Djokovic in straight but not easy

Novak Djokovic had not played unseeded Gilles Muller from Luxembourg prior to tonight's fourth round match, and so took awhile to come to terms with his wicked sliced serve.

In fact he never really was able to fully click into his top level return game due to the confusion created by Muller, the same problems which saw the dismissal of highly rated players Roberto Bautista Agut and John Isner in rounds before.

Novak did serve particularly well himself though, holding with relative ease, and that enabled him to study the Muller game in his spare time.

Muller with serve and forehand working nicely was serving at 3-3 when Djokovic took the first chance offered.  A couple of forehand winners helped him to 3 break points and the second delivered him the break to lead 4-3.

More winners and a love game to take the set, and Djokovic was on his way.

Much the same in set two - the top seed untouchable on serve, and chances against Muller extremely limited.  A break point in the seventh game and then 0-30 in the ninth were as close as Djokovic was until at 5-5 he found himself in possession of another break point.  He didn't like that one nor the next but he thought the third one was perfect and used it to put 6-5 on the board.

The set was off to Serbia to join the first and probably the third the way the match was travelling.

The best tennis of the match came in the third as Muller played at his highest standard for the night and Djokovic just kept being Djokovic.  There were actually break point chances for Muller - all four in the sixth game, where serving at 2-3 Novak had to dig himself out of a few holes before levelling at 3-3 with a forehand winner.

Pretty much plain sailing from there and the single break in the eleventh game, completed with a combination of forehand and backhand winners from the number one.

The match and quarter final spot went to Djokovic 6-4 7-5 7-5, but a scoreline understating the competitiveness of the contest.

Venus turns back the clock

The fourth round match on the night session on Australia Day between 6th seed Agnieszka Radwanska and 18th seed Venus Williams promised to be a ripper, with both players in sparkling form, Venus already a winner in 2015 in Auckland.

Radwanska has all sorts of shots available to her and has the capacity to craft a point almost before her opponent has swung her racquet to hit.  She doesn't have the brutal power of the Venus serve and forehand but that can only mean some wonderful exchanges throughout the match this evening.

The first game was required only to dust off the cobwebs and finish off the warm up which the girls regarded as a few minutes short.  Radwanska held her serve and after that the tennis began in earnest, with Venus striking her forehand with ominous authority, and showing no weakness on serve which has historically been a problem if she misses enough with her first delivery.

Games were 2-2 and Agnieszka so generous with her donation of ground strokes for winners up to this point - a long competitive set seemed as if it was in the process of being built.

After another hold each with more unforgiving forehands from Williams and some variable slicing and other things from Radwanska Venus struck in the seventh game.  Not that there was anything sudden about the strike - she had six chances to break, easy misses failing to convert the first two, and we experienced twelve deuces.  However, Agnieszka finally agreed to terms and Venus took the break and in return Aga the disappointment.

We blinked and it was Aga serving again - Venus had pulled out two aces and a sweet backhand to extend the lead to 5-3.  

Only five deuces this time but the result the same - Venus nailed the set on the third break point when a crosscourt forehand was too much for Agnieszka to handle. 6-3 to the 7-time major winner.

No one expected the sixth seed to just fade away without a response - what we didn't see coming was the nature of the reply.  After two games (the first another laborious affair, this time with Venus at the line) eventually ended with service holds to either player, Aga began her quest for set two glory.  

Of course it helps if your opponent makes a complete mess of their serve which is what happened in the third game, Venus winning the first point with a forehand and then missing the mark with her next four tries from that side.  Aga was effectively a spectator - a contented one too leading 2-1.

4-1 after a hold of serve and another break - Radwanska was playing to her capacity now, with winners from her backhand and forehand from all over the court, volleying and smashing with confidence and leaving Williams with few answers.

At 1-5 following three more winners and an ace from a smooth but savage Radwanska, Venus looked forward to the likely third set and stood firm to hold serve knowing that she would be at the line first in the decider should Aga win the next game.

And so it was - Radwanska levelled the match with a blistering second set win 6-2.

And as much as the wind changed direction sharply between the first two sets, it was more stark in its reverse as we entered the final set.

