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Australian Open: Svitolina goes through, Dimitrov beats Kyrgios – as it happened

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No4 seed Elina Svitolina breezed into the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-0 win over the qualifier, while Grigor Dimitrov ended Nick Kyrgios’s hopes in four sets and will face Kyle Edmund next

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Sun 21 Jan 2018 09.13 ESTFirst published on Sun 21 Jan 2018 02.34 EST
Elina Svitolina celebrates after winning the first set.
Elina Svitolina celebrates after winning the first set. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
Elina Svitolina celebrates after winning the first set. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

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Monday’s order of play

The rest of the fourth-round matches take place on Monday. Here’s how they line up:

Rod Laver Arena (day):
(17) Madison Keys v Caroline Garcia (8)
Su-Wei Hsieh v Angelique Kerber (21)
Marton Fucsovics v Roger Federer (2)

Rod Laver Arena (night):
(14) Novak Djokovic v Hyeon Chung
(20) Barbora Strycova v Karolina Pliskova (6)

Margaret Court Arena:
(25) Fabio Fognini v Tomas Berdych (19)
(1) Simona Halep v Naomi Osaka

Hisense Arena:
(5) Dominic Thiem v Tennys Sandgren

Elina Svitolina speaks: “I’m very, very pleased with my performance. Being one of the favourites brings extra pressure but also gives me confidence. I look forward to the quarter-final [against Elise Mertens] and will just try to do my best.”

Elina Svitolina beats Denisa Allertova 6-3, 6-0

A sad way to end things for Allertova, who goes 40-0 up but still can’t shake Svitolina off. The Ukrainian hits two fierce winners to get back in touch and Allertova’s radar goes haywire. Svitolina gets her first match point, and converts with another winner drilled onto the baseline. All over, in under an hour.

First set: Allertova 3-6, 0-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Allertova keeps going for winners, knowing she stands little chance in rallies - but fires one an inch wide at 15-all. She hangs on in the game, and does nail a winning return for deuce. A mishit return, and an unlucky bounce off a net cord, sees Svitolina move one game from victory.

First set: *Allertova 3-6, 0-4 Svitolina (*denotes server) You get the feeling that after waiting so long to get out here, Allertova is looking forward to getting back off court. A double fault leaves her 30-0 behind, before Svitolina narrowly misses a winner down the line. Allertova tries to steer a volley into the corner but it floats wide, and Svitolina powers through the next rally, moving and hitting supremely well. Just two games away now.

Svitolina is firmly on course for the quarter-finals, where she will face Belgium’s unseeded Elise Mertens. The winner of that takes on either Carla Suarez Navarro or No2 seed Caroline Wozniacki, for a place in the final. It’s very much up for grabs.

First set: Allertova 3-6, 0-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server) A crafty drop shot halts a worrying run of lost points for Allertova, but Svitolina stays in control, hitting her fifth ace and angling a dropping volley perfectly to seal the game. Five games in a row.

First set: *Allertova 3-6, 0-2 Svitolina (*denotes server) These are difficult circumstances for Allertova - a first fourth-round match at a slam, having won six matches to get here, and coming on court just before midnight. She doesn’t have any answer to Svitolina’s power and is resorting to speculative efforts. It doesn’t work, and the No4 seed breaks to love.

Elina Svitolina is in control of this match. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
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Second set: Allertova 3-6, 0-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Allertova gets off the mark in the second set with a smashed cross-court winner that has Svitolina hopping over an advertising board. At 30-all, Allertova tries a drop shot mid-rally, finding nothing but net. A big first serve secures the hold.

Elina Svitolina wins the first set 6-3!

From 2-1 down, Svitolina has put more power behind her shots and broken her opponents’ slow, steady rhythm. Allertova now looks completely out of touch and quickly falls 0-40 down. Three set points, and the Ukrainian takes the first with a fortunate bounce off a net cord.

First set: Allertova 3-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server) After muddling to 30-all, Svitolina finds an ace but goes long on the next point. Deuce, and a chance for Allertova to break back, but Svitolina gets the job done as her opponent crashes an attempted winner just inside the tramlines.

First set: *Allertova 3-4 Svitolina (*denotes server) The No4 seed fires a serve back past her opponent with interest, but nets a presentable chance to pass cross-court at 30-15. Allertova holds as Svitolina scoops a slice just wide.

