Key events
Tiebreak: Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 6-6 Djokovic
Djokovic dabs a drop shot over the net at 15-0 but Van de Zandschulp runs it down impressively. A sloppy error from Djokovic then makes it 30-30, dumping a forehand into the net … and some astonishing defence from the Dutchman earns him a break point!
He reads a smash correctly, pats back an ordinary volley from Djokovic, who can only find the net after having to chase to the back of the court. Second serve on break point, Van de Zandschulp composes himself, and stays in the point very nicely – but Djokovic opens his shoulders and dispatches an insanely good forehand winner that kisses the line and brings it back to deuce.
And yet … a fresh error from Djokovic hands Van de Zandschulp another break point. Djokovic complains about noise from the crowd, but I think he’s just trying to disrupt his opponent yet again.
The Serbian is losing his temper again, which could be good and could be bad for his opponent. Probably bad. At deuce, Van de Zandschulp is in control, spanking a few big forehands everywhere – then he goes to the drop shot, and fluffs it. Djokovic quickly holds and it’s a third-set tiebreak.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 6-5 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp will have a tiebreak, at least. Djokovic must serve to stay in the set.
The Dutchman has racked up 41 unforced errors as we approach the conclusion of this third set. Djokovic has recorded 19.
Mind you, Van de Zandschulp also has 32 winners to 26 for Djokovic. He’s dangerous but wildly inconsistent.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 5-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Your move, Botic. It’s 5-5 in the third.
Oh, and also, Marin Cilic v Caspar Ruud (12) has just started on Margaret Court Arena. Why do I think that has five-set marathon written all over it?
Meanwhile Jakub Mensik (16) has taken his first set against Ethan Quinn, 6-2.
Rybakina 5-2 Valentova is a latest score in the women’s singles.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 5-4 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
And there’s another love hold. Could Van de Zandschulp raise his game, pressurise Djokovic’s serve, and nab the set? It looks unlikely but you never know.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 4-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The Serbian holds, and we move closer to a third-set tiebreak.
Look out! A Djokovic serve flies off the frame of the Dutchman’s racket, and a female fan in the expensive seats at courtside appears to take a hit. She is OK.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 4-3 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A couple of aces from the Dutchman and it’s his turn to hold with ease.
This must be quite frustrating for his team, you’d have thought, because Van de Zandschulp clearly has the tools to make life consistently difficult for Djokovic. He can’t apply enough pressure for any length of time though, which is of course largely due to Djokovic’s uncanny ability at the other end of the court.
Rybakina leads Valentova 4-2 in the first, two breaks to one up.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 3-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The Serbian holds with minimal fuss, and treats himself to a fresh racket.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 3-2 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
All too predictably, it’s an immediate break back. Two quality forehands and the Serbian is up 15-30. A double fault and it’s 15-40, the prospect of a genuine contest between these two seeming to disappear just as quickly as it came into view. On second serve at 15-40, Djokovic knows he has his opponent precisely where he wants him. He plays is steady from the back of the court and waits for the error which duly comes. World-class matchplay from the 38-year-old tennis machine. That is why he’s in the side.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 3-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp earns three break points with a stunning forehand return winner cross-court, Djokovic left rooted to the spot. Djokovic then turns away while about to serve, after some noise from the crowd. He eventually smashes his way to 15-40 and the Dutchman then dumps a return into the net. That’s 30-40. Djokovic takes his time over the next serve, presumably looking to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm, but it makes no difference. Van de Zandschulp absolutely climbs into a forehand return on second serve, and it flicks off the net, but beats the Serbian for pace anyway and still bounces in. That’s a handy break for the world No 75.
Djokovic is back on court. The commentator just said exactly what I was thinking: this match has had its moments, but it’s never really got going. Can the Dutchman find some form and push his illustrious opponent in the third?
We’d have had a massive story on our hands had Djokovic accidentally struck that ballgirl after a petulant and unnecessary show of frustration in the previous set, but he got away with it.
