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De Minaur is just far too good for Van de Zandschulp and he serves out to love for a 6-1 set. Looking at his draw, the next-highest seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas, is already out, but the likelihood is that Jannik Sinner will be his quarter-final opponent and despite the slower balls they use in this competition, it’s hard to see how he can win that. But you never know.
Popyrin, who of course beat Novak Djokovic in New York, again forces Moutet to deuce before he holds for 3-2, and I’m tired on their behalf – I’ve just learnt “behalves” is not a word – already. Otherwise, Wei is on the board so now trails Paolini 0-6 1-0, and Musetti has broken Arnaldi back to lead 2-1 1-2. Oh and on Laver, De Minaur is serving for the first set, leading Van de Zandschulp 5-1.
Demon secures his 4-0 lead, while Paolini has bagelled Wei to lead 6-0; Arnaldi, trailing Musetti 2-1, leads 2-0 in the fourth – Katie Boulter is one when they’re finished – and Moutet is level with Popyrin at 2-2, those four games all going to deuce, I think, and taking more than half an hour all told.
De Minaur is one of those brilliant players – Tsitsipas, Berrettini and Rublev are others – whose weaknesses look destined to prevent them from ever winning majors. Brilliant scurrying and consistent hitting will, it seems likely, always be overpowered at some point, sometimes by less good players having their best day. On the other hand, the bigger lads – your Sinners, your Zverevs and your Alacarazes of this world – have the power to hit through those situations, winning enough free points on serve to be almost unbeatable by anyone but the other members of the elite. Still, though, he leads Van de Zandschulp 3-0 in the first and up 0-40 is a point away from a double break.
Ben Shelton (21) beats Brandon Nakashima 7-6(3) 7-5 7-5
He meets Carreno Busta or Majchrzak next.
Paolini is making short work of Wei so far, up 4-0, while Demon has taken Van de Zandschulp’s serve at the first time of asking for 2-0, and he’s being made to look a little wooden by the Aussie’s freakish footwork and speed.
Musetti, seeded 16, has taken the third-set breaker to lead Arnaldi by two sets to one; Shelton, seeded 21, leads Nakshima 7-6 7-5 6-5; and Popyrin and Moutet are locked into another brutal game, the clock ticking towards seven minutes when the Frenchman finally secures his hold for 2-1 in the first.
Yet more Italian excellence: Cobolli – a favourite of Coach Calv, our resident expert, who thinks he’s got the lot – leads Etcheverry 7-6. That breaker went to 10-8 and I’d not be surprised if we see a few more in a match that has potential to go on for epochs.
And another Italian, Lorenzo Sonego, has just gone in front against Stan Wawrinka – belieeeeve it’s taking a lot for me not to major on that match given we don’t know how many more times we’ll get to lap up the dishevelled Swiss – taking the third set 7-5. Meantime Popyrin finally secures his hold for 1-1 in the first against Moutet, and on Laver, De Minaur and Van de Zandschulp are under way.
Paolini, meanwhile, consolidates for 2-0 in the first, while Arnaldi and Musetti have just begun a third-set breaker. It’s quite something really how many excellent Italians there now are especially in the man’s game: Mario Berrettini beat Cam Norrie earlier today and there’s also Cobolli, Sinner and so on.
Moutet fights through a tough hold then forces Popyrin to deuce, swinging heavily top-spinning forehands; already, this looks like being a sapping contest both physically and mentally. The Frenchman is a an awkward customer, lacking power but not desire and running for everything before applying a tricky lefty angle. He’s also something of a wind-up merchant, but for now, he’s advantage down…
Paolini is so much fun to watch and she earns two break points immediately, and when Wei nets a forehand she leads 1-0.
Some latest scores:
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Musetti (16) and Arnaldi are level at a set apiece
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Shelton (21) leads Nakashima 7-6 7-5 4-3
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Bautista Agut and Shapovalov are warming up
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Sonego and Wawrinka are 1-1 4-4
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Etcheverry and Cobolli (32) are playing a first set tiebreak
So, which matches to watch? I’m going to go with Van de Zandschulp v De Minaur, Popyrin v Moutet, Arnaldo v Musetti and Wei v Paolini, I think – provided the various systems permit that.
Let’s begin with a result: Daniil Medvedev, seeded five, has survived a scare, beating Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej, a qualifier, 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-2. He meets Learner Tien of USA next.
Preamble
G’day all and welcome to the Australian Open 2024 – day three!
As ever we’ve all sorts for you in this evening session. Local favourites Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin both begin their campaigns, against the big-serving Botic van de Zandschulp and mercurial Corentin Moutet respectively, while Jasmine Paolini and Andrey Rublev also play.
And there’s more, so much more. Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima are mid-match, likewise Matteo Arnaldi and Lorenzo Musetti, with Ons Jabeur and Katie Boulter taking to the court when they’re finished; Roberto Bautista Agut meets Denis Shapovalov; Lorenzo Sonego and Stan Wawrinka are already under way; and so are Tomas Etcheverry and Flavio Cobolli.
Let’s go!
