2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

🎾

not terribly surprising but not a good rd 1 for males of greek descent -- tsitsipas & kyrgios out

lol at these competing hats
https://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0113%2Fr1437749_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=1140&cquality=40&format=jpg

Wow is that just an angle thing or is Kyrgios twice the size of that dude

Honestly thought Kyrgios was retired, does he just play the Aussie for old time's sake?

do any beloved ILXors have advice for streaming these matches on the internet for free...? i have exhausted free trials of espn and the tennis channel

Monfils, who became the oldest man to win an ATP title last week in Auckland (edging out Federer (Basel 2019)) takes down Mpetshi Perricard in four hours…and never faces a break point.

(And I don’t have any streaming ideas. I think I watched the 2017 men’s final live on a betting website? Paid a fiver to open an account, never went back, something like that.)

fonseca in straights over rublev o_o

I love Muchova's game as much as anyone should, but Osaka was playing at a damn near unbeatable level in the second and third sets last night. Reminded me of when Wawrinka would just start red-lining during his major title runs, and for sure the best Osaka's played since she started her comeback.

2:50am in Melbourne and Tien v Medvedev is still going.

Learner Tien wins it, 10-7 in the t/b. Outlasted DM, won majority of the long rallies. (Now to wait for highlights)

really great 5th set, tien had me standing and applauding in my living room

such mettle to come back from a 3rd set match point to win in a 5th super tiebreak

lotsa breaks back and forth but notably tien had to break meds at 5-6 5th set to even get to the match tiebreak

He lost three straight points to drop serve after the rain/roof break, right? (Had to go on BlueSky to figure out why the score was stuck!) And yet broke straight back. Some great teen performances this week.

xp!

tien/moutet to get to rd 4 !

Reading about it rn. Looks like men's US tennis is very much back. Lots of talent.

Svitolina-Monfils household had a great day! One of Monfils/Shelton/Sonego/Tien will be in the semis. Michelsen still going too.

Swiatek is just incredible. Wonder if she has a record for the most bagels she hands over to other players

That's why she runs that bakery. What's 6-2? Pretzel? Doesn't really work.

there was one epic point between Sinner and Rune

Djoko Alcaraz one set all.

Exchanging breaks, might go all the way

That was an insane rally from Djoko. Shame the man is the biggest cunt going. To serve for the 3rd set

Fucking hell. Even Alcaraz smiled at that and he lost the set

Djoko has driven home the advantage to break in the 4th set..

That bp is taking everything from Djoko.

Just serving great, is Djoko..

Insane rally for Alcaraz, eventually holds from that..

0-30..

2 bps. Alcaraz outlasting Djoko in the last couple of huge rallies.

Another incredible hold.

Just needs one more

One mp..

1 more chapter to his goat career, props novak

Yeah, just incredible how he has stayed more than competitive.

Truly the greatest.

Djoko and all, but, I'm always sad to see Alcaraz leave a tourney. He's capable of such entertaining tennis.

Guardian game by game has "Sinner bwats De Minaur", and I wonder which letter is wrong. A thrashing.

Curious thing about the Djokovic-Alcaraz rivalry is I think the favourite loses every time. No one expected Carlitos to beat Novak first time out in Rome, and I think he was underdog (if only slight second time) in both Wimb finals. Whereas he was favoured in that RG sf (when he cramped), Cincinnati (where ND was wilting in the heat), Turin (much better than Novak in the round robin), Olympic gold-medal match and yesterday.

Hard to know what to make of the semi vs Zverev. It's exactly the sort of match AZ would bottle, against a supposedly hampered opponent.

Keys won the 2nd set again Swiatek 6-1!! We are in the final set 2-2, 30-30

Fantastic. Keys breaks!

Lol got way overexcited as I just switched it on its on serve

Swiatek misses a smash and is facing two bps..

Holds. 4-4. Wonder if Keys will get another opportunity..

