Key events
Alcaraz* (1) 3-3 6-2 Moutet (32) Back-to-back breaks sees Moutet tie up the second set.
Alcaraz drops the first point, leading to a show of intent on the second as he gets to the line and eventually takes it with an overhand winner. Moutet then tries to end a baseline exchange with a cheeky drop shot but can’t get it over the net but responds himself with a really good forearm return down the line to make it 30-30.
Alcaraz subsequently can’t pull off a circus return when he’s lobbed by Moutet, bringing up a break point that the Spaniard gives up with a double fault.
Alcaraz (1) 3-2 6-2 Moutet* (32) A devastating forearm winner sees Alcaraz end a 14-shot rally and move ahead, followed by a crushing overhand winner. Moutet gets back into it with a serve-and-volley move and then gets forward once more to tie things up with a well-placed backhand. The Frenchman then keeps the momentum, winning the next two points and letting Alcaraz know he’s still got a match on his hands.
Out on the Kia Arena, Yulia Putintseva has moved onto the next round after recording a straight sets win over Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez. On the Margaret Court Arena, meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev has secured the potentially crucial break in the fifth set of his clash with Fabian Marozsan
Alcaraz* (1) 3-1 6-2 Moutet (32) If nothing else, Moutet is ensuring that this match is entertaining: yet another miraculous drop shot making it 30-30 as he attempts to find a foothold.
An error on the next exchange sees the frustrated Frenchman proclaim “oh my god” to the heavens and perhaps that induced the intervention of the tennis deities, as on the next serve he sends a return straight down the line to move things to deuce and then brings up break point with a stretching forehand down the line.
He then gets a big and very-much needed break with a good return.
It’s all over on John Cain, with the Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retiring down 6-1 6-1 against Tommy Paul. The American can now sit back and watch this one, waiting to see who he’ll face in the fourth round.
Alcaraz (1) 3-0 6-2 Moutet* (32) Somebody call Trevor Chappell, as two cheeky underarm serves from Moutet see him move ahead 30-0. Alcaraz gets a point back but Moutet advances aggressively to the net and leaps to smash home an overhead winner to make it 40-15.
The Frenchman can’t take advantage, however, sending a forehand into the net on the baseline and then muffing an attempted serve and volley as Alcaraz brings it back to deuce. A serve laced down the T moves gives Alcaraz no chance and brings up the advantage but an absolute brain fade sees him spur the chance to take the game – trying an all-too cheeky drop shot when at the net, only to send the ball into it.
Alcaraz then brings up break point and proves ruthless: breaking Moutet for the fourth time when his forearm return is sent straight back into the net by the Frenchman.
Alcaraz* (1) 2-0 6-2 Moutet (32) Alcaraz is in full-on entertainer mode, using yet another cheeky between the legs shot and then responding to Moutet’s drop shot by getting forward and driving a winner down the line to make it 30-30.
Moutet does up break point on the next exchange, only to be just unable to get to Alcaraz’s drop shot as deuce is brought up. Alcaraz drives forward from his serve to then bring up the advantage and then repeats the process to consolidate his early break.
Out on Margaret Court Arena, Fabian Marozsan has ended a run that saw him drop seven straight games to Daniil Medvedev early in the second set.
Alcaraz (1) 1-0 6-2 Moutet* (32) Absolutely ridiculous. And that’s not Alcaraz getting another early break.
More drop shots, more lobs, and more between the legs shots eventually ends with a Alcaraz taking the point to move to 30-0, on his way to bringing up three break points. The Frenchman saves the first but double-faults on the second to give up another early break.
It’s looking like it’s going to be important for Alcaraz to get this contest done quickly and with minimal toil, too, as likely fourth-round opponent Tommy Paul continues to streak away Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Alcaraz wins the first set 6-2
Alcaraz* (1) 6-2 Moutet (32) Alcaraz takes out the first set in 35 minutes, looking far more comfortable in this one than he did in the first set of his second round win over Yannick Hanfmann.
Moutet takes the first two points off Alcaraz’s serve, only for the Spaniard to respond with the match’s first ace. Moutet thinks he’s just managed to rip a return down the line to bring up break point but it instead goes just out, with Alcaraz then bringing up set point with a powerful serve to his opponent’s backhand.
Alcaraz (1) 5-2 Moutet* (32) Moutet falls behind three times, the latter bringing up set point, but is able to gather himself and drag himself back thricely to bring up deuce.
A pair of cheeky drop shot exchanges ends with Alcaraz proving unable to bend an around the net shot inbounds and a big serve down the T from Moutet then ensures he holds serve.
Out on Margaret Court Arena, Daniil Medvedev has turned on the afterburners and taken the fourth set against Fabian Marozsan without dropping a game, while Tommy Paul has taken the first set 6-1 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on the John Cain Arena.
Alcaraz* (1) 5-1 Moutet (32) Alcaraz is moving through the gears and gets to the net and moves ahead with a jumping backhand only to be pegged back by a magnificent return from Moutet.
