Key events
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 7-6 [7-3], 0-0): We’re back locked at one set apiece on Rod Laver Arena! With the crowd at fever pitch before the crucial serve, then exultant after Cerundolo returns it long, a well below par De Minaur drags himself level. This match has already been going for almost two-and-a-half-hours, and we’re still miles away from a conclusion.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 6-6 [6-3]): Errors continue to pour from both sides of the net as tension, fatigue, and lack of form continues to tell. A long rally at 5-3 shapes as pivotal, so when Cerundolo finds the net the crowd erupts. De Minaur has three set points.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 6-6 [3-2]): Cerundolo pulls a backhand wide for an early mini-break to De Minaur, who holds the first point on his serve, but the Argentine is soon back in the picture after easily coming out on top in a battle of backhand slice drop shots. Cerendolo then hits four shots that are worthy winners, but de Minaur’s defence is extraordinary, until the fourth of the missiles cannot be reached. More superb defence earns De Minaur a second mini-break after Cerundolo pounded his way to an error.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 6-6): De Minaur misses an overhead on the opening point to send a ripple of nerves through the crowd, but they’re soon roaring in admiration after the eighth seed reacts with incredible reflexes at the net to flick an awkward net cord into the vacant court.
Cerundolo continues to pound the inside-out forehand winners to edge ahead in the game, but De Minaur digs deep to resist the Argentine’s power from the baseline and level at 30-30, then shows some firepower of his own, whipping a crosscourt forehand with everything he’s got for just his fourth winner of the set. An unforced error from Cerundolo completes the hold. Tiebreak time.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 5-6): Every game or two Cerundolo slips in a drop shot to bring De Minaur to the net, and it works to bring up 30-0, but also may be an indication he is trying to shorten the points.
30-0 becomes 30-30 but Cerundolo doesn’t panic, taking a half-volley off his toes at the net then crunching an unreturnable first serve. De Minaur will again have to hold to stay in the set.
On commentary, Lleyton Hewitt again voices his frustration that his player is hitting far too centrally. It has been a flat performance from Australia’s No 1 so far.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 5-5): At the change of ends, wearing an ice towel, De Minaur gestures to his box that he wants to hear more from then. He needs little support to race to a hold to 15.
I might be seeing things, but I wonder if Cerundolo is starting to feel the heat.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 4-5): Cerundolo doesn’t dwell on failing to capitalise on 0-30, racing to 40-0. Then there’s an unscheduled break in play to allow a spectator to receive some medical attention. De Minaur wanders over to his four-strong coaching posse to receive some instruction.
Following the resumption, Cerundolo loses rhythm, hitting long and then wide for 40-30, bringing the crowd back into proceedings. And that crowd is soon on its feet when De Minaur hits just his second winner of the set, driving a backhand down the line after a marathon rally.
Cerundolo goes long at deuce to hand De Minaur an unexpected break point, but behind a second serve the Argentine dominates from the baseline, taking advantage of the Australian’s conservative line and length to crunch a trademark inside-out winner to return to deuce. Both men exchange errors for a third deuce, then the 31st seed holds behind a rare powerful first serve down the T.
De Minaur will have to hold serve to stay in the second set.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 4-4): Serving at 0-15 the crowd tries to motivate the home favourite, but it’s to no avail, as De Minaur picks the wrong time to come to the net and is passed easily. He claws back to 30-30 with a couple of much needed first serves then Cerundolo dumps a second serve return into the net, and slaps a forehand wide trying to shorten a long baseline exchange. De Minaur dodges a bullet.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 3-4): Cerundolo races to 40-0 then holds to 15. For the first time in the one hour 40 minutes of this match there’s a bit of zip to proceedings.
Jim Courier thinks De Minaur might need to change his racket to one with tighter strings. He’s observed the Australian steering groundstrokes as a consequence of the way the balls are reacting in the heat, arguing players should never alter their stroke, only their equipment.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 3-3): A welcome love hold for De Minaur.
Elena Rybakina (6) beats Dayana Yastremska (32) 6-3 6-4
The 2023 Australian Open finalist is through to the fourth round in style. The sixth seed has dropped just 12 games in her three matches so far.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 2-3): De Minaur looks a million bucks on his way to 0-30, then gives both points back sloppily, and a third for good measure with a wild forehand. Cerundolo holds.
This remains a match a long way below the highest of standards.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 2-2): De Minaur is still struggling with his ball toss, failing to find cheap points on his serve. Cerundolo’s errors look to make this a moot point at 40-15 but De Minaur is soon back at deuce after the Argentine dictates terms from the back of the court and then profits from a risky drop shot. The Australian then drives a backhand into the net for break point – which CERUNDOLO TAKES – De Minaur unable to put away a backhand smash at the net and finding himself out of position.
