Ageless Nadal beats ‘the future of tennis’
Istomin in cruise mode; Serena eases past Gibbs
Melbourne, Jan. 21: Rafael Nadal’s ageing legs outlasted German teenager Alexander Zverev in an epic five sets as Serena Williams sailed into the last 16 at the Australian Open on Saturday.
Nadal needed all his trademark grit against Zverev, 19, dubbed “the future of tennis”, and his superior fitness told as he ground out a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2 win.
Germany’s Zverev looked in discomfort as he won a punishing 37shot rally nearly four hours into their contest as Nadal, still full of running, pressed his advantage in the final set.
It means Nadal, 30, follows fellow veteran Roger Federer into the last 16 of a contest now missing defending champion Novak Djokovic after his stunning defeat to Denis Istomin.
“Everybody knows how good Alexander is,” said Nadal, who will play France’s Gael Monfils in the fourth round. “He’s the future of our sport, and the present.”
Williams, by contrast, had no such trouble as she brushed off fellow American Nicole Gibbs 61, 6-3 to maintain her charge towards a 23rd Grand Slam title.
Williams, back after an injury break at the end of 2016, has been in brilliant form and she will take some stopping as she zeroes in on Steffi Graf’s Open-era record.
The next player to take on Williams will be Barbora Strycova, who ousted France’s Caroline Garcia to earn a shot at the world number two.
Sania, Bopanna advance
Sania Mirza and Rohana Bopanna advanced to the mixed doubles second round with their respective partners at the Australian Open on Saturday.
Bopanna and his Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski had to dig deep to beat Michael Venus and Katarina Srebotnik 6-4, 67, 10-7 in a super tiebreaker.
A little later, India’s top class player Sania Mirza and Croatia’s Ivan Dodig got the better of reigning US Open champions, Laura Siegemund and Mate Pavic. The final scoreline read 7-5, 6-4. Standing on their toes the duo has outsmarted their rivals in the staright sets.
While the Indian challenge in the men’s doubles has already ended with the exit of Bopanna and Leander Paes, Sania still remains in contention in the women’s doubles partnering Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova.
Meanwhile, giving a tough fight Siddhant Bhatia lost his first round boys’ singles match against Australia’s Alexander Crnokrak 6-2, 6-7, 5-7.
In the girls’ singles first round, India’s 18 year old young talent Zeel Desai overcame a stiff challenge from local hope Kaitlin Staines 6-4, 3-6, 75.