Key events
Navarro is just a bit too solid and a bit too nasty for Kasatkina, I think, breaking her back to lead 6-4 3-2.
Back on Court, Shelton leads Monfils 4-2 in their third-set breaker and if he sees it out, might the Frenchman retire? I could see him convincing himself he’s good for one more set, but two?
Lys starts well, narrowly missing a backhand down the line that would’ve given her a break, before Swiatek secures her hold through deuce. She’s never gone further than the semis here, which is in some way surprising – the balls bounce slower and lower than on other hard courts, meaning the surface is more clay-like than at Flushing Meadow, where she won in 2022. And though, in 2023, it took Elena Rybakina to beat her in Melbourme, last term it was Linda Noskova. I’d be surprised if she got past Coco Gauff or Aryna Sabalenka, likely final opponents, but she’s got a good chance of getting there given standing in her way are Kasatkina or Navarro, then Svitolina. She breaks immediately for 2-0.
It’s busy in Sydney too…
Monfils is a total freak of nature, barely able to run and yet giving Shelton plenty. His anticipation is incredible – his younger, fitter opponent is really struggling to keep the ball away from him – and we’re at 5-5 in set three, the first two having been split in tiebreaks.
Eva Lys, by the way. She was sitting on the physios couch having been beaten in the final qualifying round by our old friend, Destanee Aiava, then got a message that Anna Kalinskaya had pulled out and she was on court in 10 minutes. Three wins later, here we are: She’s on Laver playing a night session against the no 2 seed, and she wins the first point of the match on return.
Kasatkina breaks Navarro in the first game of set two then fights back from 0-30 to secure her consolidation. This is a really good contest.
On Laver, Lys and Swiatek are out.
Meantime on Court, Gael Monfils, now 38, serves at 1-1 3-4 against Ben Shelton, but he’s hurt a leg and isn’t moving freely. He’s doing a decent job of hanging in there and holds for 4-4, but I’m not sure he can win from this position.
On Cain, Navarro rushed into an early lead but Kasatkina fought back and now serves at 4-5 in the first and, as I type, finds herself down 0-40; Kasatkina then flaps long, and the American takes a topsy-turvy, 41-minute first set 6-4.
Preamble
G’day one and all and welcome to the Australian Open 2025 – day nine, evening sesh!
It’s as misty-moisty Monday morning – in north London, at least – but rich light emanates from Melbourne Park. It beginss with Eva Lys v Iga Swiatek, continues with Alex Michelsen v Alex de Minaur, and also takes in Gael Monfils v Ben Shelton and Daria Kasatkina v Emma Navarro.
Let’s go!
