Thanks all for your company – ta-ra.
So there we go: Ash Barty is through to play Madison Keys in the women’s semis – gosh, that seems a long time ago, which I suppose it was – then Matteo Berrettini and Gaël Monfils bestowed upon us a classic, with Berrettini seizing the semi against Rafael Nadal. We’ll see you again tomorrow – there’s Collins v Cornet and Swiatek v Kanepi in the women’s quarters, then Sinner v Tsitsipas and Auger-Aliassime v Medvedev in the men’s. Not bad.
Berrettini is the first Italian to reach an Aussie Open semi and he’s proud, though notes that Sinner will probably become the second tomorrow. He thought he had Monfils in the third, but he stayed focused and he’s seen it before, you’e winning and an opponent plays better. On the crowd, prompted by shouting he says that he doesn’t think some are tennis fans, but he won so he’s happy. He’s only played Nadal once, in his first semi – he lost, but he didn’t know what to expect and had set points in the first. He’ll definitely watch Sinner-Tsitsipas tomorrow - he’s really good friends with the former and good friends with the latter, plus there’s nothing to do in his room anyhow. Finally, he’s asked about a doc that’s coming about life on tour, and what people will learn about him: the trouble he has with his body, and what a mess his room is, apparently.
Matteo Berrettini [7] beats Gaël Monfils [17] 6-4 6-4 3-6 3-6 6-2!
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 2-5 Berrettini* A big serve yields 15-0, then Monfils goes long on the backhand; he knows the jig is up. And he definitely knows when a high-kicker out wide turns into yet another ace, raising three match points, but saves the first when Berrettini nets ... then the second when a good return, close to the baseline, prompts an error. But no more. Monfils nets, and rather than celebrate, Berrettini asks the crowd for their thoughts - ah man, it wasn’t like that, they like you, they just love him. But he’s through to a semi against Nadal, having played a blinder of a set to close a beauty of a match. Love and respect to both players.
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*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 2-5 Berrettini You’ve gotta love Monfils, who serves three straight aces for 40-0 ... then a double ... then another ace! After a little sit-down, Berrettini will serve for the semis!
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 1-5 Berrettini* Berrettini has found a new gear here, coming to the net off a big forehand and doing superbly to control a volley off the tootsies for 15-0. A big serve backs it up, and though he might be wondering why he couldn’t play like this sooner, I’m just relieved he didn’t deprive us of the last 90 minutes. Anyway, Monfils hasn’t given up, charging to the net to bump a winner down the line, but Berrettini then comes in off a backhand slice, well-aimed to the corner, and puts away the riposte nicely before closing out with another biggun. This is monstrous behaviour from Berrettini, who could easily have got down on himself – Monfils seemed to have his number - but instead committed to attack, and now look!
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 1-4 Berrettini Monfils holds to 15, and he’s got a glimmer – the tiniest one imaginable, but nevertheless.
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 0-4 Berrettini* Man, you’ve gotta feel for Monfils, who worked hard enough going two-love down, never mind to find a strategy that let him come back. But you’ve also got to credit Berrettini, who rediscovered his aggression between sets though, as I said right at the start, these five sets, his second of the competition, make even more likely the presence in the final of Nadal. But there’s a match to finish here first, and at 40-15, Berrettini hooks an extraordinary forehand from wide that breaks the sideline! There’ve been 22 points in this set of which Monfils won the first two – but he’s only taken three since then.
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*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 0-3 Berrettini Berrettini’s got the forehand going again and it earns him 0-15, before a backhand plops into the net. No matter, Berrettini again starts hammering away, and the power eventually tells - well not exactly because Monfils has power too, but because he’s the one seizing the initiative, his is the power that’s dictating. He quickly gets 15-40, the umpire asks whoever’s making noise to leave, and there’s a pause before what are surely two effective match points. Here they come! And Berrettini only needs one, somehow getting back one of those whipcrack flat forehands, eliciting another into the net! After losing two straight sets, Berrettini has made two straight breaks, and out of nowhere he’s nearly in the last four!
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 0-2 Berrettini* Curiously, the crowd no longer seem to be bothering Berrettini, who’s back playing nicely as Monfils has dipped. I guess it makes sense: it’s very hard to sustain the zone for long, so the bloke who started there has more chance of getting back to it at the end, and that’s a love consolidation. Regardless, Berrettini has serious stones.
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 0-1 Berrettini That extra break means it’s Monfils serving first in the decider, and he looks like the winner here. Berrettini has never lost from two up and just earlier today, Nadal was clawed back from that position only to win anyway. But this looks very different – Berrettini doesn’t have Nadal’s aura nor was he relaxing through the fourth set to conserve energy. However, at 30-all, Monfils follows an approach to the net and finds himself chasing a tremendous chip-lob that he can’t return via tweener! Break point! Monfils saves it, but Berrettini is into this, monstrous forehanding allowing him to move his man around, a backhand eventually forcing the error, and here comes another chance! AND HE’S GOT IT! Monfils goes wide on the backhand, and after barely featuring for a set, doing almost nothing on his opponent’s serve for two sets, Berrettini has a break and Monfils, who worked so expletive hard to earn this position, might just’ve tossed it at the first time of asking. This game!
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-3 Berrettini* Every now and again, Monfils really opens his shoulders to smite a flat one, earning 15-all in precisely that manner. Berrettini then complains to the umpire between first and second serves that the crowd – backing Monfils – are distracting him, which suggests a mind slightly frazzled by the situation, but he wins the next two points nevertheless. Monfils then splatters a couple more of those flat forehands for 40-30, making deuce ! Both players will want to win this game to ensure they serve first in set five if nothing else, and on advantage Berrettini again complains to the umpire, then Monfils nails a backhand cross-court onto the sideline! He is buzzing like a cow here – that made it 40-40 on winners – and when Berrettini goes long, that raises set point! He misses his first serve too, but nails a backhand down the line to regain deuce only to hit the net cord when advantage up, the ball sitting there for Monfils to hit a winner. Next, Berrettini can’t control a volley coming in, raising another set point; this time he times his volley nicely, and back to deuce we go, another banging game in a match that’s been full of them. And it’s not over yet, Berrettini trying to hit too perfect a drop and netting, redeeming the error with a devastating forehand. So Monfils goes again, earning another set point that he can’t convert, then another ... and this time Berrettini nets a forehand! Monfils’ needle has hit the groove, matching Berrettini’s power off the ground and finding better angles and arcs, so here we go with a decider! Phew, this is some match and these are some boys!
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*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 5-3 Berrettini Monfils is flowing here, Berrettini making almost no impression on his serve – in his last eight service-games he’s lost just five points. And in this one, he finds an ace and two winners, holding to 15, and he’s a game away from bestowing a decider upon us. Thanks, Gael old mate.
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 4-3 Berrettini* At 40-0, Berrettini sends down his second double of the match, but a service-winner down the middle rights him. He needed that, but it’s been a while since he put any pressure on Monfils.
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 4-2 Berrettini Has Monfils broken Berrettini?! He is absolutely smoking at the moment, racing to 40-0 before larruping a forehand long. I wonder, if he gets to a decider, he’ll be able to play with the freedom of the last two sets, but in the meantime he’s all over this, holding to 15.
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 3-2 Berrettini* Berrettini nets a forehand for 0-30, making it six points in a row for Monfils, and is this the match right here? Well, well in the rally, Monfils nets a backhand for no good reason then does likewise on the return, and when a forehand sails long, the stench of missed opportunity is palpable. But Berrettini doesn’t do enough when he serve-volleys, allowing Monfils to stay in a point that should be over, and after a quick rat-a-tat-tat at the net, he dumps another volley for deuce! AND WHAT! Monfils again targets the Berrettini backhand by taking the pace off, then when the corner is vacated, opens up to spank another of those corner-to-corner forehand winners ... THEN NEXT POINT HE DOES IT AGAIN! From two sets down, Monfils is three holds away from a decider, and Berrettini is in trouble! What a match this is!
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 2-2 Berrettini Er yeah, but Monfils already was, holding to love in a matter of seconds.
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 1-2 Berrettini* An ace sets Berrettini away, while in comms they debate the merits of one and two-handed backhands. I’m not sure how many players have one majors with a single - Henin and Federer, not many others - but Henman says he’d teach a single-handed slice, which makes some sense. Anyway, back on court, the players exchange forehand booms, until Monfils finds a gorgeous angle cross-court, breaking the sideline – he’s hitting flatter than Berrettini, I think, and that particular corner-to-corner shit is working really well. So Berrettini seals the game with an ace, of course he does, and he’s starting to move again.
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 1-1 Berrettini Monfils nets a backhand down the line for 15-all, and I just wonder if Berrettini is coming back into this – I think that last hold gave him a lift. But after an exchange of backhand slices, he creates the opportunity for a winner only to clump into the net, making 30-all when Monfils hooks wide, and two quick points later, we’re level in the set.
Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 -1 Berrettini* That double Berrettini served on break point was only his seventh of the tournament; remarkable really, given how hard he hits it and that he played a four-hour five-setter in round three. He gets to 40-0, but then when Monfils uncorks another forehand winner he finds himself at 40-30 ... and is muttering under his breath when a return clips the net, drops over, and he distractedly errs. Deuce it is, and Berrettini is beginning to wonder, hitting passively instead of attacking as he was before. So he tries to up it, dictating the advantage point, but gradually Monfils plays his way into it, opening the angle for another corner-to-corner forehand winner! Naturally, a violent serve regains deuce and an ace seizes advantage, then a high-kicker out wide seals a vital hold.
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*Monfils 4-6 4-6 6-3 Berrettini Well, he opens with an ace, then a clever hook to the forehand corner from mid-court is enough for 30-0. Berrettini, though, finds a fine return to a second serve, only to net his drop with the entirety of the court to hit! Three set point Monfils! Berrettini saves the first, but Monfils is dominating from the back now, and clobbers a forehand winner, cross-court from middle to corner, and HAVE A LOOK! The crowd go wild, and I can honestly say I’ve no idea how this is going to shake out; I’ve not thought I’d be feeling that way at any point before or during this match.
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Monfils 4-6 4-6 5-3 Berrettini* You can sense and see Berrettini trying to hit himself back into the groove and he plays a pretty good game here, rediscovering his first serve and forehand in the process of holding to 15. Can Monfils serve it out?
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 5-2 Berrettini Again, that was coming. Berrettini hasn’t played that well today – the serve and forehand aren’t firing like they were, maybe a toll of the five-setter against Alcaraz the round before last. Meantime, Monfils is going for broke and it’s working for him, a love consolidation putting him a game away from set three and us a game away from more of this compelling contest.
Monfils 4-6 4-6 4-2 Berrettini* Monfils is taken the Stanimal approach now, looking to hit winners whenever and from wherever he can, earning 0-15 with a big forehand. Then Berrettini goes long, and this is a second consecutive 0-30 ... but we know what’s coming next and there it is, a 132mph serve down the middle and on the outside of the line too. But Berrettini then misses an inside-out forehand, and this is the first time he’s faced two consecutive break points; he misses his first serve and Monfils steps in, only to panic and clump into the net. But a double follows, Berrettini’s first of the match, and Monfils finally has his break! We got ourselves a ball-game!
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 3-2 Berrettini What’s that?! Why it’s a love game! Monfils holds, and for the first time in the match, I think he might be the better player.
Monfils 4-6 4-6 2-2 Berrettini* Monfils is giving this everything, battering away from the back before opening the angle to clatter a forehand winner cross-court from the backhand corner. That gives him 0-30, but then he nets a nothing forehand without any serious prompting then sends a return long. It’s noticeable, though, that Berrettini isn’t serving anywhere near as many aces and winners as he does usually, and when Monfils returns one on the stretch, Berrettini nets his cleanup for 30-40! Can Monfils earn his first break? Er, no, a brutal service-winner yields a howl of pain, then another yields a bellow of delight. Berrettini has been very strong when he’s really needed to be.
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 2-1 Berrettini Neither player is quite on it at the mo, which I guess is dangerous for Monfils, who doesn’t have extreme power that’ll be there whatever. At 30-15, Berrettini opens the court with a backhand slice, then creams a forehand winner cross-court, and it feels like he’s two points away from victory ... make that one point. Berrettini defends well enough, then when Monfils earns the opportunity to advance, he spanks a forehand into the tape and out! Two gorgeous shots, from the backhand corner but hit forehand cross-court, save break point, but when he goes for the line again, he misses ... only to regain deuce with a service winner out wide. Another unforced error, though, hands Berrettini another advantage, but what a backhand he finds, walloped cross-court, to back up a weak second serve ... but what a poor forehand he finds, hooked wide, to lose game point. This is another proper struggle, but when Berrettini goes down the line with what looks like a winner, Monfils hangs down to guide a volley into the open court for a monumental hold.
Monfils 4-6 4-6 1-1 Berrettini* Monfils has only come back from two sets down twice in his career, neither time against a player in Berrettini’s postcode. Whatever happens here, I guess we’ve seen why winning a major might be a stretch for him – better players than Monfils will take his backhand apart – but in fairness to him, he’s not played anywhere near as well as he did against Carreno Busta. To prove the point, he finds himself serving at 30-all, finding a big delivery when he needs it, before a big forehand from Monfils lands on the line and he can’t keep his riposte within the court. At deuce, though, Monfils clumps a backhand wide – he’s raging with himself – then a booming serve seals the deal.
