Australian Open 2024 [Men] - Grand Slam

[Kieran]

For the life of me Vowel Dude is playing out of his skin against Meddy it is 3.00am local time

They should suspend these late matches at a time that's pre-arranged - before midnight and whatever time public transport stops in Melbourne - and come back the following day to finish them..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW I went out after the 1st set match between Cazaux and Rune, I was impressed, wake up to find he won I have recorded the match and will watch the rest of the match later Allez young man!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

They should suspend these late matches at a time that's pre-arranged - before midnight and whatever time public transport stops in Melbourne - and come back the following day to finish them..

GS have to follow what the ATP/WTA new schedule and playing times in 2024, this is insane, regardless if you get a day off in the slams

 

[Kieran]

GS have to follow what the ATP/WTA new schedule and playing times in 2024, this is insane, regardless if you get a day of in the slams

They should think of the players and fans and run their own schedule. After this match ends, there are only 31 matches left to be scheduled in the men's draw. And ten days to play them. Having matches go on so late so early in the tournament is literally dumb...

 

[kskate2]

I think it's pretty ridiculous that they are still playing this match at 4:30 in the morning. Maybe the solution isn't to get rid of all Bo5, but rather, reward players who win the first two sets. I'd much rather see them be rewarded a 2-sets-to-none win, than to have to play additional sets (this will come handy later in the tournament). That saves a lot of time and energy, and would get rid of most of the ridiculous overnight finishes. To me, if a player doesn't win either of the first two sets, they don't deserve a 3rd set.

It's not 4:30am yet. Check your clock. It's currently 3:14am and they're heading to a decider.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Oh well we are going 5 sets at 3.15am local time

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I noticed before the start of the 5th set Meddy's coach Gilles flabbergasted with Meddy's play started praying in the stands lol!
Meddy needs to learn how to tie his shoe laces up properly, always having trouble with them

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Meddy leading 4-0 I dont think Vowel Dude and his shoulder, he did have a MTO earlier, is done, though kudos for him pushing Meddy to a 5th set, even at this Insane time at 3.40 am
Meddy wins the 5th set with a bagel, hopefully Vowel Dude's shoulder is not serious

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is why Meddy is soo good for the game of tennis

Meddy said that he basically started the match exhausted from watching the Rybalina-Blinkova tie breaker

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Borris Becker via Eurosport, commentating on the loss of Rune,

" Rune needs to improve his forehand and use more height and heavy top spin. You gotta give credit to Cazaux who is a very talented young player and played a great match.it was more about Arthur winning than Rune losing".

I have just started watching the match from the 2nd set. BTW I have to agree with Becker, Rune's fhand needs attention he does have a compacted back swing,and does need more height on it.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just finished watching Cazaux 21, who holds tough to defeat Rune (8) he joins fellow young guys Ugo Humbert and Luca Van Assche in R3, Frances next men's generation starting to show their faces in Melbourne

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have to post this!

Rohan Bopanna celebrates his 500th career win at the AO. Bopanna and doubles partner Aussie Matt Ebden have booked their 2nd round spot!

 

[tented]

I have to post this!

Rohan Bopanna celebrates his 500th career win at the AO. Bopanna and doubles partner Aussie Matt Ebden have booked their 2nd round spot!

I’ll always respect him for this, which I remember watching live:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I’ll always respect him for this, which I remember watching live:

Agree I remember that match, fantastic sportsmanship from Bopanna. Bopanna age 43 is still playing great tennis his bhand is delightful

 

[Kieran]

I’ll always respect him for this, which I remember watching live:

Wow! That’s great, and the score was all against them too!

 

[Vince Evert]

Apologises if this has been posted before, but i just found this. Extraordiary stats indeed !

Five-set fever: A record-breaking opening round at AO 2024​

• Leigh Rogers

17 January 2024



An unprecedented 20 matches extended to five sets in the opening round of the Australian Open 2024 men’s singles competition.
This is the most in tournament history across the Open era (since 1969).


From Andrey Rublev’s great escape against Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, to Thanasi Kokkinakis’ steely comeback to subdue big-hitting Sebastian Ofner, there’s been drama aplenty.

Seven of the five-set battles featured Australian players, leaving local fans at Melbourne Park on the edge of their seats.

The previous record, for most five-set battles in the opening round of an Australian Open men’s singles draw, was 16. This occurred on two occasions – in 1996 and 1998.

At Australian Open 1998, a 16-year-old Lleyton Hewitt contested the first five-set match of his career.

He went on to become a two-time Grand Slam champion and world No.1 who contested 57 five-set encounters during his career.

FIRST-ROUND AO MEN'S SINGLES MATCHES TO EXTEND FIVE SETS
(Past decade)

Year	Five-set matches
2015	15
2016	11
2017	13
2018	11
2019	10
2020	14
2021	9
2022	14
2023	15
2024	20

The Open-era Grand Slam record for the highest number of five-set men’s singles matches in round one is 21, set at Roland Garros in 2023.

Titanic tussles​

Of the 64 opening matches played in this year’s men’s singles competition, only 20 were decided in straight sets.

A total of 31 matches required more than three hours to complete, with 11 extending beyond four hours.

Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan needed four hours and 59 minutes to stave off a spirited challenge from Aussie wildcard Jason Kubler.

Felix Auger-Aliassime then matched this time in his five-set triumph against Dominic Thiem, the Australian Open 2020 finalist.

LONGEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHES AT AO 2024

Time	Match
4:59	Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) d [WC] Jason Kubler (AUS) 2-6 6-3 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(8)
4:59	[27] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) d Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 5-7 6-3
4:42	Pavel Kotov d Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 7-5 1-6 6-7(6) 6-7(5) 6-3
4:21	Chris O’Connell (AUS) d Cristian Garin (CHI) 3-6 7-5 4-6 6-1 7-5
4:19	[Q] Hugo Grenier (FRA) d Alexandre Muller (FRA) 2-6 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 7-6(7)

Thrilling conclusions​

Five of the five-set opening-round battles were decided in a match tiebreak.

This sets a new Australian Open record and ties the all-time Grand Slam record, which was set at the US Open in 2021.

Andrey Rublev, Jan-Lennard Struff, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Daniel Elahi Galan and Hugo Grenier were the victors in these heart-stopping encounters.

 

[rafanoy1992]

All I just want to say that there is only one male player in the Top 10 that has not lost a single set so far. He is now in the 4th round...

 

[Moxie]

All I just want to say that there is only one male player in the Top 10 that has not lost a single set so far. He is now in the 4th round...

So, who is it??

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

So, who is it??

It begins with J lol!

 

[Moxie]

It begins with J lol!

Oh, come on. I'm only hanging on caring about this AO by a thread. Jannick Sinner?? Ok, that's Rafanoy's man...I guess if I'd thought about it. LOL.