LONDON: Arab News takes a look at how all the other big names did on day four in Melbourne — who lived to fight another day and who has already been forced to pack their bags?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (12) STAYING: The Argentine booked a third round clash against 19th seed Tomas Berdych thanks to a 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 Karen Khachanov. Made to fight over four sets this match should prove to be good practice for what promises to be an attritional match next up.
MADISON KEYS (17) STAYING: The American ace made light work of her second round encounter against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Last year’s US Open finalist won the first 11 games on her way to an easy 6-0, 6-1 win that took only 41 minutes. She won every point on her serve in the first set, holding at love in three games.
DOMINIC THIEM (5) STAYING: The 24-year-old Austrian recovered from two sets down to beat American Denis Kudla and reach the last 32. Thiem lost a tie-break in the opener but fought back to win 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-2 6-2 6-3.
ANGELIQUE KERBER (21) STAYING: The German celebrated her 30th birthday with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Donna Vekic to advance to the third round clash against Maria Sharapova. On this evidence she will take some beating, it was Kerber’s 11th win in a row to start the season.
STANILAS WAWRINKA (9) PACKING HIS BAGS: The 2014 came into the tournament struggling with a knee injury and it was always going to be a tall order for him to make much of an impression in Melbourne. That proved to be the case as the Swiss struggled during a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 defeat to American Tennys Sandgren. “I really came without thinking I will be able to play the first match. That’s a big step for me,” he said after the match.
DAVID GOFFIN (7) PACKING HIS BAGS: The Belgian was a dark horse to win the title, but his dreams were dashed by a 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-6 defeat to wild-card entry Julien Benneteau. It was only the second time in the now 59th-ranked Benneteau’s career that he’s managed to beat a player in the top 10 in a Grand Slam singles match.
GARBINE MUGURUZA (3) PACKING HER BAGS: The Wimbledon champion is out after being beaten 7-6, 6-4 by Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan. Muguruza never looked comfortable in the match, double-faulting on break point in the second set and had as many as 43 unforced errors.
JOHANNA KONTA (9) PACKING HER BAGS: The Briton’s Melbourne mission ended in just the second round. The former semifinalist beaten by American lucky loser Bernarda Pera 6-4, 7-5. Konta arrived in Australia suffering from a hip problem.
