WTA AND ATP TENNIS NEWS AND RESULTS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN NIGHT MATCHES

Written by: Staff on 20th January 2016

WTA AND ATP TENNIS NEWS AND RESULTS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN NIGHT MATCHES

epaselect epa05112119 An Australian Open Tennis fan walks with her face painted during the second round at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/LYNN BO BO |

Bringing on the night – for some inexplicable reason Genie Bouchard trotted out on court with just half an outfit, and after a spirited start the streamlined style must have worked as she scored the initial break over Radwanska, only for the Pole to break straight back.

Eugenie Bouchard of Canada returns the ball to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their second round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/JOE CASTRO

From 4-2 up Bouchard watched the player they call La Professora battle away at her. No less than five set points, people before the fourth seed closed out the first set using all her ninja wiles. Meanwhile, for all Bouchard’s ‘issues’ at the end of last year, there was some good stuff on show here, and perhaps she’s back on the path of at least righteous tennis, if nothing else.

Once Radwanska broke early in the second set, it really started getting away awfully quickly from the Canadian as the Pole closed out a 6-4 6-2 win. She is improving and as Radwanska mentioned in her on-court interview, to play an unseeded player like Bouchard so early is never easy. But Radwanska has to fancy her chances of a solid run now.

We certainly expected a little more of a battle, and as for the last night match on Laver, it would turn out to be the kind of routine work out that defending champion Novak Djokovic rolls out in the early stages of the Slams.

France’s Quentin Halys had scored a good round one win over Ivan Dodig, but give the wildcard credit, he pushed Djokovic to a tie-break in the third.

Aussies were happy cheering on their boy in Margaret Court Arena, as Nick Kyrgios overcame some treatment on his arm to close out a 6-4 7-5 7-6(2).

Nick Kyrgios of Australia returns the ball to Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay during their second round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/LUKAS COCH

But come along… a Slam just wouldn’t be a Slam if not for a shocker… and we got it as Daria Gavrilova ousted sixth seed Petra Kvitova. In fairness this had the potential to be an upset. Gavrilova is an exciting player to watch, zapping Kvitova at one stage with the ball, and some truly artistic ball-thumping on the run. There will be good things for this young adopted Aussie and We will enjoy watching and reporting her progress throughout the year.

And what of Kvitova – she is another player who seems to have blossomed in one aspect – not as shy and bunny-in-headlights anymore after winning her second Slam, but still finding it a struggle with injury and now illness to back it up at times. Still – it opens up this half of the draw quite nicely now, certainly for Radwanska. She was my other quiet tip for the top prize, IF she can overpower the top quarter. That’s a pretty hefty if.

Onto Day 4, and hopefully a return to the more sunshiny weather!

Daria Gavrilova of Australia serves to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their second round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/DAVID CROSLING

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Atp, Australian Open, Daria Gavrilova, Genie Bouchard, Melbourne tennis, Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic, Pablo Cuevas, Petra Kvitova, Quentin Halys, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta