“,”elementId”:”508b3eda-48e3-4334-a688-46cbaaca3c78″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1705565895000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”03.18 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1705566018000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”: “03.20 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1705566018000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”03.20 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”03.20″,”title”:”Carlos Alcaraz (2) beats Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 (3) 6-7 Won 6-3 7-6(3)”,”Contributor”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thursday 18 January 2024 03.29 EST”,”SecondaryDateLine”:”Initial publication date Thursday 18 January 2024 02.51 EST”},{“id”:”65a8147a8f0810864998961c”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
G’day one and all, and welcome to what looks like another terrific session (of tennis).
“,”elementId”:”43a1b4aa-2420-4079-bc95-3664ade17b09″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
I love the way they do evenings in Melbourne, matches running over from the day and plenty going on, because really, that’s what the first week of a Slam is about: loads of matches, none of which you watch entirely properly, some of which develop into surprise classics, all of which contribute to a feeling of wellbeing that only a surfeit of sport can bestow.
“,”elementId”:”c3f1c85a-2664-49cb-9c78-71d4f9dddccf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
So, what’s on the menu for the next bit? Well, our principal evening sesh features what should be fairly straightforward matches for Elena Rybakina, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune and Victoria Azarenka.
“,”elementId”:”95799712-cf64-414c-8441-fa04ddd0519d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
But on top of that, Griggzy Dimitrov and Thanasi Kokkinakis are just under way, to be followed by a belter: Jelena Ostapenko v Ajla Tomljanovic. And we’ve also got Emma Raducanu and Elina Svitolina – both of whose matches are in their early stages – Hubert Hurkacz, and Felix Auger-Aliassime. So, let’s get on with it.
“,”elementId”:”7e457bac-146f-457e-b794-990b6f7d7043″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1705564306000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.51 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1705564302000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”: “02.51 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1705564306000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.51 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.51″,”title”:”Preamble”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thursday 18 January 2024 03.29 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”Initial publication date Thursday 18 January 2024 02.51 EST”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key -events-carousel-mobile “}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>
important events
Raducanu is warming up, Take a break and stay in love. In the first inning, Wang led 5-4.
Next, let's talk about Labor. Elena Rybakina (3) v Anna Brinkova.
And Shan broke, Therefore, he currently leads by two sets at 4-3. He's 18 years old, left-handed, Chinese, but he spent a lot of time in America, and he has incredible talent and attitude. And as I was typing, out of nowhere he dove into a down-the-line forehand, and it didn't hit the corner or even get that close, but it hit so flat and hard, No one, no one cared, Nagal would go near it.
Wang gives Raducanu something to do, Dimitrov leads Kokkinakis 4-1 while he leads 5-2 in the first match and is generally going well. But I think we're going to get Shan, because he's a potential superstar.
How Alcaraz ends, oh, Marrone. Sonego played really well, as he admitted, but it was difficult to play his best in the wind. However, he thinks the pair “got some good points” and “it was a good match.” Today was his 200th match on tour – he's 20 years old! – And because he’s a killer, Alcaraz says he has 200 wins and wants to win 300. I much prefer the sweatshirt he wears after the game than the sweatshirt he wears during the game, because yes, he's changed.
Carlos Alcaraz (2) defeated Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 (3), 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
An incredible forehand and a powerful smash sealed the deal, and Alcaraz will next face either Sumit Nagal or Jerry Shan. Shan currently leads 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 3-3.
Alcaraz made a great return, However, Sonego picked it up well and the player aiming for the winner went long. Also, even though he has three match points, his first two are on serve.
Alcaraz was very aggressive on the business end of the set and currently leads 5-2…6-2. Sonego bounced deep and caught a long flick of a forehand riposte. There are 4 match points…
Alcaraz's strong serve made it 3-0. He wants to get out of there. Years ago, footballers used to say look at either Man United's 93-94 team or Arsenal's 98-04 team at the other end of the tunnel and look at how big they are. I remember. I don't know if that's why Alcaraz is in the vastness, but he's in a totally ridiculous state and doesn't care who knows about it. He leads 4-2.
In court, Eighth seed Holger Ruhn and wild card Arthur Cazeau have advanced. Alcaraz's serve was perfect, and the next breaker was decided. Sonego easily took the previous breaker. But the No. 2 seed may have just hit the seam in his last two games, so I'd like him to nick this one…and a backhand down the line would mean an instant mini-break.
Sonego defeats the service winner, Alcaraz had to serve to stay in the third set, while Dimitrov made a nice jumping volley against Kane to beat Kokkinakis 3-1.
And then Wang beats Raducanu to make it 2-1, which is pretty good. Alcaraz made a nice lob, Sonego made a nice leap and deflected an overhead backhand toward the sideline…and Alcaraz unrealized a backhand winner down the line, hitting the referee's chair and the net. When Sonego hit a shot through the gap between the two, he received a very glowing round of applause. And he's under pressure after another Alcaraz winner brought his serve to 5-5, 40-30.
So what should you watch? I am Raducanu 1-1 One, Sonego 4-6 7-6(3) 3-6 5-5 Alcaraz, Dimitrov 2-1 Kokkinakis.
preamble
Hello. Welcome to what is shaping up to be another great (tennis) session.
I like the way Melbourne operates at night, with games continuing into the day and lots of things happening. Because that's what the first week of Slams is all about. There are so many matches that you can't watch any of them completely properly, but some of them all contribute to the feeling of well-being that can only be gained by fully enjoying the sport.
So, what's next on the menu? Well, our main night session will feature fairly easy matches between Elena Rybakina, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Ruhn and Victoria Azarenka.
But on top of that, Grizzy Dimitrov and Thanasi Kokkinakis are on the way, followed by the belter of Jelena Ostapenko vs. Ajla Tomljanovic. Then there's Emma Raducanu and Elina Svitolina (both of whom are in the early stages of their fights), Hubert Hurkas and Felix Auger-Aliassime. So let's continue.
