Australian Open 2022, Day 5, Tennis Highlights: Nadal, Azarenka and Barty Win; Osaka Crashes Out

Rafael Nadal has advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over No. 28-seeded Karen Khachanov.

Nadal, aiming for a men’s record 21st Grand Slam singles title, was facing his first seeded opponent and dropped his first set of the tournament.

The sixth-seeded Nadal struggled in the third set when the 6-foot-6 Russian broke to go up 3-1 before taking the set in 57 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

But the 35-year-old Nadal quickly regained control in a dominant fourth set, twice breaking the Olympic silver medalist.

Nadal shares the men’s record of 20 singles titles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic, a nine-time champion at Melbourne Park, couldn’t play after having his visa canceled for failing to meet Australia’s strict COVID-19 vaccination regulations. Federer is skipping the Australian Open while he continues his recovery from injury.

The dream is still alive ✨

Sania Mirza said she hopes to win a few more trophies before she retires and asked for forgiveness from her fans for making the decision.

“So I’m so looking forward to the season as a long year. We’re only in January and everybody got really emotional yesterday and made me emotional as well. I didn’t mean it. India, I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean to make everyone so sad. But yeah, I am looking forward to actually trying to win some trophies before I stop,” she said.

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Noami Osaka has been knocked out…

Defending champion Naomi Osaka was knocked out of the Australian Open after losing to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the third round.

The 20-year-old Anisimova saved two match points in the third set at Margaret Court Arena ahead of the tiebreaker and ended the match with an ace. She hit 46 winners to Osaka’s 21.

Anisimova built a 3-0 lead in the 10-point tiebreaker and went up 9-5 with a forehand winner into tight space down the line.

Anisimova double-faulted twice in the first game of the match to hand the 13th-seeded Osaka an early break. But she hit 15 winners in the second set and broke to go up 3-1 on a backhand drop shot with Osaka caught at the baseline.

She will next face top-ranked Ash Barty in the fourth round.

Seventh seed Italian Matteo Berrettini battled against the fast-rising Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz to emerge victorious 6-2, 7-6(3), 4-6, 2-6, 7-6(5).

Third seed Alexander Zverev, on the other hand, eased past Radu Albot 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to make it into the second week.

Pablo Carreno Busta beat Sebastian Korda 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-3, which means there’s no American left in this half of the draw.

Canadian star Denis Shapovalov overcame 23rd seed Reilly Opelka 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the fourth round.

Both the women’s singles match left for the day – Ash Barty vs Camila Giorgi and Amanda Anisimova vs Naomi Osaka – start at 1.30pm IST. Osaka took the first set 6-4 but trails in the second set. Barty is leading in the first set.

Rafa Nadal will take on Russian Karen Khachanov at 3.40pm IST at the Rod Laver Arena. Aslan Karatsev and Adrian Mannarino will face off at 3.00pm IST at the Margaret Court Arena.

Gael Monfils has been a much-improved and solid player since the turn of the season. He crushed Cristian Garin, a seed higher than him, 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-3 to make the fourth round.

Madison Keys came from behind to advance to the fourth round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2) win over Wang Qiang.

Jessica Pegula had a more straightforward path as she beat Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 7-6(3), 6-2.

Women’s Singles:

Amanda Anisimova vs Naomi Osaka Ash Barty vs Camila Giorgi

Italian 25th seed Lorenzo Sonego fell against the unseeded Croatian Miomir Kecmanovic, who made the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-5 victory.

Maria Sakkari registered a dominating 6-4, 6-1 win over 28th seed Veronika Kudermetova to make the fourth round of the Australian Open.

Paula Badosa had to fight harder against Marta Kostyuk but emerged victorious 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

Fourth seed Barbora Krejcikova came from behind against Jelena Ostapenko to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

25th seed and former Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka rolled back the clock to defeat 15th seed Elina Svitolina 6-0, 6-2.

Hello and welcome to News18Sports’ live coverage of the Australian Open. The action in Melbourne has already begun. Today, Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka, Ash Barty and Alexander Zverev are in action.