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Swiatek breaks Lys at the first time of asking in set two and this is borderline cruelty; she leads 6-0 2-0, while Kasatkina has broken Navarro for -6 6-5 and will now serve to earn a decider! This is really good match that merits a third set, and I say that with no self-interest in my own entertainment whatsoever.
A fine forehand makes advantage for Kasatkina and then Navarro nets; a monstrous hold for the Russian, while the American might regret not going for more when up match point. She leads 6-4 5-5.
…but Kasatkina invents a lovely angle on the forehand, opening the court before finishing into the opposite corner. No sooner have I typed, though, then she must go again, this time saving herself with a big backhand and wel despatched overhead.
Kasatkina nets a forehand, and at advantage, Navarro has another match point…
On Cain, Navarro – up 6-4 5-4 – leathers a leaping backhand winner to make 30-all on the Kasatkina serve, and moves two points away from victory. And though the Russian then does really well to set up and execute an overhead, two further stunning passes mean she’s match-point down; a netted forehand return saves it for her.
Ben Shelton (21) beats Gaël Monfils 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 1-0 retired
It had to happen. Monfils has done an incredible job, beating Mpetshi Perricard, Altmaier and Fritz– this was a great contest until injury intervened – but no mas. He and Shelton share a lovely moment at the net – will we see him again here? Let’s hope so – but it’s the American who moves on to beat Lorenzo Sonego in the last eight, in what’s a colossal opportunity for both.
To the surprise of absolutely no one, probably not even Daria Kasatkina, Navarro soon makes 15-40, then a long backhand restores parity at 4-4 in set two. My sense is that the American will, at some point, do the necessary as the nastier, more reliable competitor. Meantime on Laver, Swiatek sees out another bagel set, leading Lys 6-0, while on Court, Shelton has broken Monfils for 2-1 1-0.
On Cain, Kasatkina has turned it up, hitting more aggressively from the back and Navarro doesn’t respond, broken for 3-4 in the second. But as I type, a beautiful forehand pass, hooked cross, gives her 0-15. These two are really well-matched.
Meantime on Court, the tune of the championships is in full swing, Monfils having nipped off for a break.
You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear, oh, woah
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear, oh, woah.
Prescient even now.
Swiatek is all over Lys now, up 4-0 in no time at all while Kasatkina is fighting hard not to lose her serve again, saving a break point before Navarro swipes a backhand wide. The American leads 6-4 3-3.
Shelton makes 6-2 and looks to have found his rhythm again his injured opponent, opening body to paste an inside-out forehand winner that breaks the sideline, and he leads 7-6 6-7 7-6. It’s incredible that Monfils is still going.
Navarro is just a bit too solid and a bit too nasty for Kasatkina, I think, breaking her back to lead 6-4 3-2.
Back on Court, Shelton leads Monfils 4-2 in their third-set breaker and if he sees it out, might the Frenchman retire? I could see him convincing himself he’s good for one more set, but two?
Lys starts well, narrowly missing a backhand down the line that would’ve given her a break, before Swiatek secures her hold through deuce. She’s never gone further than the semis here, which is in some way surprising – the balls bounce slower and lower than on other hard courts, meaning the surface is more clay-like than at Flushing Meadow, where she won in 2022. And though, in 2023, it took Elena Rybakina to beat her in Melbourme, last term it was Linda Noskova. I’d be surprised if she got past Coco Gauff or Aryna Sabalenka, likely final opponents, but she’s got a good chance of getting there given standing in her way are Kasatkina or Navarro, then Svitolina. She breaks immediately for 2-0.
It’s busy in Sydney too…
Monfils is a total freak of nature, barely able to run and yet giving Shelton plenty. His anticipation is incredible – his younger, fitter opponent is really struggling to keep the ball away from him – and we’re at 5-5 in set three, the first two having been split in tiebreaks.
Eva Lys, by the way. She was sitting on the physios couch having been beaten in the final qualifying round by our old friend, Destanee Aiava, then got a message that Anna Kalinskaya had pulled out and she was on court in 10 minutes. Three wins later, here we are: She’s on Laver playing a night session against the no 2 seed, and she wins the first point of the match on return.
Kasatkina breaks Navarro in the first game of set two then fights back from 0-30 to secure her consolidation. This is a really good contest.
On Laver, Lys and Swiatek are out.
Meantime on Court, Gael Monfils, now 38, serves at 1-1 3-4 against Ben Shelton, but he’s hurt a leg and isn’t moving freely. He’s doing a decent job of hanging in there and holds for 4-4, but I’m not sure he can win from this position.
On Cain, Navarro rushed into an early lead but Kasatkina fought back and now serves at 4-5 in the first and, as I type, finds herself down 0-40; Kasatkina then flaps long, and the American takes a topsy-turvy, 41-minute first set 6-4.
Preamble
G’day one and all and welcome to the Australian Open 2025 – day nine, evening sesh!
It’s as misty-moisty Monday morning – in north London, at least – but rich light emanates from Melbourne Park. It beginss with Eva Lys v Iga Swiatek, continues with Alex Michelsen v Alex de Minaur, and also takes in Gael Monfils v Ben Shelton and Daria Kasatkina v Emma Navarro.
Let’s go!