Some super entertaining stuff including drop shots, volleys, lobs, and between the legs shots ends with Alcaraz moving ahead, followed by a more regulation point to make it 40-15. Moutet than loops up a return to give up the game.
Alcaraz (1) 4-1 Moutet* (32) The double break is secured. Moutet gets into early trouble and goes back to the drop shot to get on the board and make it 15-30. Alcaraz can’t clear the net with his forehand on the next point but an unfortunate miss from the Frenchman brings up another break point that Alcaraz pounces on. The Spaniard is on his way.
Alcaraz* (1) 3-1 Moutet (32) A big serve down the T sets Alcaraz up to move ahead but Moutet rallies back, a magnificent passing shot against a pressing Alcaraz seeing him make it 15-30.
An unforced error from Alcaraz gives Moutet the chance to break back but another powerful serve down the T sets up the top seed to bring up deuce. He then gets to the net and fires down an overhead winner to take the advantage but a subsequent overhand finds the net to bring up a second deuce.
Moutet’s backhand return of the next serve goes long and Alcaraz then forces the Frenchman deep and to fire into the net to maintain his break.
Daniil Medvedev (11) has taken the third set against Fabian Marozsan out on Margaret Court Arena, trailing in that one 6-7 (7-5), 6-4, 7-5.
Alcaraz (1) 2-1 Moutet* (32) Alcaraz tries to go around the net after a magnificently placed drop shot from Moutet but can’t pull it off at the start of this one. He does end up dropping a point when he’s forced deep and fires into the net but steadies to get on the board.
Alcaraz (1) 2-0 Moutet (32)* Alcaraz moves ahead but a much better Moutet sends in a much better drop shot to get back level. A little fist bump is sent towards his coaches by Alcaraz with a forehand winner but a pairing of powerful forearms from Moutet forces the error that makes it 30-30. Moutet then sends a lob long when Alcaraz gets to the net and the consolidates the early break when Moutet goes long once more.
Out on John Cain Arena, Tommy Paul has raced out to an early lead over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, leading 5-1 in the first set. The winner of that matchup will play the winner of this one.
Alcaraz v Moutet gets underway!
Alcaraz (1) 1-0 Moutet (32)* One game, one break for Alcaraz.
A pair of unforced errors from both belligerents open things up, before a powerful advancing forearm from Alcaraz forces Moutet deep and gives him no option other than to meekly send a forearm into the net. Moutet tries a cheeky drop shot but it’s not a good one and the world number one gets to it easily and smashes a forehand winner to brink up two break points. The immediate break is then secured when Moutet fires into the net
In a quick Fashion Files update, Alcaraz is wearing his electric green number once again – a green sleeveless top and pale shorts with a bright strip down the side.
Moutet, meanwhile, wouldn’t look at out place at Wimbledon: wearing a white hat, white top, white shorts, white socks, and white shoes.
As Carlos Alcaraz and Corentin Moutet emerge out onto Rod Laver Arena, the battle between Daniil Medvedev and Fabian Marozsan continues on Margaret Court Arena, with Medvedev down two sets and the duo having held serve in the third after exchanging breaks in its opening two games.
We’ve also had a major boilover in the men’s doubles, where Wimbledon champions and top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool have fallen to James McCabe and Li Tu out on the ANZ Arena, the Aussie pair winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-4!
Now that Sabalenka has survived her scare, we should soon see Carlos Alcaraz’s (1) and Corentin Moutet (32) emerge out onto Rod Laver Arena for their third round meeting.
Whoever emerges triumphant from that contest will face the winner of Tommy Paul and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who are just about to get underway on John Cain Arena after Victoria Mboko (17) saw off Clara Tauson (13) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, 6-3.
In today’s other completed game in the singles, Learner Tien (25) has defeated Nuno Borges 7-6 (11-9), 6-4, 6-2.
So a straight sets win for Sabalenka but one that proved anything but straightforward.
Things aren’t exactly going to plan for Daniil Medvedev (11) out on Margaret Court Arena, either, with Fabian Marozsan having now taken out the second set to lead that one 6-7 (7-5), 4-6, 3-2.
Aryna Sabalenka (1) defeats Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7)
Wow. What a way to end it.
Potapova serves first but fires a backhand long to give the advantage to Sabalenka, who then fires across a forearm winner to move further ahead. Potapova gets the mini-break back after an unforced error from the top seed and then moves back level when Sabalenka sends a forehand into the net.
Two more unforced errors from Sabalenka — she has 41 this match compared to her opponent’s 22 — then sees Potapova move ahead 2-4 but her forehand return goes just long again. Sabalenka fires into the net and then missed badly on an attempted return to bring up three set points for Potapova.
Sabalenka saves the first and second points, leading to the crowd rallying around Potapova as she attempts to serve out the set – only for her to double fault! Ouch.
Huge cheers for the underdog when Sabalenka sends a forehand into the net to bring up another set point but at the end of a brilliant point Sabalenka stays alive yet again.
Sabalenka lets out a roar as she then brings up a match point with an overhead winner and then fist pumps with what looks a look of relief on her face when Potapova sends a backhand into the net – giving her the win in two hours and two minutes.