After breaking the Venus serve to lead 1-0, all the momentum appeared to be with Polands top tennis star.  However she failed to win another game,  winning a mere two points from her fourteen serves for the set.  Williams played well again but it was a sad end for both Radwanska and the match which had promised such a grandstand finish. 6-3 2-6 6-1 

Venus Williams continued her fine 2015 by entering the quarter finals of a major for the first time in five years.  She will play Madison Keys, 15 years her junior, so at least one American will feature in the semis.

Nishikori five in a row over Ferrer

Number nine seed veteran David Ferrer from Spain must be sick of drawing Kei Nishikori in big tournaments.  He met the fifth seed in three Masters events in 2014, losing each time, and to top it off lost again to the Japanese player at the year end tour finals.  Each match went to three sets so today's fourth round match being a best of five scenario could see Ferrer in with a good chance of turning the tables on Nishikori.

Ferrer won his opening serve and Nishikori faced break points the very next game.  He fought them off, ably assisted by Ferrer who double faulted to begin and end the game. 2-1 Nishikori.  Ferrer saved two more break points in the fifth game but was having a lot of trouble finding a way through the Nishikori defence and was making more unforced errors than acceptable for him.

More break points were saved in the seventh game but it couldn't continue forever and when serving at 3-5 Ferrer crumbled, unforced lapses leading to 15-40 and Nishikori throwing in a clean backhand to resolve the set in his favour 6-3.

At 40-15 Nishikori was about to claim the second sets opening game when Ferrer opted to interfere and break on the third attempt.

On the Ferrer serve the second of two break points was licked up by Nishikori via another forehand winner and games were on serve.

They continued to be on serve until 3-3 with Ferrer starting to connect better with his forehand in particular but still not as fluent as Nishikori who was finding it easier to hold serve apart from that earlier blip.

At 3-4 and 0-30 David Ferrer double faulted and three break points were transferred into Nishikori's account.  Ferrer took one back with a brilliant forehand into the corner just as good as a winner, but his next forehand was useless and the break was official. 5-3 Nishikori.

Nishikori won the second set 6-3 with the Ferrer backhand return missing its target.  Now leading 6-3 6-3 the number five seed could almost taste the quarter final spot.

The opening game of set three saw Ferrer hit a forehand long to give Nishikori two break points and Kei was delighted, celebrating by going crosscourt with a forehand winner and leading 1-0.  This lead was doubled when he held serve comfortably the next game.

Both players then kept a safe hold on their serves and it was only when Ferrer had to serve at 3-5 that alarm bells began to ring.

They rang even louder at 0-40 but Nishikori teased a little hitting one forehand into the net and another long before Ferrer found the net with his forehand and the match was over.

Kei Nishikori the victor for the fifth successive time over David Ferrer, this time 6-3 6-3 6-3 and into a quarter final at Melbourne Park 2015.

Serena survives another 3-setter

I predicted a couple of weeks ago that Spain's Garbine Muguruza would finish 2015 in the top ten.  A win over Serena Williams in today's fourth round match at the 2015 Aus Open would go a long way to making that come true.

Serena has been untouchable at times so far in her three matches but there have been some periods of vulnerability and if Garbine could take full advantage of these then her chances of an upset would be reasonable.  She did after all defeat Serena at last year's French Open. Their only other meeting was in 2013 here at Melbourne Park where Serena was the victor, but Garbine has advanced in the tennis world markedly in two years.

This match began slower than the previous in terms of exciting rallies and the like but there were occasional good (even great) shots played and in the fifth game the first break came, surprisingly at the expense of the top seed. Muguruza appeared too slick and placed her shots too cleverly for a slightly slower moving Williams and from 0-40 the damage was done, a down the line pass sealing the game.

Serena was definitely out of sorts and unable to cope with the weight and placement of the groundstrokes from Garbine and it came as no real shock to see a second break in the seventh game, several unforced errors from the Williams racquet.

Serving for the set at 5-2 Garbine was in strife at 0-40 but played inspired tennis to save all break points, one with an ace, before going on to out rally Serena and take the set 6-2.

For the third time in a row Serena needed to win from a set down.

Set two was much better from Serena but not straight away,  she broke Garbine in the second game only to lose her own serve in the next.  At 2-2 questions were being asked about the ability of the number one seed to handle the young powerful hitting Spanish player.  The serve of Serena held a big key and it did assist her as the game score reached 4-3 to Williams.