First set: Allertova 2-4 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Svitolina hasn’t had to do much against a nervous opponent, bustling along the baseline and waiting for errors to come. Can she consolidate the break this time? Yes, is the short answer, setting it up with an ace and winning the game as Allertova makes a mess of a tricky overhead smash.

It’s been a tough start for qualifier Denisa Allertova. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images
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First set: *Allertova 2-3 Svitolina (*denotes server) Allertova has already produced 10 unforced errors, and an 11th gives Svitolina the advantage here. An ambitious attempt at a winning return doesn’t come off, but a mishit from Allertova hands over another break point. The Czech is relieved to see her net-bound shot plop over the net cord, but a double fault, and then a snatched miss after the ball sat up nicely, allow Svitolina to break again.

First set: Allertova 2-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Svitolina hasn’t been able to build on that early break, against a player 126 places below her in the world rankings. She holds here, pounding groundstrokes from the back of the court and drawing errors from her opponent.

First set: *Allertova 2-1 Svitolina (*denotes server) Neither player looking too convincing on serve, and Svitolina makes light work of picking up another two break points. She sends a cross-court shot just wide, and a fierce body serve saves the second. Allertova is the more aggressive of the two players early on, and does enough to hold with Svitolina drifting too far behind the baseline.

First set: Allertova 1-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Despite being in contention to be the next world No1, Svitolina is relatively new to this too - her only two slam quarter-final appearances have come at the French Open. Allertova takes the first two points but Svitolina rallies, only to concede a break point with an underhit backhand. Allertova seals the break, stepping in off the baseline and stroking a forehand winner.

First set: *Allertova 0-1 Svitolina (*denotes server) Allertova, playing in the fourth round of a slam for the first time, will serve first. A few loose shots as she tries to find her rhythm, and Svitolina gets a break point. It’s saved, but Svitolina continues to look the stronger, ripping a cross-court winner and breaking as Allertova nets.

There was an interesting exchange at the net at the end of the match - it looked like both players had a lot of mutual admiration, with Kyrgios saying (I think) that Dimitrov can go on and win the tournament. Can he? Well? Let me know.

These are the moments that make our game great.

🤝#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Ak2AWGdtyo

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
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Grigor Dimitrov speaks: “Playing against Nick is always tricky, it’s one of those matches you have to lock in and take the chances you have. It’s frustrating playing Nick, you always have to be alert. Last year was a dream year and I’m trying to progress a little bit every day. Match by match we’re building up. I played Kyle [Edmund] two weeks ago, but I’m just focusing on my side, I’m happy to have played better today and hopefully I can again in the quarter-finals.”

Grigor Dimitrov wins 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6!

Kyrgios saves the first with an ace, and closes in to volley on the second - but Dimitrov lashes a winner past his outstretched racket! Grigor Dimitrov wins in four sets!

Grigor Dimitrov celebrates his four-set victory. Photograph: Xin Li/Getty Images
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Fourth set tie-break: Dimitrov 6-3* Kyrgios (*denotes server) Kyrgios looks to have the rally under control, but Dimitrov channels Djokovic, racing from one side of the baseline to the other to keep the ball in play. It pays off, Kyrgios netting a backhand, and Dimitrov senses his chance. A running forehand winner, and a spot of serve-and-volley, bring up three match points.

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Fourth set tie-break: Dimitrov 3-3* Kyrgios (*denotes server) Kyrgios doesn’t do enough off the Dimitrov serve, sending a return into the net and a forehand long, before winning a full-throttle rally with a switch of direction, whipping a winner into the corner.

Fourth set tie-break: Dimitrov 1-2* Kyrgios (*denotes server) The first three points go with serve, Kyrgios showing plenty of poise in a rally to take the third point and edge ahead.

Fourth set: Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-6 Kyrgios* (*denotes server) Kyrgios rattles through this service game, another ace setting up that third tie-break. Dimitrov won the first two, but that feels like a long time ago.

Fourth set: *Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-5 Kyrgios (*denotes server) Dimitrov romps through his service game, holding to love. Where was that last time? Anyway, we’re one game from a third tie-break.

Fourth set: Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 5-5 Kyrgios* (*denotes server) Kyrgios serving to stay in the match, and there’s not much I would definitively rule out from happening in this game. Kyrgios finds another corking forehand winner, and a booming ace - his 35th - to cruise to 40-0. He goes cross-court and finds the line for a routine hold, which is surprising enough in its own way.