Sabalenka* (1) 6-6 7-6 (7-4) Potapova All business from Sabalenka as avoids the break that would have seen her drop the set and instead sending it to a tie break, firing down an ace on the final point as she holds to love.
Sabalenka (1) 5-6 7-6 (7-4) Potapova* Potapova moves ahead. Wowee.
Hawkeye shows us that the barest of margins has seen her go long to give up the first point but she brings it back level on the next after an unforced error from Sabalenka. A big forearm winner then gets the Austrian ahead, which is followed by a backhand driven beyond Sabalenka and a big serve that cannot be returned to tee up the hold.
Sabalenka* (1) 5-5 7-6 (7-4) Potapova Potapova refuses to go down and breaks back! Sabalenka moves ahead early but, with her back against the wall, Potapova comes up big to claim the next two points – winning the second with a deft drop shot.
Sabalenka then fires a forehand from the baseline into the net to bring up two break points. She saves the first but sends a backhand into the net to give up the second. What a fightback from Potapova – from down 4-0 to 5-5 in this second set.
Sabalenka (1) 5-4 7-6 (7-4) Potapova* And just like that, Sabalenka reasserts her control.
A nice drop shot from Sabalenka sees her move ahead but Potapova answers back, a point that is met by the top seed changing her racquet. The Austrian is then able to move ahead herself, only to be immediately pegged back by a magnificent forehand return that she’s left chasing across the court.
Sabalenka forces Potapova deep and draws a forehand into the net to bring up break point, one that she takes with drop shot her opponent cannot reach. After a scare, she’ll now serve for the match.
Sabalenka* (1) 4-4 7-6 (7-4) Potapova Hellllllllo. From down two breaks Potapova has broken back twice herself and we’re now tied up in the second set!
Sabalenka quickly moves ahead but just sends a shot long to give Potapova a sniff, one that she builds upon by firing a big forehand winner to make it 30-30. The top seed then sends a shot into the net to bring up a break point – frustration visible on her face as she quickly rubs the sweat off her face before her next serve – but brings it back to deuce when a bouncy serve sets her up for a commanding forehand.
A deep return pushes Sabalenka back and induces her to fire into the net to bring up another break point but Potapova’s backhand return on the next serve goes long. A misjudgement from Sabalenka then sees her leave a forearm return that bounces comfortably in to bring up another break point and then the break comes; Potapova keeping the rally alive from deep before her opponent sends a forehand out!
Sabalenka (1) 4-3 7-6 (7-4) Potapova* Potapova fires down a big ace to start things off and try to continue to build on her momentum, only to then immediately double fault on the next point. The Austrian gets to the net and forces Sabalenka to go long with her attempted lob to move back ahead and then fires down a powerful serve her opponent cannot return. She then makes it three straight games when Sabalenka goes long. Some good fight on display, here.
Sabalenka* (1) 4-2 7-6 (7-4) Potapova Ok, out on Rod Laver and Sabalenka’s march towards the fourth round is still on track but has hit some resistance, with Potapova showing some great resilience to get a break back. A bit of frustration on display from the top seed.
Before we get to Sabalenka, also of particular note for the locals yesterday evening was the return of the Special Ks, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, to the men’s doubles. Unfortunately for the former champions, however, their time together in Melbourne was short: falling, battered and bruised, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-4) to fellow Australians Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans.
Simon Cambers was there for that one.
No doubt giving hope to plenty of weekend warriors, yesterday also saw Stan Wawrinka become the first 40-year-old to reach the third round of a men’s grand slam in 48 years when the Swiss wildcard defeated Arthur Gea 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) after just over four and a half hours.
Tumaini Carayol has also taken a look at that one.
If you’re looking to get up to speed, the biggest talking point to come out of Thursday night’s action was the fiery clash between Naomi Osaka (16) and Sorana Cirstea, which saw the former advance 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Tumaini Carayol was there for that one, documenting a clash that began with just as much focus on Osaka’s sartorial choices and ended with contention over the former champion cheering “C’Mon” between serves.
Preamble
Joey Lynch
Howdy, y’all. Joey Lynch here and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the Australia Open, focusing this arvo on world number one Carlos Alcaraz’s (1) third round meeting with Corentin Moutet (32), with frequent updates on Coco Gauff’s (3) all-American meeting with Hailey Baptiste.
Alcaraz and Moutet won’t commence before 1:30pm local time but, before they can even take to Rod Laver Arena, women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka (1) will have to navigate the challenge of Australian challenger, Anastasia Potapova.
Initially, that looked like it was going to be easier said than done for the top seed, who had the fight taken to her by her 55th-ranked opponent and was taken to a tie break in the opening set before eventually taking it 7-6 (7-4). However, Sabalenka has begun to power away in the second and looks like she’ll wrap this up very quickly.
Gauff and Baptiste, likewise, won’t be able to head out onto the Margaret Court Arena until Daniil Medvedev (11) and Fabian Marozsan complete their meeting – Medvedev, after previously being forced to do so against Quentin Halys in the second round, needing to overcome a first-set tie break loss if he’s to advance.
