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Andrei Rublev is in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after a rollercoaster ride and ultimately thanks to a cracking 5-set win. The same applies to the US youngster Ben Shelton. Record champion Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, is hardly challenged.
The round of 16 of the bottom half of the tableau
- Novak Djokovic (SER/ATP 5) s. Alex De Minaur (AUS/ATP 24) 6:2, 6:1, 6:2
- Andrej Rublew (RUS/ATP 6) p. Holger Rune (DEN/ATP 10) 6:3, 3:6, 6:3, 4:6, 7:6 (11:9)
- Ben Shelton (USA/ATP 89) s. Jeffrey John Wolf (USA/ATP 67) 6:7 (5:7), 6:2, 6:7 (4:7), 7:6 (7:4), 6:2
- Tommy Paul (USA/ATP 35) s. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP/ATP 25) 6:2, 4:6, 6:2, 7:5
Novak Djokovic “Down Under” is well on course for his possible 10th title. The record champion hardly lost any energy in his 4th game and after a lightning win over local hero Alex De Minaur within 126 minutes he lost only one set at this year’s Australian Open.
The 23-year-old “Aussie” couldn’t get a single break chance in the first showdown with the 35-year-old Serb. The point ratio of 91:59 underlined the one-sidedness of the game, with the second match point Djokovic redeemed De Minaur, who was overwhelmed in every respect. Andrei Rublev as the next challenger should be a much higher hurdle.
Legend:
He’s already looking ahead to the next round
Novak Djokovic only gives up 5 games in his round of 16.
Keystone/EPA/Fazry Ismail
Rublev wants to ban his quarter-final curse
Holger Rune was missing a single point on his own serve in the decisive round and the score of 6:5 for the second quarter-final advance of his career at a major tournament – this was only his 6th attempt. After all Andrei Rublev countered both match points. In the ensuing match tiebreak, the Russian’s skins finally seemed to swim away – he was 0:5 behind.
However, Rublew, who had already revealed a set advantage twice, found the next answer. He fought back and in turn had two match points at 9:7. The only 19-year-old Dane did not let up again. Shortly thereafter, it was all over for him at the Yarra River: Fortuna, the goddess of luck, also played a major role in Rublew’s third match point, as the world number 6 scored the final point after 3:37 hours with a net roller. Thus, the Muscovite is in the last eight at the 3rd Grand Slam event in a row. Now he would like to finally take the next step in his 7th attempt at the quarter-finals – he has not yet qualified for the semi-finals.
The US Round of 16 fight between the underdogs was even more intense Ben Shelton and Jeffrey John Wolf. After two sets behind, the 20-year-old Shelton prevailed in 227 minutes – the first tiebreak won in the third attempt in this duel was the starting point of the turnaround. The world number 89 is in the main tableau of a major tournament for the first time ever and had not won a single match at this level before Melbourne.
Paul delivers the second US fairy tale
He also reached new dimensions in his career, which, however, had been going on for some time Tommy Paul. For his new personal Grand Slam record, the 25-year-old needed 3:19 hours of tough work and 4 sets before the resistance of the more experienced Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP / ATP 25) was broken.
In the quarter-finals of two unseeded players, it comes to the US cracker duel Paul vs. Shelton. For one of the two, the new major high will surely go one more round.
