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Tennis

Tennis News, John Millman lights up last night for the Aussies in Round 1 of 2022 Australian Open v Spain’s Feliciano Lopez

by Sports Benches

It’s great to see another Aussie advance into Round 2 of this year’s Australian Open when John Millman nailed down Feliciano Lopez from Spain last night at Margaret Court Arena, he fired off well with an nice and easy first two sets.

It may not have gotten easier as this opening match-up goes on when Millman lost the 3rd set, but he already had a decent lead in front of him where he rebound after the break in the 4th set that is enough to secure the win (1-6, 3-6, 6-4, 5-7).

His next opponent in Round 2 tomorrow will be 3rd seed Alexander Zverev from Germany, it won’t be a easy again for sure but he has the whole country’s backing to extend his run in this tournament.

He played very well when Millman built an early lead with the first two sets bagged to his name, yes this tie gets challenging as it gets but Millman held his shape before he found the hometretch first which is all but done.

And Lopez would be disappointed wth the early elimination in Melbourne, he saw that 2nd set as his fresh start and began showed some fight against the Millman along the way that includes the 3rd set stage win. However, he didn’t have a good start & him being two sets down saw Lopez fell even further in the race, as his rebound later during this Opening Round tie was just backfired against such a difficult opponent like Millman.

#AustralianOpen #MargaretCourtArena #FelicianoLopez #JohnMillman #Australia #Spain #MelbournePark #Tennis #ATPTour

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2021 Australian Open News, Section 4, R4 Men’s Singles Game: Felix Auger-Aliassime v Aslan Karastev

by Sports Benches

The World No.20 from Canada Felix Auger-Aliassime fired off well in the 1st half of Stage 1 3-1. When Aslan Karatsev may have held the Canadian back a bit. Having fired back to desperately save his Stage 1 bid for the mini win. But was narrowly beaten to the punch by Auger-Aliassime with a three point gap. Auger-Aliassime wrapped up Stage 1 in just 39 minutes of play this afternoon. This score is 6-3.

Nothing much has changed with Auger-Aliassime held on the build up base that worked so well. Despite a little headstart Karatsev made after the 1st break. Auger-Aliassime however bridged the 1st & 2nd half runs this time too easy. With another productive stage to tie two mini wins up after just one hour of play 6-1. While Karasev still frustrated with a lack of feel on each run so far this afternoon. The Russian will need to find a solution somewhere to save his game.

Karatsev began to reach boiling point with a huge roar over his conversion play. He still has the ability to get off the mark having scored a point first. As well as the first half run that bounced back as it was in Stage 1. Where he lead Stage 3 for the first time ahead of Auger-Aliassime 3-2. Before Karasev was able to slow down his progress. As he denied Auger-Aliassime a straight sets route. With a stage win by himself after the 3rd set 6-3 that goes into Stage 4.

Auger-Aliassime however began to report the lack of middle ground this time on his end. Where the Canadian was blown away by Karatsev. Having found plenty of difficulties catching up in the 1st & 2nd half play. Before Karatsev blocked his chance to close out a win at the 2nd attempt. As Karastev won another stage to keep himself in the game. Despite a late challenge from Auger-Aliassime 6-3.

Both players are now tied 2-2 apiece going into the 5th & final stage of the afternoon. Karatsev would like to wrap it up with a decent comeback after the first two stage losses. Auger-Aliassime on the other hand can still turn his recent slump around. With just one more stage win needed to book a spot in the Quarter Final on Tuesday.

As this game just crossed the three-hour mark Karatsev still maintained his build up base momentum. Where he began to distance himself lead away from Auger-Aliassime. But the 20th seed from Canada however began to climb back 2-4. In a bid to spoil his comeback trail in the last minute. Before it was too little, too late from Auger-Aliassime. From a almost easy and then unsuccessful route in Stage 3 & 4 to an upset loss. As Aslan Karatsev dominated the 2nd half of the game out of nowhere. Despite a slow first two stages. And worked through it the hard way to get this job done.