Keys has gone on to save 3 bps. This is great stuff

Some fantastic serving and hitting to hold

Swiatek missed a FH for the break too..has to serve to stay in it

Saved two of the next 3 bps but then a rally, and Keys decides on a drop shot and that's an easy pass for the break. Swiatek to serve.

Incredible from Keys. She did not back off and the pressure gets to Swiatek, who dfs.

Tie break

Swiatek is a nose ahead..6-5

7-7...just not giving in..

What play from Swiatek at the net!

this tiebreak has been incredible

Two great serves by Keys. She has a MP, what a response

She's done it!!

quite a match

kinda think she’ll get crushed by sabalenka but i’m happy for her

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jan/24/novak-djokovic-retires-hurt-from-australian-open-semi-final-after-losing-first-set-to-alexander-zverev

Because its Djoko: lol.

Though I wanted him in the final rather than Zverev :-(

Looking at the other SF and Shelton needs to break Sinner's rhythm with some drop shots and net play. Maybe go for broke on that 2nd serve.

Because if a rally goes beyond 10 shots he almost always loses.

That was a terrible game from Sinner. Shelton to serve for the 1st set

But Sinner forces a break...Shelton has got to get over that

2 set points on serve.. oof tuff for ben

Yup didn't get over that and its looking like straight sets now.

Hurrying home now see we are at the back end of the deciding set!

Keys' CP winning point is the only one I saw

Holy shit

Well done Keys!

kinda think she’ll get crushed by sabalenka but i’m happy for her

― voodoo chili, Thursday, January 23, 2025 8:12 AM (two days ago) bookmarkflaglink

even happier to be wrong!

Its taken 40 mins but Sinner finally lands a bp and is serving for the set

Just turned it on to win that. Yes!

Sinner has yet to face a bp lol

TB...last chance saloon for Zverev

lol that net cord

Sinner wins, there was a net cord in there but Zverev has barely troubled Sinner's serve xp real beauty

Beautiful.

He looked inevitable

"As Sinner comes to terms with another incredible success, there is a chance that he may not even be allowed to enter the tournament grounds at the next grand slam tournament, the French Open. On the eve of the Australian Open, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that the hearing for Sinner’s ongoing anti-doping case will take place on 16-17 April, a month before the French Open. Sinner was initially cleared of deliberate wrongdoing and he received no suspension before the World Anti-doping Agency opted to appeal the ban to CAS"

2026:

That Mboko - Saba fourth round clash should be good.

Iva Jovic seems like another new name for women's tennis. Took out Pasolini.

Really want Bublik to amount to something ffs.

*Paolini lol

tien/medvedev should be great

Dang Tiafoe just doesn’t seem to have it, huh

It’s maddening

lotsa drama in sinner/spizzirri wow roof closure may save jannik

36C. Aus Open may genuinely be the first slam that will be unplayable

Ha! I was just checking the weather station around the corner with this in mind: https://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60801/IDV60801.95936.shtml

Maybe it should eventually be squeezed into December or something. I think was decades ago. Summer starts gently in Melb. Unfortunately February is similarly prone to ~40 C spells.

36C. Aus Open may genuinely be the first slam that will be unplayable

― xyzzzz__, Saturday, January 24, 2026 10:27 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

Melbourne is also wreathed in bushfire smoke, so th air is barely breathable. It going to get worse this week

"at least it's a dry heat"

Learner Tien!

Bublik blew out. Means we need to talk up De Minatur before the inevitable crash!

it's boring to complain about the tournaments' low-effort YT channels, but they have zero doubles highlights up. none. fuck that.

Hilarious fluff. Prove me wrong etc

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2026/jan/26/alex-de-minaur-carlos-alcaraz-australian-open-quarter-final-tennis

That wasn't even written by an Australian! Mr Sleeveless pretty much immediately looks too good.

5-5!

Still loses 7-5.

Alcaraz breaks so that's it now.

