The Australian Open is still waking up after Thursday night’s (or perhaps Friday morning’s) epic, near-record-setting Murray-Kokkinakis clash.
And while there are no Aussies in action on day five, there are still some epic encounters on the cards, with the women’s title favourites in action.
Follow Day 5 of the Australian Open in our live blog below, and scroll to the bottom of the article for the latest updates and a full order of Play!
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UNSEEDED SEMI-FINALIST? Upsets blew the AO wide open. Now an Aussie can set an all-time record
“Don’t want to wake up!” Aussie tears | 01:10
TSITSIPAS’ BRAINFADE BAFFLES AS ‘THOR’ FALLS APART
Marton Fucsovics gained plenty of fans with his antics after a first-round win at Melbourne Park – but his impressive run has come to an end.
After the Hungarian took the opening two sets against Italian No.15 seed Jannik Sinner, threatening just the latest upset at this tournament, he dropped the next three limply to ose 4-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-0.
Fucsovics previously fought back to win a five-setter in his opening Australian Open match against Federico Coria, ripping his shirt off and showing his impressive rig.
Sinner will face Stefanos Tsitsipas next, with the Greek – who is the highest seed left in the men’s singles – easing his way to a 6-2 7-6(5) 6-3 win over Tallon Griekspoor.
However Tsitsipas nearly threw away the second set with a bafflingly poor service game at 5-6, gifting his Dutch opponent three points.
The last of them, a nonsensically-timed drop shot, gave Griekspoor his first break point of the match at 30-40 – which was also set point – as Nine’s Todd Woodbridge declared “what was that?!”.
Tsitsipas had to pull out a big second serve to save it, and went on to win the set in a tiebreak 7-6(5) – though he produced one of the worst second serves you’ll ever see on his first set point.
Meanwhile 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova was the first person through to the fourth round with a 6-2 6-3 win over Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina.
A mouth-watering clash with No.3 seed Jessica Pegula awaits with the billionaire heiress cruising through the first set against Marta Kostyuk in just 29 minutes on route to a 6-0 6-2 win.
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, a mega showdown between Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and last year’s Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins was sent to a decider.
Rybakina cruised early for 6-2 but Collins’ first break point of the entire match gave her the second set 7-5.
Then the Kazakh got back on top with a double break to begin the third set, with Collins strangely complaining to the chair umpire about the cameras before falling 6-2.
GO BACK TO BED, ANDY!
What does Andy Murray have against sleep?
The former world No.1 was spotted back at Melbourne Park on Friday morning, just hours after his epic past-4am win over Thanasi Kokkinakis.
While the Scot could’ve understandably opted for a lie-in – or at least a nice eight hours – instead cameras spotted Murray walking the hallways under Rod Laver Arena at just after 11:30am.
When you take into account all of the media and wind-down work Murray had to do after his five-set, second-round comeback win, the three-time slam champ didn’t leave Melbourne Park until 7am.
Which meant he would’ve had barely four hours’ sleep. It’s not as if he’s playing in the men’s or mixed doubles and needed to be back for a match either.
Well, you’ve got to be a little bit crazy to be successful as he’s been.
‘DON’T HAVE MANY OPTIONS’: AO BOSS RESPONDS TO FINISH TIME FURY, CURFEW CALLS
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley says there are no plans to alter the tournament’s scheduling, despite backlash caused by Andy Murray’s 4am victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The match, lasting almost five-and-a-half hours, had the second latest finishing time in tournament history with greats of the game calling it “crazy” and calling for change.
However Tiley, speaking on Channel 9’s Today, said there were no plans to take action or implement a curfew.
“At this point there is no need to change the schedule,’ Tiley said.
“We will always look at it, when we do the (tournament) debrief – like we do every year.
But at this point, at what it is, we’ve got to fit those matches in the 14 days, so you don’t have many options.
“… It was an epic match and when you schedule a match like that just before 10 (pm) in the evening before you’re not expecting it to go close to six hours.
“… when you have 25 sessions, two weeks, hundreds of thousands of people coming through the gate, all the best players …in the world here, you’re going to have those moments.