*Monfils 4-6 4-6 1-0 Berrettini The players take a break, the absolute malingerers. I don’t know who they think they are, but this is a really big service-game for Monfils who, if he loses it, will be almost out. And at 40-15, he looks in trouble, when Berrettini zones onto a short ball, but he nets his forehand and the comeback is away!
Monfils 4-6 4-6 Berrettini* A serve out wide is too good and Monfils, on the stretch, nets before sending a forehand long; 30-0. Another long forehand cedes three set points, a return goes into the net, and Berrettini has broken the back of this match. That was an absolutely blinding set (of tennis), but I’m not sure we’ll be seeing more of the same from here on in.
*Monfils 4-6 4-5 Berrettini Serving to stay in the set, Monfils sends down consecutive aces for 30-0, securing a first love-hold of the match and forcing Berrettini to serve for it.
Monfils 4-6 3-5 Berrettini* It’s hard not to see that last game, or the long one at 1-2, as the essence of this game. At 30-0, Monfils really opens his shoulders, hammering forehands at Berrettini’s backhand, and when the desperate lob arrives ... he dumps his overhead into the net! You don’t see him miss many of those, but he looks a bit tired now and mentally, he must’ve expended a lot of energy. At 40-15, a forehand goes long, and that’s three games in a row for Berrettini, the second set almost his.
*Monfils 4-6 3-4 Berrettini New balls, greeted by Monfils with a double, then a backhand that flies long. But a serve out wide halves his arrears before Berrettini goes long himself, only for another error to hand him break point ... whereupon a forehand off the frame sails over the baseline! Ach, after all that graft, Monfils has ceded the advantage in aggravatingly tame fashion; sport, and tennis, are hard and cruel.
Monfils 4-6 3-3 Berrettini* Monfils is standing a long way back here, giving himself time to see Berrettini’s serve, so Berrettini takes some pace off and holds to 15 in a game that doesn’t last 20 minutes. Pathetic.
*Monfils 4-6 3-2 Berrettini Oh this is wonderful stuff! You kind of fear for Monfils after losing a game like that, though most of the time he was fighting to save it – he only had three break points – and Berrettini gets 0-15 with a tremendous backhand down the line. He can play it! Monfils, though, quickly makes 30-15, only to net for 30-all – he’s under pressure here – but a fine forehand volley earns game point, converted with a glorious backhand sent shrieking down the line! What a treat these two are giving us!
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Monfils 4-6 2-2 Berrettini* Monfils makes 0-15 and has a second serve to go at, but Berrettini sends him out wide with a forehand ... then he chases it down and clouts an ankle-biting forehand of his own that Berrettini can’t get back! In the context, this is a chance, and though a careless long forehand cuts it in half, Monfils then picks out the backhand with a loopy ball and sees it hit back into the net! Two break points! Colossal forehands, one to the forehand side then a clean-up to the the backhand from half-court, save the first, then a serve out to the backhand and simple volleyed put-away save the second. There wasn’t much Monfils could’ve done about that; I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse. Either way, Monfils seems to have found a way to impose himself, flighting balls to the backhand, and one such earns him another break point – an ace down the middle follows from a kicker toss, cunning – but right as Berrettini looks poised to cinch the hold with a forehand, the ball bouncing high and short, he nets. This is developing very nicely now! Again, Berrettini is ready to earn his hold, but this time a forehand into the backhand corner comes spinning past him, cross-court! What a crucial period of the match this is, Monfils again finding Berrettini’s backhand when advantage down, then again, racing about the place to make a series of ludicrous sliding gets before eventually inciting the error! Not bad for 35 - he noises up the crowd and rightly so – and this is such a game now! Again, Berrettini makes a backhand error on advantage, netting another low volley, and on the next a forehand down the line catches the tape and leaps long! I’m tired just watching this, the athleticism and focus are something else, and have a look! Caught at the net, Berrettini controls two nasty volleys when Monfils clatters balls at him, the second a double-handed backhand; now it’s his turn to salute! I’m running out of elegant variation here, please excuse me because these lads deserve some, but after another advantage Berrettini deuce, an ace – I’m surprised this game wasn’t finished time ago on account of one - but again Monfils hangs in there. The first five games of this match contained 25 points, and this one has had 24 so far ... but Berrettini wins the next two to secure a monstrous hold! That was stunning behaviour from both players, and the question now is whether Monfils has found a route to win – varying flight and spin to the backhand - or whether he’s given all he’s got. I can’t wait to find out!