A break of serve enabled Serena to serve out the set with four huge serves, the first three being aces and the match was a set apiece.

Muguruza survived a testing opening game on serve and led 1-0 in the decider before the longest and most significant game of the match was played out before our eyes. Serena Williams had 6 break points against her and multiple points to win the game but on each occasion deuce would win out. 

Serena finally prevailed and at 1-1 she knew how important that was in the overall picture.  The pressure went onto the Spanish serve and Serena flicked a switch - suddenly break points were available to her as not all of the Muguruza shots were landing in court to the extent they had been.

Serena broke to lead 2-1 and held that edge until Garbine served at 3-4, another game pivotal to the result - should Serena break she would be serving for the match - that she eventually did and Gabine sensed her fate.

No issues on serve for the five time champion as she won through to the quarter final, but overall this was not a simple task 2-6 6-3 6-3

Domi edges Vika in thriller

Last year's finalist versus two time winner - poor Dominika, having to face dual winner Vika Azarenka in the fourth round.  Azarenka was always going to be the dangerous floater, unseeded due to a lengthy lay off through injury in 2014.  Her form in the Open has improved steadily, the win over Wozniacki most telling.

Cibulkova's pre Aus Open form was nothing special but she has lifted for the occasion with some impressive wins.

Today the match would be effectively an indoor clash, the roof on Rod Laver Arena closed because of rain.

Both girls settled well but after a long first game including several furious baseline exchanges, it was Vika who claimed a break of serve.  Both girls then held serve with high standard shot making and the contest appeared set to entertain. 2-1 Azarenka.

Dominika then went on a rampage breaking Azarenka twice and holding her own serve in the face of break points in the seventh game.  Her capacity to move Vika around the court at will and pass down either line was reaping big dividends and her 5-2 lead, though effectively only a net single break seemed formidable.

Attacking again, Cibulkova had Azaranka down three set points.  Vika saved two with tennis typical of that normally expected from a former number one, but the double fault was unfortunate and gave the set to Cibulkova 6-2 and also the right to serve first in set two.

The same start to the second set statistically with Vika breaking serve then holding for 2-0.  The difference was her confidence in handling the groundstrokes of Cibulkova.  Maybe the break could be maintained this time.

The further it went the better Azaranka looked - her serve was more reliable and stronger, better placed which wasn't allowing Cibulkova the ability to put as much bite on her returns. The third of Cibulkova's service games for the set saw Azarenka moving to the net and cutting off avenues to pass which helped secure a second break of serve and provide a 4-1 advantage to the Belarusian.

Dominika did the right thing at 1-5 by holding serve strongly to force Vika to serve for the set, and at 40-15 Vika appeared to have it done.  However never count the Slovak girl out - she played some wonderful shots to bring up break points, one of which she converted to pull it back to 3-5.

As it happened, the break worked well for Vika because if she had held, Dominika would have served first in the advantage decider.  Instead following the next game - a break of the Slovak serve - Azarenka had won the set 6-3 and would be serving first in the third and final set.  A cruel net cord at 30-30 did no favours for Dominika in that final game of the second set.

Azarenka began with the opening two games of set three and once again Cibulkova had to fight hard to break back.  She did through lots of running and great commitment and execution.  She then had a number of chances to break the Azarenka serve in the key fifth game which lasted it seemed a lifetime.  Dominika seemed to find the net every time she had the advantage and finally Azarenka decided to put a stop to the silliness and just win the game.

At 3-3 another game of changing fortunes, this time on Vika's serve, and finally at the last of the deuces Dominika surprised the crowd and certainly Vika by pulling a drop shot from the clouds to set up break point which she duly converted.  Cibulkova 4-3 and serving next.

A beautiful passing shot down the line plus another cross court to finish a splendid rally consolidated the break for Cibulkova and Azarenka had to hold serve to stay alive.

At 30-30 a wonderful return from Dominika put her in control of the point which she won to give her match point and once Vika put the final shot of the match into the net, Dominika had advanced to another quarter final at Melbourne Park.

6-2 3-6 6-3 in one of the highest quality matches so far this tournament.

Murray removes Dimitrov in style

The second night match promised a lot with 6th seed and three time finalist here, Andy Murray clashing with one of the new breed in the top ten Grigor Dimitrov.  The paths to the fourth round encounter were contrasting - Murray yet to drop a set and Dimitrov taken to four by Lacko in the second round and needing to come from two sets to one behind against Baghdatis in the third round.

