.

[Sir David Gray]

Norrie's a decent player but we're a long way from seeing another Andy Murray blazing a trail for British tennis.

I'm still bemused about why they let this tournament go ahead.

Agreed Murray is a once in a generation kind of player, possibly once in two or three generations kind of player.

Norrie is decent though and gave Nadal a decent match.

He probably won't ever win a Grand Slam but could be a solid top 30 player if he puts his mind to it.

[hibeg]

I think this mornings match between Halap and Swiatek should be a cracker. Winner of this one could go all the way
This half of the draw is by far the toughest , Serena will play the winner of the above and Osaka is there as well

[Sir David Gray]

Djokovic v Raonic one set all.

Djokovic won the first set on a tiebreak but Raonic has just taken the second set 6-4.

[G B Young]

Djokovic making a big deal of being 'injured'. How often does he do that? Probably hopes it's a way to garner the public support he has never commanded.

[McD]

Djokovic making a big deal of being 'injured'. How often does he do that? Probably hopes it's a way to garner the public support he has never commanded.

I never have any faith that he’s actually injured during a match

[G B Young]

I never have any faith that he’s actually injured during a match

His opponent in the previous round cast doubt on how bad it actually was, as did Nick Kyrgios (though no surprise there given how much he loathes Djokovic), who also mocked the fact Djokovic is apparently persisting with his cringeworthy 'throwing his heart to the crowd' celebrations despite the stands being empty:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/tennis/56065143

[Sir David Gray]

Three Russians into the men's quarter finals, I wonder if that's ever happened at a Grand Slam before?

[Sir David Gray]

WTF was Serena Williams wearing today!?

[Sir David Gray]

First set to Zverev v Djokovic - 7-6.

[Sir David Gray]

One set all, Djokovic wins the second set easily 6-2.

[Sir David Gray]

Djokovic moves in front winning the third set 6-4.

[Sir David Gray]

Djokovic wins 6-7 6-2 6-4 7-6.

Really good match, deserved a fifth set.

It's hard to look past Djokovic for the title.

[Sir David Gray]

Nadal v Tsitsipas not quite the contest I had hoped for.

6-3 5-1 for Nadal so far after just over an hour.

[Sir David Gray]

Tsitsipas with a glimmer of hope - takes the third set 7-6.

Nadal leads two sets to one.

[Sir David Gray]

This was the match I was expecting!

Tsitsipas wins set four 6-4 to take us into a decider.

Tsitsipas just breaks Nadal to serve for the match at 6-5!

[Sir David Gray]

Tsitsipas completes the comeback!

He wins 3-6 2-6 7-6 6-4 7-5.

Great entertainment.

[Sir David Gray]

Daniil Medvedev beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets and will play Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final after he beat Aslan Karatsev in straight sets yesterday.

It's Medvedev's second Grand Slam final after losing in five sets to Rafael Nadal in the US Open in 2019.

[Tobias Funke]

I think this mornings match between Halap and Swiatek should be a cracker. Winner of this one could go all the way
This half of the draw is by far the toughest , Serena will play the winner of the above and Osaka is there as well

Nice to see a comment on the women’s singles draw, highly competitive and there are some great players in the womens game just now.

Naomi Osaka should comfortably win her fourth Grand Slam singles title tomorrow.

[Sir David Gray]

Djokovic takes the first set 7-5.

Good match so far, only one winner now though.

[Sir David Gray]

Medvedev breaks in the first game of the second set.

[Sir David Gray]

And Djokovic breaks straight back.

[Sir David Gray]

Djokovic breaks again 3-1 second set.

[Sir David Gray]

Second set Djokovic 6-2.

Too easy.

[Sir David Gray]

Djokovic breaks again, 2-0 third set.

[Sir David Gray]

Djokovic wins 7-5 6-2 6-2.

Far too good - Australian Open title number nine.

[heretoday]

Djokovic will overtake Nadal and Fed in the grand slam stakes pretty soon. Maybe not at the French!