*Monfils 4-6 2-1 Berrettini Monfils opens the game with a double, and almost loses the next point when a squash-shot forehand zones low over the net. But he hangs in long enough to force an unforced error – yes, I’m saying it’s possible – and quickly makes 30-15, adds an ace, and closes out.
Monfils 4-6 1-1 Berrettini* There’s a quick break because a bird’s enjoyed a clearout on the court, during which time Tim Henman, in co-comms, says he doesn’t think Berrettini will win a major because he’s not good enough to beat Medvedev, plus Sinner and Alcaraz are coming up behind. But he’s looking nifty for the now, guiding a backhand down the line when Monfils attacks that wing, having intimated a cross-courter. Berrettini holds to 30, but it never looked tight – he was up 40-0, and denied a love game by the merest net-cord.
*Monfils 4-6 1-0 Berrettini Funny thing to say, but this is the half of the draw you want to be in – I’m sure that, at this point a semi with Nadal is more inviting that one with Tsitsipas, Sinner or Medvedev. Anyway, Monfils opens the court then nets a volley, handing Berrettini 15-30, and a tame forehand hands yerman two break points ... but saves them well, the second via ace. He cannot afford to lose his serve here, but when Berrettini zetzes a return early and down the line, he’s in danger again ... only to find another ace for deuce. On advantage, though, he sends down a double, redeems it with an ace ... then a terrific Berrettini forehand ... another terrific Berrettini forehand ... hauls him back to deuce. This is the longest game of the match now and it might be pivotal - if Monfils loses it, it likely means curtains, but eventually his forehand sorts him out, and he’s away i set two.
Monfils 4-6 Berrettini* Berrettini must be nervous serving for the set ... ahahahaha! A service winner opens the game, then Monfils nets a slice having done well to force a return back into play. At 30-0, Berrettini slaps a forehand wide, and in the context this constitutes a chance; what can Monfils do with it? Well, he stays in the next rally long enough for Berrettini to net, then after Berrettini serves well out wide and hits a decent forehand too, he finds a sensational backhand down the line on the slide! Break-back point! The inevitable happens next, of course it does – Berrettini serves an ace – then another for advantage. What on earth can you do? But Monfils does superbly to hit at his backhand, then when the slice comes slowly, he runs around his own to steam a forehand winner down the line! it doesn’t matter – Berrettini quickly cements the set with two quick points – but we’ve seen, as if we didn’t already know, what Monfils has to do: find the backhand and attack it, attack the second serve. There’s plenty mileage left in this one.
*Monfils 4-5 Berrettini At 15-all, Monfils nets a back from the back – Berrettini is giving him no time to set. But he finds an ace for 30-all, a service-winner to the backhand earns game point – how well he can find that wing will be crucial – and when another goes into the net, Berrettini is forced to serve out.
Monfils 3-5 Berrettini* Berrettini opens the game with a high-kicking ace, and at 30-0 wrong-foots Monfils so completely that he slips, feet going in opposite directions. A huge serve and colossal forehand follow, leaving Berrettini a game away from the set.
*Monfils 3-4 Berrettini Eesh, Berrettini is climbing into Monfils here, unloading the suitcase with every forehand and battering away until Monfils wilts. He nets a forehand for 0-15 and you fear for him, but a better stroke forces Berrettini to go wide. Still, it was the Italian who dominated that rally, even finding a decent drive-backhand, and he finds a gorgeous top-spin forehand for 15-30, whizzed onto the sideline like a table-tennis shot. Monfils makes 30-all, though, with a forehand that clips the outermost fibre of the line, then earns his sit-down with an ace. Berrettini is controlling things, but he’s only one break up.
Monfils 2-4 Berrettini* Monfils will be raging that he handed over that break so tamely – I doubt there’s anyone on the tour whose serve is harder to take than Berrettini’s, and he’s looking absolutely nails out there, consolidating via a second straight love-game, making it 10 points on the spin.
*Monfils 2-3 Berrettini Oh Gael! Er, as I was saying, double gives Berrettini 0-30, and a colossal forehand followed by an excellent putaway - a backhand volley guided obliquely across the face of the net – raises three break points. And Berrettini only needs one, a Monfils forehand dropping long!