Really sad read:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/27/australian-open-tennis-extreme-heat-melbourne

I kinda spoke too soon in the first set, which was pretty good value after all, but the overall trajectory seemed almost pre-ordained.

Looks like the temperature dropped from 40 to 26 C in the first hour of the match lol. It's endlessly amusing how much the timing of wind-changes dictates things in MEL: desert air vs Antarctic air etc. On top of that some regional temperature records were actually broken today.

Gee, I left the room for a second then... *Musetti* had apparently lost, inexplicably.

Up since 5:30 for other reasons, following the score app, saw the set score go black indicating retirement but it’s… not Novak. Jfc. I expect him to win it now. Further injuries to Sinner and Alcaraz.

I'd been enjoying going full 'Forza Azzurri!' etc. Oh well.

Really sad, but encouraging that Musetti was going to swat Djoko aside. Barring injuries he is the guy I expect will trouble Sinner or Alcaraz.

This on top of the Mensik withdrawal is tough to take. 90th min Ian Rush penalties in consecutive rounds from my PoV. And it’s the second time Musetti has retired in a Slam after leading Novak 2-0! Admittedly, as a teen at RG ‘21, he’d lost his lead and was getting streamrolled at the point of quitting. And the Athens final at the end of last year was also a prime example of just not finishing off Novak. Gah. On it goes.

Streamrolled!

One cheery outcome for Team Italia tonight, at least.

Pegula vs Rybakina got rather more interesting after the first match point!

Its gonna be an awesome final. Should go all the way. Rooting for Rybakina.

For all the depth in the women's game its actually the two best hard court players in the final.

The Tennis Letter
@TheTennisLetter
Aryna Sabalenka received a hindrance call from the umpire during her match against Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open.

Aryna requested video review.

The umpire says that she made a noise in the middle of the point after her initial grunt.

“You went ‘UH - AYA’… you don’t make the normal sound”

Eeek, didn't realise Alcaraz vs Zverev was a daylight affair. They seem to be talking about Alcarez developing, er, physiological impediments...

...Or indeed recovering from such impediments. So more of a cramp thing than a strain perhaps.

Thus is...not great to wake up to..

5 points this set now for carlito. zverev too solid

5-3. Saw off five deuces..

Surely Carlos breaks if Zverev has to serve for this..

Zverev to serve for the final

0-30

15-40. Its all Alcaraz, no problem

5-5!

Breaks!

Should win it from here; Zverev is such a loser

zverev serving to stay in the match now…

Starts with an ace. Too little too late

Lol

what a match

A ~2:30PM to 8:15PM shift without a proper break would be onerous enough in even the most sedentary desk job lol.

Don't think it will be a big factor tbh.

Twas apparently the third longest match in the tournament's history, 'sall. It least it was only moderately hottish.

'At least'

Dare I hope for Novak?

This is fucking me off

Intense Djoko rally for SP

Fuck this

Man won't die. On serve 2-2

Fuck me

Djoko to serve for it

One more mp

This on top of the Mensik withdrawal is tough to take. 90th min Ian Rush penalties in consecutive rounds from my PoV. And it’s the second time Musetti has retired in a Slam after leading Novak 2-0! Admittedly, as a teen at RG ‘21, he’d lost his lead and was getting streamrolled at the point of quitting. And the Athens final at the end of last year was also a prime example of just not finishing off Novak. Gah. On it goes.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 28 January 2026 bookmarkflaglink

On it goes

Another (minimum) six sets on court vs Mensik and coming back vs Musetti and he wouldn’t have been capable of this. But here we are. The perfect prep for a go at Sinner, who cannot win long matches.

Its insane really. Alcaraz should take care of him but who knows.

Does feel a little like karma for the 36 57 22 ret. vs Dimitrov last year.

Lol yeah maybe a little lucky when he was affected by the heat in earlier rounds (his opponent wasn't I think)..

