Australian Open 2019 Day 5 Men's Singles: Djokovic, Federer, Zverev advance; Khachanov loses

Djokovic cruises past Tsonga in three sets. Federer experienced no problem in overcoming the giant serving American Taylor Fritz in straight sets. Alexander Zverev gets the better of Jeremy Chardy of France with a last-gasp victory in five sets.

1573 Arena Round three

Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut registered his third victory in four meetings against Russia’s Karen Khachanov to set up a fourth-round meeting against Croatia’s Marin Cilic. Roberto won 46 of his 56 points with his first serve, registering a win percentage of 83%. He smashed 37 winners as the Russian was wayward conceding 50 unforced errors. The Spaniard broke Khachanov on love in the tenth service game to win the first set 6-4.

Roberto Bautista Agut knocks out tenth seed Karen Khachanov

He again broke the Russian‘s fourth service game on love in the second set only to concede the advantage immediately by losing his service game. Roberto secured the all-important break in the twelfth service game to win the second set 7-5. The Russian broke the Spaniard‘s service to go 0-2 up showing a comeback of sorts, but he lost his sixth service game on love and his tenth service game to hand the third set and match to the Spaniard.

Roberto Bautista Agut (22) (ESP) defeats Karen Khachanov (10) (RUS) 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

Court 3 Round two:

Australia’s Alex Bolt ranked 159th in the World knocked out Gilles Simon of France in a see-saw battle which lasted four minutes past the four-hour mark. He sets up a meeting with the number four seed German Alexander Zverev in the third round. Bolt suffered a double break in the first set to lose it 2-6 but came back strongly to win a crucial break of serve in the tenth game to take the second set 6-4.

Alex Bolt defeated Gilles Simon in a thrilling five-setter

Bolt lost a nervous fifth game on love to lose the third set 4-6. The fourth set went in favor of the Australian on the tie-break before closing the final set 6-4 to win the match. Though Bolt had a poor first serve percentage of 53%, he smashed his way hitting 71 winners to Simon’s 37.

Alex Bolt (159) (AUS) defeats Gilles Simon (31) (FRA) 2-6, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.

Melbourne Arena Round two:

Pierre-Hugues Herbert knocked out last year‘s semi-finalist Hyeon Chung of South Korea in four sets to reserve a place in the third round where he will face Milos Raonic of Canada. Chung, who came back from two sets down before winning the next three against Bradley Klahn from the United States in the first round seemed drained out during his match against Herbert.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert pumps his fist in delight after getting past Hyeon Chung

The French man smashed 13 aces and produced 36 winners to wrap up the first set 6-2. Chung replied immediately to overpower Herbert‘s serve thrice in the second set to close it 1-6. Herbert though came back strongly breaking the Korean twice in the third set and once in the fourth to win the match with an ace recorded at 126mph.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (53) (FRA) defeats Hyeon Chung (25) (KOR) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

A tired-looking Dominic Thiem of Austria conceded defeat to the unseeded Australian Alexei Popyrin early in the set to hand the Australian a third-round encounter against Lucas Pouille of France. Thiem won a marathon encounter against Benoit Paire of France in the first round which lasted three hours and forty-two minutes.

Alexei Popyrin won against Thiem after the latter retired

Popyrin struggled early in the first set to holding on to four break-point opportunities in the ninth service game before breaking Thiem‘s service in the twelfth game to win the set 7-5. He broke the Austrian in the tenth game to secure the second set at 6-4. After Thiem conceded an early break in the second set, he retired from the match giving a victory to Popyrin who smashed 13 aces and 35 winners in the match.

Alexei Popyrin (149) (AUS) defeats Dominic Thiem (8) (AUT) 7-5, 6-4, 2-0 Retired.

Melbourne Arena Round three:

Tomas Berdych from the Czech Republic entered the fourth round of the Australian Open after registering a four-set victory over Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman. He will now face Spain’s Rafael Nadal in the next round. Berdych blasted 65 winners which included 19 aces to win 69 of his 83 points on the first serve.

2019 Australian Open - Day 5 - Tomas Berdych cruises into round four

Berdych suffered his only break of serve in the eleventh game to lose the first set 5-7. Berdych though managed a crucial break of service against the Argentinian in the final game of the second and third set to conquer it 6-3 and 7-5. He broke the Argentine’s third service game in the fourth set which set him up nicely to clinch the match by winning the fourth set 6-4.

Tomas Berdych (57) (CZE) defeats Diego Schwartzman (18) (ARG) 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Court 8 Round two:

Portugal’s Joao Sousa required four hours and eighteen minutes to get past Germany’s Kohlschreiber in a thrilling five-setter to set up a match with Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the third round. Sousa managed a good first serve percentage of 72% as he smashed his way past the German with 28 aces and 74 winners in the match.

Joao Sousa won against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber

Both players gave away plenty of break point opportunities to each other but could not capitalize on the same converting just two break points each in the whole match. Kohlschreiber helped Sousa‘s cause with six double faults to his name.

Joao Sousa (44) (POR) defeats Philipp Kohlschreiber (34) (GER) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-4.