“Mr. Consistent” has lived up to his name yet again at the Australian Open. Tomas Berdych, who has finished in the Top 20 of the ATP Rankings for 12 consecutive seasons, reached his seventh quarter-final in Melbourne on Monday. The 19th-seeded Czech avoided a dogfight with Italian Fabio Fognini, defeating the 25th seed 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the last eight. “I'm enjoying it a lot,” said Berdych, who struggled with a lower back problem in 2017. “I'm glad to be back in the shape that I am right now, which is finally healthy and that makes the difference. I can play freely, I can have joy from my tennis [and] I can enjoy the time being on court....
Although one player must always come out second best in tennis, respect never fails to come first. Sunday night saw three hours, 26 minutes of bullet service winners and slices as sharp as a razor’s edge, but it was Grigor Dimitrov who carved out victory over Nick Kyrgios, shooting his way into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the second straight year. As the two embraced at the net following one last glorious passing shot winner off the racquet of the Bulgarian, Kyrgios looked at Dimitrov, the opponent not seconds ago standing in his way of becoming the first Australian to lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup since Mark Edmondson in 1976, and spoke one word to him. “Believe,”...
Nick Kyrgios came up short against Grigor Dimitrov after four thrilling sets in their fourth-round encounter at the Australian Open on Sunday. But the Aussie already has his sights set on challenging the ATP World Tour's best for the rest of the season. Kyrgios, who was looking to follow up his title at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp with a strong showing in Melbourne this fortnight, was quelled by an inspired performance by No.3 seed Dimitrov under the lights on Rod Laver Arena. For the 22-year-old Australian, it comes time once again to reckon with himself. Down? Yes. Out? Think again. “I lost tonight to one of the best players in the world,” said Kyrgios. “[I] went down swinging....
Watch highlights as Grigor Dimitrov edges Nick Kyrgios in a thriller. Video courtesy Tennis Australia. Watch more video and live matches at www.ausopen.com. Highlights not available in Aus., NZ or Canada and only available in Europe and USA 24 hours after completion of the match. Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP World Tour.
Fabio Fognini talks about his thrilling five-set victory over Julien Benneteau at the Australian Open. Video courtesy Tennis Australia. Watch more video and live matches at www.ausopen.com.