In the opening it was Grigor the proactive player introducing a variety of tennis to the table whereas Murray was content to play things as they rolled.  The policy worked for awhile for the Bulgarian whose 3-0 lead was helped with some Murray inefficiency and resultant service break in the second game.

Murray stepped his game up from here and a winning backhand set up a break back point in the fifth game. The match was 3-3 once Andy had completed another service hold, three aces as good a poker hand as he was going to have tonight.

The eighth game was impressive also with another ace and two forehand winners.  Dimitrov was holding serve too but less conspicuously. 4-4

Unforced errors produced two break points in the next Dimitrov service game and Andy chose the second one from which to convert, sending a forehand winner on a mission to take down the Bulgarian and allow the Scot the chance to serve for the set.

Murray lost just one more point en route to capturing the set 6-4, with another ace finishing the job.

Set two was full of entertainment and some of the best tennis played this tournament by any two players at the one time.  Murray had the early break for 2-1 but Dimitrov drew level 3-3 and then it was point for point, game for game until 5-5 when Grigor loss focus and Murray pounced for 6-5 and served for the set.

Dimitrov had Murray struggling at 15-40 but Andy was strong and saved the situation.  He couldn't deal with a Grigor volley however which set up another break point and Andy double faulted sending the set into a tie break.

At 2-3 in the breaker, Murray lost both his points on serve and Dimitrov had the distance he needed to carry on and take set 7-6 and tie the match at a set all.

Murray must have been spitting chips at wasting a golden opportunity to be two sets up.  He set about redressing the "injustice" by serving a treat in set three.  Grigor played well enough but could not find a way to penetrate the Scottish serve.

Dimitrov struggled to hold serve in the fourth game then lost it in the eighth game after saving two earlier break points.  Murray now had a 5-3 lead and served for the set as he had in the previous set.

This time he managed the job to lead 6-4 6-7 6-3.

Dimitrov wanted a fifth set as did many of the crowd, and when the Bulgarian led 5-2 it looked probable. Especially with a set point on Murray's next serve.  However the sixth seed turned it around and won that game plus the next four to demolish any hopes of a Sharapova-Dimitrov double triumph at the 2015 Open.

Murray won 6-4 6-7 6-3 7-5 and a fourth final here for him is not a bad bet right now.  Dimitrov played a good match but lost most of the key points in dispute, an obvious area of improvement.

Halep stops Wickmayer run

Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer is a former top 15 player who this year equalled her best Aus Open performance by reaching the fourth round.  Anything extra would mean a huge upset because third seed Simona Halep is one of the favourites to take out the title, and is currently on an eight match winning streak in 2015.

The Belgian served first and survived a break point, eventually winning the game on the back of some good tennis, after a fairly average offering in the early points.  Halep's turn at the line was less dramatic and she took her form into the third game where the break occurred, and the Romanian led 2-1.

The break was consolidated with a love game including a forehand winner to start and an ace to finish.

An insurance break arrived after Wickmayer squandered 40-0, double faulting to increase Halep's advantage to 4-1.

Following an ace to give 40-15 Halep double faulted and two forehand winners from Wickmayer secured the first break of the Halep serve for the night and Yanina was back in the set.  At 4-3 Halep pushed to within one game of the set with some attacking shots to the Wickmayer backhand causing errors.

Serving to stay afloat Wickmayer enjoyed 40-15 until it became deuce where it was no fun, and much less when Halep took the advantage on two occasions.  Eventually serve was held with a backhand winner from Yanina. 5-4 Halep.

Simona was in the mood for second set action so she dismissed Wickmayer quickly racing to 40-0 with a forehand winner and two aces.  She only needed one set point and so led 6-4.

Set two began similarly to the first with Wickmayer dropping serve in the third game - she broke straight back this time though and games were 2-2.

Simona Halep won the remaining games with the application of her range of skills proving overwhelming for Wickmayer who just could not win enough points off her own first serve. 

The Halep backhand stretch down the line winner in the seventh game to set up break point was memorable.

The third seed won comfortably 6-4 6-2 and her quarter final opposition would come in the form of Ekaterina Makarova, one of two Russians in the final eight.