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Monfils 2-2 Berrettini* A tremendous get from Monfils – on the slide, doing the splits and from close to the net – gets him 0-15. Then at 30-15, he steps in on a second serve and absolutely bases a forehand return down the line, flat as your gran’s Makro Coke. That’s one way he might win – it’s unlikely Berrettini will give him a game of those, but in a breaker one or two might do it. Anyway, the big serve/forehand combo see the game away, and this is developing into a fascinating contest.
*Monfils 2-1 Berrettini Berrettini wallops a forehand down the line for 15-all, while from comms we learn that Nadal rates Monfils as the greatest athlete tennis has ever seen. I certainly can’t think of anyone in his class, and he secures another hold to 15 with a booming serve down the T.
Monfils 1-1 Berrettini* I quite fancy Berrettini – in general, for his is devastatingly dishy - but for this competition. As noted by Calvin Betton, our resident coach during his match against Carreno Busta, his drive backhand is the only thing stopping him from winning multiple majors. But if his serve and forehand are on, which they almost always are, he’s a tough night for anyone – I think he’d beat Tsitsipas, but probably not Medvedev. He holds to 15.
*Monfils 1-0 Berrettini It’s easy to be glib about such things, but Monfils does seem to have found his equilibrium since marrying Svitolina. He’s so talented, but some of her focus seems to have rubbed off on him – he won in Adelaide and has been really excellent here, especially against Kecmanovic on Sunday. He holds to 15.
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And play...
The players are warming up...
Coming up next: Gaël Monfils [17] v Matteo Berrettini [7].
On that point, it’s worth noting that for the first time, both women’s semis are at night. That might help the slice skid on, though could make Keys’ serve more of a problem. I can’t wait to find out.
The reason I think Keys is a good matchup is that she has the power to trouble Barty. She doesn’t move as well, but if her serve is there for her, it could come down a few points her and there. One thing in Barty’s favour, though, is how well her slice is working, because she can deploy it to set up winners or buy her time, from pretty much anywhere on the court.
Now here’s Barty talking to Eurosport, saying it was a helluva atmosphere and she really enjoyed the match. She thinks that was the best she’s played this year, which I didn’t expect to hear at all – I thought she was much better against Anisimova. Obviously, what do I know – nothing – and she explains that Pegula forced her to play well and she was happy to miss in the right way as long as she was assertive and aggressive. Again, I thought Pegula hit close to her bottom level but anyway, Barty talks about how lucky she is to play in her home Slam, and though she’d have loved to be born 20 years earlier when then Aussie Open was on grass, she loves the hard surface too, though notes that at night and with the roof closed, it can sometimes play dead.
Barty says she was solid tonight and had fun, finding serves and forehands but not worrying if she missed a couple. She thinks she did that all match, which I’m not so sure about, then says “Jess” is “an incredible person and a brilliant girl”. Their lockers are near each other, so they know each other well, and she says Pegula is a top-20 player for sure.
On herself, Barty explains that she’s grown as a player and as a person, better able to problem-solve on court, thanking her team for their input. The night sessions have been amazing, though the weather isn’t Melbourne it’s Brisbane which is to say it’s hot, and on Keys she gushes about how nice it is to see back “one of the most incredible girls in the locker room”. Praising “Maddie” - another mate, obviously, who wouldn’t want to be her mate – for her charity work as well as her game, she explains how excited she is for the matchup – you and me both – then makes her merry way off. I could listen to her talk all day.
Barty meets Madison Keys next, and that should be an absolute jazzer – if Keys can let herself go – not a done deal – in a way Pegula couldn’t. Anyway, here’s Barty.
Ash Barty [1] beats Jessica Pegula [21] 6-2 6-0!
*Barty 6-2 5-0 Pegula I feel bad for Pegula because she’s been fighting all her life to get to this moment, and it could barely have worked out worse. Had Barty turned up with her A-game, what can you do. But in the first set, she played pretty much as badly as she’s capable of doing and still took it with a double break because Pegula couldn’t find any aspect of herself. In short order, Barty has three match points, and though Pegula saves one, a big serve and a desperate return that drops long finishes things.
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Barty 6-2 5-0 Pegula* at 40-0, Pegula serves a double ... then another. It never rains, but sometimes it pours so hard it makes your head bleed. Eesh. Pegula then nets a forehand, and her game has totally deserted her here – it’s lonely out there – then a forehand goes wide to give Barty advantage. In comms, they note that Barty is like Murray in her ability to make opponents play their worst, then Pegula nets another forehand and that’s eight games and four breaks in a row for the world no1. This isn’t nice to watch.