The final score was completed in 3 hours & 25 mins: 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 3-6, 4-6. Aslan Karatsev made the Quarter Finals the conventional way via the qualifier in this competition. He was on the verge of being knocked out at the first attempt after Stage 2. By a tough opponent from Felix Auger-Aliassime. But Karatsev able to turn around with the 1st & 2nd half runs functioning together. From a 2% chance of winning at the time to 80-90% chance of winning after Stage 5.

While Auger-Aliassime dominated just the 1st half of this match on all cylinders. It looked to be an easy task to wrap it up before the two-hour mark after Stage 2. But the last half of the afternoon saw him falter. Before a lack of 1st and 2nd half consistency eventually bit back to haunt him. As his journey at the Australian Open comes to a close. Not the way how he was knocked by the Qualifer/World 112 seed from Russia. We do wish Auger-Aliassime the best of luck.

Karastev will meet either Grigor Dimitrov or Dominic Thiem in the 2nd QF game.

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Tennis Australia News, Section 8 R3 of the 2021 Australian Open Singles Game: Fabio Fognini v Alex De Minaur

by Sports Benches

Fabio Fognini and Alex De Minaur went side by side to kick off this game at Margaret Court Arena. So things went steady between the two. Fognini was the first player to pull the lead away from De Minaur past the halfway mark. De Minaur did close the lead to Fognini 4-5.

But De Minaur just did not have enough time to sort out his conversion play. After a slow first half run where he would like to fix up after the break. As Fognini wins Stage 1 6-4. Nothing much has changed going into Stage 2. Where Fognini still just ahead of De Minaur in a bid to tie two straight mini wins. De Minaur on the other hand reported a lack of feel in the 1st & 2nd half play. And it has been a frustrating night so far for De Minaur. With Fognini once again firing on all corners for the Stage 2 win 6-3. The 33 year old Italian just needs one more stage win to set up a fourth round showdown.

Nothing much unfortunately changed without the control of De Minaur. When the Australian No.1 seed alone searched all night on ways to hold down Fognini. The solutions were not there when Fognini pulled off another big lead away off De Minaur. Progress at last was finally made when De Minaur began to fight back. Where Fognini made two double faults at the first match point attempt. As well as unable to get over the net during the 2nd time of asking. But it was still a big enough lead from Fognini to close out the win. The final score was done just over two hours of play at 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Bugger for De Minaur who tied his best result of Round 3 twice here from 2019 & 2021. There is fightback and courage at last. But just left it so late until the last minute. Where he was struggling with the fire off & conversion play mightly. And that kind of little to no momentum will leave him isolated. With time eventually ran out against him to repair the Stage 1 & 2 losses. De Minaur though should take those weaknesses & come back better next time.

While Fognini has dominated this game all night to connect the 1st & 2nd half performances. And marry up all three stage victories in straight sets. Where he turned this Round 3 tonight into his 4th round ticket. He will now meet Spainard Rafael Nadal who just beat Cameron Norrie from England. Norrie was originally from South Africa & used to fly with New Zealand colours. The other game scores are 7-5, 6-2 & 7-5. Well there is no Aussies now in the Men’s singles section now. But Ash Barty is still the lone Aussie in the women’s singles where she will face Shelby Rogers from USA.

Day 6 now done at the Australian Open and the first of the five days at least without fans. We are missing the fan crowd/atmosphere & the Jim Courier post-game interviews. Just like NASCAR on NBC refused to have a theme song last year with nobody. But the organisers have to follow the strict Government rules. So we do not get sick. We cannot wait for Day 7 though tomorrow on Valentines Day. Before the finals week begins in the next few days.