Bit like the 2019 Wimb f (which I will never get over): Djokovic outscored in every category except BP conversions. Sinner won 12 more points across the match. AO site had a win percentage tracker (echoes of the NYT needle) that never had Sinner at less than 60% until the last three games.

yeah novak was either clutch or lucky depending on how you look at it.. the point about having gas in the tank from the last two “easy” rounds is 1000% otm

nice to get some dramatic semis after the rest of this tourney had been a snooze

Amazing clutch performance from Djokovic. He won just under 48% of total points. He won 27% of return points, compared to Sinner's 35%.

Both the TPW and Dominance Ratio are the most extreme of any major semi-final in the ATP stat-keeping era: pic.twitter.com/bZEW48Duls

— Jeff Sackmann (@tennisabstract) January 30, 2026

fewest % points won in a slam semifinal since 1991

Roof is closed..

Perfect start for Rybakina, firing on all cylinders. 2-0

4-2.

Rybakina has a beautiful 2nd serve too

Her first serves save 2 bps. 5-3

Rybakina fairly comfortable to win that 1st set.

Sabalenka in the match but she's grunting an awful lot to stay in it.

On the 6th deuce if this Ryba game..

That was some hold. Saved a ton of bps..Saba will have to keep that up.

5-4. Ryba serving to stay in the set

3 x sps!!

Poor game and we have a final set

And an early break for Saba. Definite dip in the last ten mins..

Vast grand slam final experience being made to count here.

Break back point negotiated..

3-0. It would take a Saba meltdown for her to lose this.

In the end, Rybakina hasn't done a lot wrong, but Saba struck close to her and strangled Ryba the moment she weakened.

Ryba played an amazing game to break back. Final back on.

Wow another break Rybakina!

From 3-0 to 4-3. Total flip, that game was full of errors.

5-3 lol

Saba stops the rot but Rybakina now to serve for the title

30-30..

One CP.

With an ace!! Awesome

Love her nothing celebrations. Its like she did nothing at all lol

Not sure what vision makes it overseas but I'm *still* chuckling inside at the "the trophy has made it's way all around the state" <cue corny footage of trophy plonked somewhat precariously into vaguely picturesque locations> part of the presentation. Like it's a freakin' Olympic flame. Bless.

But yeah, more crucially: Rybakina is more than a little impressive innit.

Djoko is playing great so far. And breaks!!

Has already drawn out three bps and converted.

0-30 down but alcaraz recovers to keep to a break

Djoko is unplayable rn. 2 sps

Swatted Alcaraz. 6-2

booooo

In that 1st game we got to deuce but it was a couple of errors and net cord from Djoko. Alcaraz cannot buy a line rn. On serve

A lucky net cord in there but Alcaraz is playing a little better; Djoko a little more errors. 2 bps

Poor game. Alcaraz breaks

Just a few more errors from Djoko now...that was such a high level in the 1st set

More errors from Djoko. And for sure, Alcaraz is serving better but he is under far less pressure now.

A set a piece.

Djoko serves it out at the third from 0-30. Would feel like a crucial hold but I think its delaying the inevitable.

How did Alcaraz get that back from Djoko's pass round the net!!

And rightly enough Alcaraz breaks after a good hold. Should be good now.

fckn incredible rally just now

Yeah Alcaraz turning it on

3rd set Billy Zane

Carlos one set away.

But playing mostly his age. Djoko can only play five matches top at a grand slam.

Constantly amazed at the shots Alcaraz gets to which should have been winners.

Djoko saved six bps to just win a game in the 4th set.

Surely it will be for nothing.

Djoko 0-30 down. Time to close this..

Nope. Well served.

And now … ?!

Now, one bp

Djoko made an UE at that point; Carlos smiled.

Went on to hold

Djoko serving to take this to tb

2 CP's..

wowee

Carlos!!

Nice

Btw, since when has coaching been allowed? Felt that played a part in Rybakina's win yesterday where they seem to get her to play a bit more aggressively...

7 wins in the last 13 slams not too shabby