Fourth set: Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 5-4 Kyrgios* (*denotes server) Is this it? Maybe not - Kyrgios is back to having nothing to lose, and takes two of the first three points. It’s Dimitrov’s turn to wilt under pressure, double faulting to hand Kyrgios two break points. He tells someone in the crowd to shut up, then slaps a winner down the line. Extraordinary stuff, but Dimitrov bottled that.

Fourth set: Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 5-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server) Pressure on Kyrgios as Dimitrov holds firm in a rally, and the Australian nets for 15-30. Another ace restores parity, and he scoots in to the net to put away a volley. Game point, and then he double faults, and blames it on someone coughing in the crowd. Another fault - and a second serve ace! The guy is undeniably box office.

He goes long, and drops a clanging eff-bomb. Deuce, Dimitrov outlasts him in a rally, and earns a break point. Another ace saves it. I have no idea what’s going to happen next - a poor choice of volley, that’s what, and Dimitrov floats the ball back into the open court. Break point. Dimitrov’s return loops into court, giving Kyrgios an age to line up a smash. He puts it in the net. Dimitrov will serve for the match.

Fourth set: Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 4-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server) A small section of Dimitrov fans make themselves heard as their man races to 40-0 on serve. A test coming up for Kyrgios - if Dimitrov can break, he’ll serve for the match. All of which is, of course, easier said than done.

Fourth set: Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 3-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes server) Back to the game, and Dimitrov’s coach Dani Vallverdu has grown weary of Kyrgios’ antics, saying he should have got a warning for thwacking a ball into the crowd a couple of games ago. Kyrgios holds here, not letting Dimitrov get a sniff of a break point this time.

@niallmcveigh Why do you think the prevalence of betting sponsorship and promotion not ring more alarm bells? Are there sufficient measures in place if some people end up getting addicted to it as a result? Perhaps more questions need to be asked.

— Andrew Benton (@thangnangman) January 21, 2018

I’m far from qualified to answer that question in full, but I do know from my heady days in ad regulation that gambling ads are allowed to dominate live sport as part of an agreement that they don’t advertise anywhere else pre-watershed. Whether that’s the best arrangement with so much live sport on these days, I’m not sure.

Fourth set: *Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 3-2 Kyrgios (*denotes server) Kyrgios played five brilliant shots and at least as many terrible ones in that last game, but the end result was that he held on. Dimitrov will be disappointed. At some point, he’ll have to stop waiting for Kyrgios to beat himself.

Kyrgios sends him wide and a forehand thuds off the net post. 30-all, and a net cord just goes against Kyrgios. Dimitrov lines up a volley, and sends it into the tramlines. Kyrgios just seems to have got under his opponent’s skin, and earns a break point after a breathless rally. Dimitrov saves it with an ace, and holds with a bold, looping forehand winner.

Fourth set: Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 2-2 Kyrgios* (*denotes server) A big wobble from Kyrgios here, slumping to 0-30 and double-faulting to hand over two break points - but two aces, fired with laser precision, get him off the hook. Kyrgios tries to wear Dimitrov down with that weird, static backhand of his, but resorts to an ace when that doesn’t work. Kyrgios admonishes his box for not standing up after that point, and then wafts a forehand long. How on earth does Dimitrov deal with this? Another ace, then a fault, then a Dimitrov mis-hit, and Kyrgios holds after one of the weirdest games I can remember.

All rise as one...#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/84twPDvHDX

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
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This very much also applies to the tennis, and pretty much any live sport on TV - in the UK, anyway:

Excellent TV coverage of England v Australia cricket punctuated relentlessly by shouty adverts for betting. These companies are all over sport, trawling to turn enthusiasts into gamblers.

— David Conn (@david_conn) January 21, 2018

Fourth set: *Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 2-1 Kyrgios (*denotes server) Dimitrov has maintained an impressive consistency on serve in the face of Kyrgios’s revival, and he holds here as a couple of speculators from the Australian fly wide, keeping the scoreboard moving.

Fourth set: Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 1-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes server) Kyrgios has noted Dimitrov’s lack of pace in recent games, an impudent drop shot setting him on his way to a routine hold. It also means Kyrgios has won 118 points to 117, and hit 59 winners to 52. It’s tight.

Fourth set: *Dimitrov 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 Kyrgios (*denotes server) Well, I didn’t see that third set coming. Dimitrov holds with minimum fuss as he looks to regain the initiative.

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