*Barty 6-2 4-0 Pegula I should apologise, though, if I gave the impression those aforementioned slices were unserious – verily they are not, they’re one of the best shots in the game. Anyway, Barty’s won six games on the spin and when, at 15-0, Pegula plays a good point only for her attempted winner to miss the line by fractions, seven looks imminent. Barty, though, swipes a simple net putaway long and follows it with a double – a glimmer for Pegula – but another forehand drops just a little bit wide for 40-30, then an inside-out forehand clips the net but refuses to deviate, yet another winner.
Barty 6-2 3-0 Pegula* Pegula is totally frazzled out there, which is understandable - she’s getting handled – but if she’d hit anywhere near her top level in set one, she’d be in the contest. I hate to say it, but I wonder if the occasion got to her, because she was broken from 0-40 in the first game, and in this one she finds herself 30-40 down having not forced Barty to do all that much. And shonuff, a succession of slices allow Barty to control the rally before, eventually, inevitably, Pegula nets a backhand, and the only consolation for her is that this’ll soon be over.
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*Barty 6-2 2-0 Pegula Barty is hitting much more freely now, getting first serves in and forehands into corners – just what you need a set and a break down. Still, at 30-0, Pegula times a return beautifully, a forehand down the line ... so Barty sends her next serve out wide, cleaning up with a forehand into the corner, then seals the game with an ace. She is very, very good at tennis (and numerous other things, including being a human being).
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Barty 6-2 1-0 Pegula* We return from the commercials with set two already underway, and this is a huge game for Pegula. If she holds, we might get ourselves a ball-game, but if she’s broken it’s over. At 30-15, though, she prods a tame backhand into the net, and she just can’t relax into thing at all; she’s waiting to lose. So at 30-all, Barty leaps into her, and though she reads the direction of an overhead, her attempted pass down the line strays marginally wide. I hate to it, but this break point might as well be match point ... and Pegula saves it with a first-serve and forehand, only to cede another when Barty hits the baseline with a slice and she can only net. Here comes break point number two ... and Pegula saves it with a backhand down the line! She only hit two winners in set one, a totally unsustainable state of affairs, especially when you combine it with the number of unforced errors, another one of which hands over another break point, saved with her first ace of the match. Barty then catches the top of the net with another backhand slice and again, Pegula nets her volley – she’s got a real hands issue – and when she picks out Barty with an overhead, she’s forced to chase a beautifully measured lob then hoist consecutive moon-balls, the second of which Barty hammers into the corner. This feels extremely did.
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*Barty 6-2 Pegula Poor old Jessica. Suddenly, Barty finds some first serves and Pegula, knowing she’s cooked, can do nothing about it. At 40-0, Barty seals the set with an ace, and I don’t think this is going to get more competitive I’m afraid.
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Barty 5-2 Pegula* If Pegula can just up her level she can make a match of this, and she should be taking confidence from Barty’s struggles. But she’s struggling too, hitting a forehand long having been handed 30-0, then comes in again and can’t dig a passing shot out of her tootsies. Gosh, why is she doing this? Pegula comes in again, nets a volley, and Barty has a point for a double break ... which she seizes, a backhand slice eliciting a backhand into the net. Barty is too good to play much worse than this, and yet she’s cruising to the first set!
*Barty 4-2 Pegula Barty just can’t get going, struggling to make any first serves, and a poor forehand gives Pegula 15-30. It’s odd, because she’s getting chances without playing well – I doubt that’s something she anticipated – but a tremendous second-serve draws Barty level and she quickly closes out.
Barty 3-2 Pegula* At 15-0, Pegula slaps down a double, and at 30-15 she goes long on the forehand. She’s a bit eager, I think, blazing at every half-chance lest Barty finish the point if she’s patient. We end up at deuce and Barty dictates the next rally, but goes marginally wide with a forehand that just drops over the sideline, then a return flies long and Pegula is still in this set.
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*Barty 3-1 Pegula Barty opens the game with an ace, and we learn that it’s the first of the match – I guess Pegula got fibres on the two I called in her previous service-game, but I’m not at all sure. But oh look, there’s another one, down the middle for 30-15, while our commentary team praise Pegula for having a “minted” dad – he owns the Buffalo Bills – and not being a layabout. Seriously. At 30-all, she whacks a forehand wide, then at 40-30 Barty goes big on a second serve and misses; can Pegula capitalise? Er, no. An impeccable point from Barty follows: big serve, big forehand, then another big forehand, cross-court on the volley from near the back, for a clean winner. But then she misses another so we return to deuce, and Barty clips the top of the net with another forehand, the ball dropping out for her 12th unforced error of the match! Break point! Pegula gets a second serve to go at too, but stepping in, she’s so eager to attack she rather swipes at her forehand, taking it early and netting. Barty, though, isn’t as sharp as she was on Sunday, struggling to find first serves and struggling to get her forehand going, so she needs a couple of advantages to secure the game, but secure the game she does. Still, some hope for Pegula there - or some despondency that she missed her chance, depending on how you look at things.