Back on serve in the second set.
Meanwhile, Gael Monfils has levelled things up at one set apiece against Taylor Fritz (4) on MCA.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7, 2-1): Lleyton Hewitt, in De Minaur’s coaching box courtside, wants his man to be braver on the Cerundolo second serve, and play fewer rallies down the middle of the court. The eighth seed does exactly that to move up 0-30, but then fails to dictate terms on a second serve to allow Cerundolo back in.
The Argentine goes wide with a backhand crosscourt to gift a couple of break points, the first of which is saved with a slanting first serve, the second with another punishing inside-out forehand, the consequence of De Minaur going into his shell once again and sending baseline groundstrokes through the centre of the court.
The 31st seed should see off the game but fails to put away an open court gimme at Advantage, so we go to a second deuce. This time De Minaur’s centre of the court slugging pays dividends as Cerundolo is the first to blink, setting up a third break point. And this time he gets it! Another unremarkable baseline exchange, another Cerundolo unforced error.
We’re going to be on RLA for a long long time this afternoon.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7, 1-1): That’ll do De Minaur’s confidence the power of good. A quick hold to 15 off the back of Cerundolo missing his mark on four separate occasions.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-7 0-1): A third simple hold in a row for the Argentine, this time to love. De Minaur needs to find something, fast.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-7 0-0): It’s nervy from both men to 15-15, then De Minaur benefits from Cerundolo hitting the net trying to shorten a baseline exchange with a drop shot. It’s soon 30-30 with De Minaur hitting his 27th unforced error of the set, then Cerundolo creates set point with a forehand winner. AND FOR THE SECOND GAME IN A ROW DE MINAUR DOUBLE FAULTS ON BREAK POINT!
Francisco Cerundolo takes the opening set off Alex De Minaur. That was not a demonstration of elite tennis, and it took over an hour of energy sapping play. Australia’s eighth seed has it all to do.
Eva Lys beats Jaqueline Cristian 4-6 6-3 6-3
The lucky loser’s magical Australian Open continues with Eva Lys through to face Iga Swiatek in the fourth round.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-6): Another simple hold to 15 for Cerundolo, and now De Minaur is serving to stay in the set.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-5): Both players continue to look edgy at 15-15 but a long, conservative rally is punctuated by a magnificent sliced backhand from De Minaur that barley bounces after gripping the court. Cerundolo digs deep for 30-30 then unfurls a rare clean winner, passing on the backhand for break point. Another nervy rally, with both men occupying the centre of the baseline, ends tamely with the Argentine passing the ball into the net.
He makes up for it soon afterwards, opening his body to hit his favourite shot – the inside-out forehand – which is too powerful for De Minaur to set up a second break point. And the Australian double faults. Cerundolo breaks back! Yikes! This is a ropey old dogfight.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (5-4): A rare brisk routine hold to 15. De Minaur will have to serve for the set.
Todd Woodbridge is doing an excellent job on the broadcast explaining how De Minaur’s ball toss is causing him difficulties this afternoon. Between them this pair have landed just 28/71 first serves.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (5-3): De Minaur collapses from 40-15 to deuce before peeling off a fourth ace. Cerundolo responds with a trademark forehand inside-out winner. A third deuce eventuates when the Australian sends a backhand wide, and a fourth when he sends a backhand long. A blistering backhand winner down the line hands Cerundolo a break point, but deuce five follows quickly after as the eighth seed lands a rare first serve. Still De Minaur cannot see the job through, larruping a forehand long for deuce six. And this time he holds! The 31st seed returns tamely, then, after dictating terms from the baseline, executes a gettable drop shot that De Minaur is onto in a flash.
Sheesh, this is a slog. Alex Michelsen, awaiting the winner, is not quaking in his boots.
Daria Kasatkina (9) beats Yulia Putintseva (24) 7-5 6-1
Three pretty quick straight sets wins in a row for the ninth seed. She’s through to face the three-set specialist Emma Navarro (8) in round four.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (4-3): The rallies are starting to flow more freely now, which is working in De Minaur’s favour. The Australian is hitting harder and more precisely on both wings, moving Cerundolo around.
The Argentine has to grind to 30-30, mostly as a consequence of his ghastly first serves, then he finds a clean inside-out forehand winner after De Minaur gets too narrow. Another missed first serve allows De Minaur to force deuce, but the eighth seed hits a backhand into the net from a position of strength. Cerundolo fails to serve out, slapping a routine forehand miles long, for deuce No 2. But he drags himself over the line, somehow, with De Minaur conceding consecutive points despite dictating both rallies.