“… There are so many variables. Over the last few days we have had extreme heat, we’ve had over five breaks of rain, we’ve had over five breaks of rain, we’ve had cold and those are – it’s Melbourne you but don’t often get those conditions in such a short period of time so we’ve had three late nights with scheduling trying to catch up with matches.”
‘Where’s Wally’ fan has Novak seeing RED | 01:02
MURRAY ADDS WEIGHT TO BALL COMPLAINTS
Andy Murray is the latest player to weigh in on the tennis ball controversy at this year’s Australia Open, claiming they are the direct problem behind several marathon-length rallies.
Murray squeezed past Australian star Thanasi Kokkinakis in a gruelling five-hour clash that finished just past 4am, another area of controversy at the tournament.
Perhaps the thrilling encounter could have finished a little earlier had the balls been different, but Murray believed it’s having a detrimental effect on the Australian Open and, more importantly, the players.
“They (the balls) have almost no pressure,” Murray said.
“They are flat. It’s just difficult to hit winners once you’re in the rallies.
“You’ve seen it There was a 70-shot rally yesterday, multiple 35-45 shot rallies, which is not normal.”
Murray wasn’t the first to criticise the balls at the Australian Open, with Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime complaining to the umpire during his match.
“I don’t want to complain about it, but the balls are not bouncing,” Auger-Aliassime said.
“It’s crazy. I mean, we’re hitting normal but I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s the batch of cans [that the balls are in], they’re terrible.”
Novak ‘worried’ about hamstring strain | 01:08
DJOKOVIC’S SHOCK REVEAL PUTS 10TH AO CROWN IN DOUBT
Novak Djokovic has revealed he cannot practice between matches amid concerns his hamstring injury could derail his bid for a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown.
The Serb defied injury and rowdy fans to make the third round with a 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-0 win over French qualifier Enzo Couacaud on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night.
But his latest injury continues to threaten his quest for a 22nd Grand Slam crown.
With three top 10 seeds – Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz – already out of the tournament, and world number one Carlos Alcaraz injured, Djokovic’s route to another title had become easier.
But that is now dependant on whether his left hamstring holds up.
“I am worried, I have reason to be worried,” he said.
“My situation with my injury is not ideal … I have to take it day by day.
“I’m not practising in the days between because I’m trying to give myself more time for my leg to be in somewhat more of an ideal state.
“But I have to accept the circumstances and try to adjust myself.
“I have two choices – to leave or to keep going. I am going to keep going and try and play and compete. I don’t know how my body is going to react. I hope for the best.”
Djokovic aggravated the hamstring during his run to a 92nd tour-level title at the Adelaide International this month and his left thigh was again heavily strapped during his 23rd straight win on the Melbourne Park centre court.
Rublev rages at “obscenity” violation | 01:09
AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 5 – ORDER OF PLAY (All times AEDT)
All courts start from 11am, only Singles listed
Rod Laver Arena
[20] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) def Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 6-2 6-3
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) def Tallon Griekspoor (NED) 6-2 7-6(5) 6-3
Bernarda Pera (USA) v [7] Coco Gauff (USA)
Night session – From 7pm
[10] Madison Keys (USA) v [24] Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
[29] Sebastian Korda (USA) v [7] Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
Show Court 1
[15] Jannik Sinner (ITA) def Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 4-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-4 1-6 2-
Not before 1pm
[3] Jessica Pegula (USA) def Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-0 6-2
[1] Iga Swiatek (POL) v Cristiana Bucsa (ESP)
Night session – From 7pm
[10] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) v [20] Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
Lin Zhu (CHN) v [6] Maria Sakkari (GRE)
John Cain Arena
Day session – Not before 3pm
[28] Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) v [6] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 1-6
Night session – Not before 7pm
[18] Karen Khachanov (RUS) v [16] Frances Tiafoe (USA)
Kia Arena
Day session – Not before 2pm
[22] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) def [13] Danielle Collins (USA) 6-2 5-7 6-2
Day session – Not before 3:30pm
[11] Cameron Norrie (GBR) v Jiri Lehecka (CZE)
Follow Day 5 of the Australian Open in the live blog below!