Key events
It’s taken him a while, but Opelka is in charge of his match with Onclen now, yet another ace – his 27th of the match – securing set three, the lead 3-6 7-6 6-3. It’s a long way back for the qualifer.
Pouille holds then raises break point, his first of the match; Zverev quickly relieves him of it, then closes out to lead 6-4 6-4 1-1. Back on Court, by the way, we’re on serve in set two, Saville up 6-1 2-2.
Opelka, by the way, is anti-vax, Trump and so on; “Reilly’s problem is that he’s straight up stupid,” said no less an authority than his dad. But he can play tennis and os now serving for a 2-1 lead at 5-3 in the third.
Opelka looks like he’s taking over, a second successive break giving him 4-2 in set three and a 23rd ace raising three consolidation points. He only needs one, a further ace securing 5-2, and it’ll take something for Onclin to bounce back from here.
Five games in a row for Daria Saville, who leads Anna Blinkova 6-1, while Zverev quickly makes 40-0 … then whips an ace down the middle to take the second set. He leads 6-4 -4 and, though Pouille is keeping him honest, there’s doesn’t seem to be much he can do. I guess attacking the forehand is something, but that’s no longer the panacea it once was.
Pouille hangs in there, saving set-point when down advantage before closing out; Zverev must now serve for set two at 6-4 5-4. Problem is, he’s built to do exactly that.
Opelka is motoring now, a murderous forehand breaking Oncli back in for 1-1 2-2 in a really entertaining match. Tangentially, he’s mentioned in Tumaini’s piece about the latest 90s revival.
Humbert, seeded 14, has just taken the second set to lead Gigante 7-6 7-5; Bucsa has beaten Paquet 6-2 6-2.
On Court, Saville leads Blinkova 3-1, saving break-back point then closing out as for 4-1 I type, while Onclin has consolidated, now leading Opelka 2-1 in the third. Oh and Zverev, forced to go through deuce, holds to lead Pouille 6-4 5-3.
Up break point, Zverev nets a forehand, then up advantage he loops a forehand wide, but Pouille is having to fight his arse off for everything. A gorgeous pick-up, flipped cross, dips over the net, and a big first serve seals another brutally difficult hold. Zverev leads 6-4 4-3.
Pouille, by the way, fought hard for his hold, and is now serving again what seems like seconds later, Zverev holding to love in no time at all to lead 6-4 4-2. Oh, and Onclin is not going away, breaking Opelka at the first time of asking for 1-0 in the third.
Machac, the 26 seed, has beaten Nagal 6-3 6-1 7-5 and meets Opelka or Onclin next; that could be a very interesting match whoever wins on Kia.
Opelka has levelled his match with Onclin at a set apiece and, increasingly, it looks like his serve will be the difference. He was broken early doors, but has found his range now and looks more like the man who beat Djokovic last week.
I think it’s the socks: they really tie Zverev’s outfit together, just not in the way he’s intending. But his serve is a helluva shot, one of the best in the game, and I’ve not a clue how Pouille goes about breaking it. The lead is 6-4 3-2 and, as I type, another inside-out forehand ears him 15-all; pressure…
Opelka retrieves a mini-break with a forehand that clips the net then cracks Onclin on the back and drops in court; they’re now level at 3-3. On Court, meanwhile, Blinkova and Saville are under way, while Pouille is on the board in set two, trailing Zverev 4-6 1-2.
On Kia, Onclin leads Opelka 6-3 6-6; on Court 3, Walton leads Halys 6-4 6-4; and on 1573, Mahac is serving for the match leading Nagal 6-3 6-1 6-5.
It doesn’t feel like Zverev is one of those players who may or may not win a Slam; he could scarcely have got closer, having lost both finals he’s made in five sets. Rather, it feels like a matter of time, and it’d shock no one if this was his tournament: his serve and backhand are insanely fantastic shots, whole his forehand and volleying have improved significantly. He’s a big threat here, and quickly breaks then consolidates, giving this match a feeling of almost over. Zverev leads 6-4 2-0.
Pouille twice gets ahead in the game but Zverev twice closes then, at 30-all, punishes an ace out wide. But we wind up at deuce … so Zverev clobbers down a high-kicking ace, then opens body to wipe a devastating inside-out forehand cross-court for a clean winner. He leads Pouille 6-4.