The 31st seed has landed just 7/27 first serves!
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (4-2): De Minaur consolidates the break – and in some style. A nondescript game meanders to 40-15 then the Australian pounds a monstrous crosscourt forehand that whizzes past an opponent yet to feel such heat this afternoon.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (3-2): Cerundolo’s serving woes from the far side return as he gifts De Minaur 0-30. Then the point of the match so far unfolds in the Australian’s favour as he defends resolutely on the backhand side, sliding and stretching to dig out a slice, forcing his opponent into an extra shot, one that ends up in the net. He can’t convert the first of two break points as Cerundolo just gets away with a drop shot, but the second arrives when the Argentine overhits a regulation backhand during a conservative rally. DE MINAUR UP A BREAK AGAIN!
Tumaini Carayol was courtside for Iga Swiatek’s demolition of Emma Raducanu.
Over the past few years of professional tennis, the sight of Iga Swiatek annihilating another poor, defenceless opponent has become as sure as the sun will rise. When Swiatek’s game is flowing and her mind is clear, the combined quality of her violent ball-striking, athleticism and unrelenting focus is so great that, at some point or another, she has rendered nearly all of the best players in the world spectators in their own match.
On Saturday afternoon at Melbourne Park, it was Emma Raducanu’s turn to endure such an unpleasant experience. Raducanu cut a lonely, solemn figure on one of the biggest tennis stadiums in the world as she was completely helpless in the face of a supreme Swiatek, who ruthlessly opened up her bakery to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win.
De Minaur* (8) v Cerundolo (31) (2-2): Someone might need to check the height of the net on RLA. De Minaur simply can’t serve it over the barrier at the moment. A fourth double fault at 15-0 invites Cerundolo into the game. At 30-30 you can sense the nerves starting to grow, but a rare solid first serve settles those. But not for long as the 31st seed dominates a powerful baseline exchange full of heavy inside-out crosscourt forehands to force deuce.
De Minaur cannot get going. Another missed first serve, another unforced error in a medium length rally and another break point to defend. A first ace of the day is a handy riposte, and it’s backed up by a heavy first serve to move to game point – and the hold arrives soon afterwards as Cerundolo clips a forehand into the net.
The Australia is 100% behind his first serve… but he’s only serving at 31%!
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo* (31) (1-2): Neither player has settled yet but Cerundolo holds despite double faulting at 40-15. The Argentine’s opening game ace is the only winner of the match so far. Just four of a collective 17 first serves have found their target.
De Minaur (8)* v Cerundolo (31) (1-1): De Minaur also struggles with the serving aspect on the far side, sending down THREE double faults of his own, including two in a row, to gift Cerundolo an immediate break back. An inauspicious start to the headline match on Centre Court.
De Minaur (8) v Cerundolo (31)* (1-0): A ropey start from the Argentine, beginning with a weak double fault then dumping a couple of unforced errors into the net to hand De Minaur three break points. He looks to be struggling with the sun during his ball toss at the far side of the court as we look at things on TV. Cerundolo slaps an ace to get on the board, but a medium-length rally ends when he hits a forehand long. De Minuar with an immediate break!
De Minaur and Cerundolo are just warming up on a Rod Laver Arena bathed in hot sunshine. The mise en scène is beautiful: the blue of the court, the crisp lines of the shadows of the open roof, the packed stands, and Cerundolo’s eye-catching hot pink ensemble.
Daria Kasatkina (9) has taken the opening set 7-5 against Yulia Putintseva (24). It is an even contest but Kasatkina’s forehand is proving the difference.
I’ll keep you updated on those matches, as well as a couple more that are about to get underway: Taylor Fritz (4) v Gael Monfils, and Elena Rybakina (6) v Dayana Yastremska (32).
But the focus will be on Australian No 1 Alex de Minaur (8) against Francisco Cerundolo (31).
Speaking of Putintseva (24) and Kasatkina (9), they are on serve in the opening set on Kia Arena.
While on Court 3, Jaqueline Cristian has taken the opening set against Eva Lys in their battle to become the unseeded outsider to face Iga Świątek in round four.
Emma Navarro (8) beats Ons Jabeur 6-4 3-6 6-4
Another American is through to the fourth round, this time in the women’s singles, with Emma Navarro prevailing in a hard fought contest with Ons Jabeur. It was the 2024 US Open semi-finalist’s third three-setter in a row. Yulia Putintseva (24) or Daria Kasatkina (9) await.