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2021 Australian Open, Section 8 of R2 Singles Game: Pablo Cuevas v Alex De Minaur

by Sports Benches

Pablo Cuevas and Alex De Minaur fired off side by side with the game at Margaret Court Arena. Where they were both on the same page at 2-2 apiece. But De Minaur took the first stage win with a comfortable 2nd half run that distanced the Uruguayan 6-3. In contrary to Cuevas who only made little gains simultaneously.

De Minaur continued the foundations that carried on from a successful Stage 1 portion. It took very little time to get himself ahead in the points tally. Having checked the halfway point without problems. Before the Aussie No.1 wrapped up a productive 2nd Stage 6-3. With two set wins taken now from De Minaur.

While Cuevas still unable to find the feel needed to catch up to De Minaur. The 2nd half of Stage 1 was the starting point of his fall in this game. And nothing much happened to find the middle ground throughout Stage 2. But Cuevas finally began a way to hold him back immediately after the break. In a bid to deny him a 3rd straight sets win. And give himself a lifeline towards a possible 4th stage.

The progress was there when Cuevas got ahead of De Minaur this time. Having checked the halfway point first. Before he was one point away from winning Stage 3 himself 5-3. But the only weakness Cuevas unable to puzzle is the conversion play. And it is something he fell short in the end. Where De Minaur turned himself around after a poor 1st half of this stage. Before he was on par with Cuevas and narrowly passed him to wrap this game in two hours 7-5. The final score at Margaret Court Arena is 3-6, 3-6 & 5-7. De Minaur will now meet Fabio Fognini in the third round. The Aussie No.1 will have a day off tomorrow. Then he will resume on Friday v the Italian. In the hope of going into the knockout finals week starting on Monday.

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Tennis Australia News, 2021 Australian Open Section 3 of R2 Singles Game: Grigor Dimitrov v Alex Bolt

by Sports Benches

Another Aussie focus here at Margaret Court Arena in the Australian Open. With a decent fire off from Alex Bolt who opened his account. The momentum is there when Bolt reached the halfway mark 3-2. Just ahead of Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria.

It has gone side by side for most of the time though. When Bolt tried his way to shut down the Bulgarian. Having scrambled to touch down the stage 1 win 6-5. But Dimitrov tied Bolt ahead of the tiebreaker. Before he passed Bolt late during an easy tiebreaker 6-1 to go 7-6.

This time Dimitrov has improved the set foundations to kickoff stage 2. Not just an easy first half run to go 3-0. The Bulgarian able to bridge that 2nd half gap with a comfortable conversion. When he won the second stage 6-1. With one more set needed to win this game. While Bolt unable to keep up that momentum from Stage 1. Where Bolt was hassling Dimitrov back then. But unable to find the feel that was punished easily with another set loss.

Dimitrov came from a steady start on the same page with Bolt. Before he executed these conversions too strong against the Aussie in the end. Despite the two consolation points from his opponent in Alex Bolt. As the Bulgarian wrapped up fair and square here at Margaret Court Arena. This game was done in just under two hours. Just before the clock crossed just into midnight earlier today. The final score is 7-6 (6-1 tiebreaker), 6-1, 6-2.

While Dimitrov was super on all cylinders after stage 1. And his next opponent will be Pablo Carreno Busta. It was not the night Alex Bolt wanted to see out. Especially having to face the 18th seed from Bulgaria. He was able to see his weaknesses that almost held him down. After a decent fire off that Dimitrov struggled to launch. At least until the initial halfway mark. Before the pressure went back to Bolt. And unable to find to catch up ever since. As we wish him all the best after the Australian Open.

Night 3 was so thrilling. Especially when Nick Kyrgios was on the cusp of elimination by Ugo Humbert. After he lost the first two sets before Stage 4. But Nick saved two match points. It took within one hour to turn his game around going into Stage 3. And Kyrgios saved the game in style by the three hour mark. Nick will face Dominic Thiem from Austria in Round 3 on Friday. We now roll on to Day 4 here of Grand Slam Tennis! Stay safe out there with the scorching weather feel ahead.

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