Barty 2-1 Pegula* Pegula plays a decent first point for 15-0 but then nets a forehand – Barty is getting big on her here, forcing her to rush her shots. If she doesn’t relax soon, she’ll be back in the locker room, but at 30-15 she gets lucky when she comes in again and Barty surprisingly misses the pass, eventually holding to 30. She’s really struggling with Barty’s variety of spins and angles.
*Barty 2-0 Pegula Barty begins with an ace and follows it with a service winner, then a good forehand return onto the baseline gives Pegula a sniff. A very minor sniff, a quick point followed by a booming ace down the T consolidate the break, and this is going exactly as expected.
Barty 1-0 Pegula* Excellent start from Pegula, who reads Barty’s forehand to hit a cross-court winner for 30-0. Then at 40-0 she opts to come in – not sure about that one, Jess old mate – and nets then, when Barty comes in she hooks a pass wide. From nowhere, she’s put herself under pressure and shonuff when she’s invited in again, she nets a simple forehand putaway. Barty is into this now and soon has advantage – Pegula’s started missing first serves – then Barty surprisingly dumps a backhand. Already, this seems like a pivotal game, and a big forehand into the backhand corner allows Barty to clean up at the net, then Pegula nets a backhand and that’s the break. She’ll be wondering, already – and rightly so.
Pegula won the toss and wasn’t sure what to do, but eventually opted to serve and here we go....
While that Nadal match was going on, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis were causing a bonzer storm on Court, beating Puts and Venus, the number 6 seeds, in the men’s doubles. They’d already sorted Mektic and Pavic, the number 1 seeds, and meets Zeballos and Granollers, the three seeds, in the semis.
Here come our players...
I was delighted to see Madison Keys beat Barbora Krejcikova earlier today. Not because I’ve anything against the latter, but the former’s renaissance is just so affirming. She’s got so much talent, and I’m hoping that she’s finally found the mental equilibrium to realise it to its fullest extent. The last time she went deep in a major, at the 2017 US Open, she meekly subsided in the final, losing 3 and 0 to her mate, Sloane Stephens. She meets the winner of Barty v Pegula in the last four, and if she could win that – admittedly a monstrous conditional – I’d fancy her to see off whichever of Collins, Cornet, Swiatek or Kanepi she met in the final.
In the Europsort, er ... cube, they’re saying that they don’t see a killer shot in Pegula, who’s solid but not much more. I can’t disagree with that, and Barty would have to drop a 2/10 to lose this.
Rafa Nadal's epic #AusOpen win ensures at least one of the Big 3 makes the semi-finals for a 70th time in the past 71 grand slams.
— Darren WaltonAAP (@DarrenWalton369) January 25, 2022
The only time one didn't since 2004?
When Federer and Nadal sat out 2020 #USOpen and Djokovic was defaulted in the fourth round.
Just insane.
Just a little while ago, Denis Shapovalov fought, grunted and hauled his way back from two sets to love down against Rafael Nadal, only to lose his first service-game in the decider. I don’t know if it got big on him, or if he lost concentration, but it didn’t seem like a coincidence, and Nadal took the fifth 6-3. That will sting for quite some time, I shouldn’t wonder, and though I don’t think Nadal will win the thing, it would be typical if he did, taking advantage of Novak Djokovic’s absence and making the final by beating almost no one.
Preamble
G’day, g’avo and g’evening; whatever time it is, wherever you are, it’s Barty time. In a moment or two, one of sports most likable characters and one of tennis’ most brilliant players takes on Jessica Pegula for a place in the semi-finals of her home grand slam.
Barty is in terrific form and totally outclassed the also brilliant Amanda Anisimova in her last match, but in Pegula finds a player finding herself. This is already her best major effort – her best efforts in all four have come in the last year – and Sunday’s straight-sets win over Maria Sakkari was the performance of her career. So, you never know.
Er, OK, you probably do, but Barty is always fun to watch, and once the match is done we’ve got Mario Berrettini v Gaël Monfils which will be an absolute treat. Here we go!
