2019 Australian Open...ATP 2000...Melbourne, Australia

[don_budge]

Stefanos Tsitsipas...

The Book is Bill Tilden. The Model is Richard Gonzalez with the Don Budge backhand. The Coach is Harry Hopman. Roger Federer is the Living Proof.

Then there was Stefanos Tsitsipas.

[stotty]

Great play by Serena. Nice to see her comeback.

Those kind of matches of Serena's are actually good to watch, especially at the moment. She's playing with so much at stake trying to catch Margaret Court that the tension at times in the latter stages of slams is tangible. If opponents can hang on to her coattails and keep it tight, they can win a set or even the match. Serena is going to be mightily relieved if and when she ever wins 25 slam titles to better Margaret Court.

[gzhpcu]

Great play by Serena. Nice to see her comeback.

[stroke]

Stephanos will definitely have to put his hard hat on and be ready to go back to work as RBA sure will not give him anything. It will be interesting to see if someone other that Nadal and Novak can win this tournament. Raonic is always a threat with his serve, and Stephanos seems to have it all, the game and the mental toughness. Now it is time to see how the young Tiafoe handles the same kind of match pressure vs Nadal that Stephanos handled so well vs Roger.

[stotty]

Plenty of work ahead for the potential finalists. Stephanos, should he get to Nadal, will be the most interesting match for me. We will get to see just how good his backhand is in that one. Nadal's next match, in theory, should be the most straightforward.

Agut is the form form of his life so I am not expecting it to be straightforward for Stephanos.

I see the Pouille v Coric match only had a less than half full stadium today. Serena and Halep had a full house. So women's tennis can still draw the crowds if you have the right names involved.

Serena played an incredible first set and looked like she might steam straight through Halep. Halep played great in the second set to level matters. I missed the third set.

[stroke]

Next matches oddmakers favorites chances of winning: Stephanos 54%, Nadal 95%, Milos 84%, Novak 85%.

[don_budge]

Brutal loss for PCB vs Kei. Unfortunate the controversial end 5th set tiebreaker.

Brutal match for both players. To play from two sets down and win is just a great sportsman's accomplishment. At the end there was a controversial call and this is where everything is hanging together by a thread for the players. A call like that can break you unless you are Superman and just able to let it go and finish.

[stotty]

Medvedev looks like he's getting tired. I hope he has something left in the tank to make a fight of it. I just love his ability to steer the ball...and at times to use every inch of the court.

No keeping the racket on the playing side of the body for Medvedev...another Chardy.

[don_budge]

Yeah...but...Djokovic does what all great champions do. Particularly in five setters. He weathered the onslaught and is backing Medvedev up. Novak take the third 6-2 placing the onus of responsibility back on the shoulders of Medvedev. The question being asked of Daniil now is...what have you got?

[stotty]

I just love the loose style of Medvedev, and especially those acutely angled backhands he hits, most unusual.

[stroke]

Very interesting match. Novak is going to have to go all in mentally and physically to win this match it appears.

[don_budge]

Novak Djokovic versus "The Sleeper"

Daniil Medvedev making a very interesting match of it so far. If he can last at this rate. They have split sets and young Medvedev is employing some diverse tactics. Serving in the deuce court he is almost standing close to the singles sideline...serving way out to Novak's forehand. In long rallies he is just hitting the ball down the middle and challenging Novak to do something. Asking him the question.

He has brought Novak into the forecourt as well and Djokovic just took a very nasty spill coming to the net. Medvedev changing from down the middle to side to side. Good tactical match and Djokovic appears to be tiring as well. If Medvedev can keep it up I think he will win.

He's playing a somewhat clever match.

[stroke]

Brutal loss for PCB vs Kei. Unfortunate the controversial end 5th set tiebreaker.

[stroke]

Medvedev looks about as comfortable rallying with Novak as anyone I have ever seen. Watching Medvedev, I just get the feeling he is never going to miss on his backhand.

[don_budge]

The Question...

In the end it was Stefanos Tsitsipas who was relentlessly asking the question. He kept pounding at it. The Question. The Question. Until Roger finally had to admit..."I don't know".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wDHvmCVRxU