Elena Rybakina (5) has just got her match under way against Tereza Valentova over on John Cain Arena.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 2-1 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic is receiving some medical treatment after the Dutchman holds his second service game in this third set. The Serbian had a worrying spill in the previous game, but he doesn’t look badly hurt.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 1-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic looks to have his game face back on, the frustration of the second set seemingly ebbing away. He directs one particularly punishing forehand half-volley to the corner that has Van de Zandschulp looking on in awe. Djokovic holds to love.
Swiatek beats Kalinskaya: 6-1, 1-6, 6-1
Swiatek will face Maddison Inglis next, who has a nice day off today, due to Osaka’s unfortunate withdrawal.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-6, 1-0 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The Dutchman holds to -15 to open the third set, benefiting from a careless forehand from Djokovic to close it out.
What do you think about all this? You can email me.
Swiatek has certainly steadied her own ship and leads 5-1 in the deciding set v Kalinskaya.
Djokovic wins the second set v Van de Zandschulp: 3-6, 4-6
Ship steadied?
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 4-5 Djokovic
Djokovic is now serving for the second set.
Fritz beats Wawrinka: 7-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 champion and the first 40-year-old to make a grand slam third round since 1978, is out in four sets to the American No 9 seed. Well done young man.
Wang beats Noskova: 7-5, 6-4
The womens’ singles No 13 seed is out. The Chinese player will face Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round.
Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open before her scheduled third-round match against the Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis, ending a campaign noted for fashion and friction.
The breaking news from that game is that when Van de Zandschulp hit long during the deuce battle, Djokovic belted the ball wide of the court in frustration, and very nearly hit the ball girl crouched by the net on his left-hand side. He has form for that kind of thing and that would have been an immediate DQ. Djokovic is relentless in his pursuit of tennis perfection but he still can’t control his temper at times.
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 3-4 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
The Dutchman’s error at 30-30 gives Djokovic a break point. Then he redeems himself on a mad point that has the crowd on their feet, Djokovic running down a drop volley but failing to put it away and paying the price.
At deuce Van de Zandschulp crafts a stunning backhand down the line, on the run, that leaves his opponent laughing and shaking his head. Djokovic thought he had that point won but it was Van de Zandschulp who stormed back into it … the Dutchman eventually takes the game.
Emma John
The riverside walk to the Australian Open courts is a scenic joy for the sporting pilgrim. Rowing crews train up and down the water, framed by the city’s sun-flecked skyline. The Melbourne Cricket Ground floodlights signal distantly ahead. Beneath the feet of the crowds hurrying to ticket barriers, the concrete path transforms into an artwork: a twisting confluence of eels honouring their Yarra River migration, which once provided abundant food for the Wurundjeri people.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 2-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Djokovic is forced to deuce on his serve. He roars once when forcing advantage, and again when he tonks down an unreturnable serve to hold. Physically, things seem to be improving for Van de Zandschulp.
Swiatek leads Kalinskaya 1-0 in the third set and it looks like a battle royale on the Russian’s serve too.
Kalinskaya 1-6, 6-1, 0-1 Swiatek.
A shame for Osaka, and a shame for the fans too. Let’s hope she is back to full strength soon.
Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal statement
“I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match. I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart but I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court.
“Thanks for all the love and support … I’m so grateful everyone embraced me so much. And thank you to my whole team for always having my back and the tournament organizers for being so kind.”
Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 2-3 *Djokovic (*denotes next server)
A couple of elegant, powerful winners allows the world No 75 to hold serve. He’s still a break down in the second, but Djokovic’s rhythm has been disrupted by that medical timeout for the Dutchman. The Serbian will probably get his foot right back on Van de Zandschulp’s throat from here, but right now, this is threatening to turn into a contest again.
*Van de Zandschulp 3-6, 1-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
There’s a turn-up for the books. The Dutchman breaks thanks to a couple of gifts from his usually miserly opponent. Perhaps the medical timeout allowed him to reset, to take a breather from the relentless pressure that the Serbian tends to apply.
Kalinskaya wins the second set v Swiatek: 1-6, 6-1
Kalinskaya takes the second set against the Polish No 2 seed! The commentators say it was “winner after winner” and “Swiatek is in trouble”.
Swiatek was yet to drop a set at the tournament thus far.
“The shoulder … such an important part of your body in tennis,” observes Tim Henman on commentary of Van de Zandschulp’s problem. Hard to argue.