Next on Court: Anna Blinkova v Daria Saville (WC)
Jiri Lehecka (24) beats Li Tu 6-1 3-6 6-3 7-6(1)
Tu gave it plenty but Lehecka had too much and meets Hugo Gaston next
A lovely pick-up volley from Pouille, off his tootsies, saves set point at 3-5 30-40 and Zverev applauds before two quick points force him to serve for 1-0. Meantime on Court, Lehecka is making short work of this breaker, up 5-1 on Tu, the match almost over.
Lehecka holds for 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-6, meaning he and Tu will now play a tiebreak. The home crowd are giving their man plenty of backing.
Oh, and Zverev’s rig is now there for all of us to see. Yeah, I know.
A booming backhand down the line backs up a short slice and Pouille has 0-30 on the Zverev serve. But it’s soon 30-all, a ridiculous serve out wide earns game-point, and an ace means it’s 5-3. The no 2 seed is a hold away from set one.
Lehecka quickly holds for 5-5, while Zverev consolidates and now leads Pouille 4-3 in the first.
It’s getting exciting on Court, where Tu has just held for 5-4 in set four; trailing 1-2, he’s a break away from a decider. Meantime, Onclin looks a really good player, leading Opelka 6-3 3-2 on serve. At 23, he’s plenty of time to develop and a win here should get him off the Challenger circuit.
Hady Habib, a Lebanese quailifier, is through to round two having beaten Yunchaokete Bu in three. That’s nice to see.
Calv Betton, our resident coach, gets in touch with thoughts on Pouille – who, for those unfamiliar, made the semis of this competition in 2019 and once beat Nadal at Flushing Meadow.
Calv notes that he’s a very good player hitting it nicely off both wings, but has struggled with serious physical and mental health issues in recent times. His lowest point, he said, was playing Challenger doubles in Ilkley, when his partner, Constant Lestienne, got into it with Aiden McHugh, an opponent. He’s finding his way back, though – even if, as I type, Zverev breaks him for 3-2.
Humbert has won his first-set breaker against the qualifier, Gigante – this is a big day for him etc etc – while on Court, we’re on serve in set three, Lehecka leading Tu 6-1 3-6 6-3 2-3.
I’ve now given Don McRae’s Rublev interview a proper read and you should too. It’s great to see him speak so candidly and I’m glad he getting the help he needs.
Onclin has sealed a very impressive set against Opelka, now up 6-3 1-0, while Pouille and Zverev are away with a hold apiece, the latter’s rig catching Tim Henman’s attention. Pic to follow as soon as I have it.
Who doesn’t hope this is Ons’ hour?
Clara Tauson has beaten Linda Noskova, the 29th seed, 5-7 6-3 6-4 and meets Tatiana Maria next; Tomas Mahac (26) leads Sumit Nagal 6-3 6-1; and Humbert is playing a first-set breaker against Gigante.
I should say, while those of us in the UK were sleeping, play on outside courts was interrupted by rain, so various matches – including Jerry Shang v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina – have been rescheduled.
Normal service resumes on Court, Lehecka seeing out set three to lead Tu 6-1 3-6 6-3; Onclin leads Opelka 4-3 with a break; and Zverev, looking frankly dreadful in red headband, top, socks and trainers with burgundy shorts, is knocking up with Pouille.
Rublev is, I’m told, a sound lad. He could, perhaps, do with a little help in not assaulting himself on court, but is a very fine player and the only one on tour with wins over Federer, Nadal, Murray, Djokovic, Sinner and Alcaraz. The problem he has is that he’s very very good but not quite able to beat anyone better than him in a Slam – and unless he improves his volley and slice, he probably never will.
Next on Laver: Lucas Pouille (WC) v Alexander Zverev (2).
Sabalenka is, of course, “super-happy” to be back in Melbourne and wastes no time in thanking the crowd as per protocol. It’s always tough against Stephens, she says, and didn’t play her best but is glad to be through.
Set up to say Melbourne feels like home, she says Melbourne feels like home, then it’s time to talk Tik Tok dances, the music is duly delivered, and Sabalenka leads the crowd in some rudimentary moves, the desire to “go viral” brazenly asserted by the interviewer.
Aryna Sabalenka (1) beats Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2
She can play loads better but was still far too good for a very fine opponent. Sabalenka meets Bouzas Maneiro next.
Very quickly, Sabalenka makes 30-0. She knows she’s going to win, and the wahey abandon of her hitting is a joy to behold.
Stephens forces Sabalenka to serve for it at 6-3 5-2. I fear she is up to the task.
Sabalenka holds to 30 and Stephens must now serve to stop in the match at 3-6 1-5. She did well enough at the back end of the first, but hasn’t been able to play well enough for long enough to seriously trouble the champ.
