Australian Open 2022 day five: Barty v Giorgi, Osaka v Anisimova – live! | Sport

Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 2-2 Osaka* (*denotes next server)

A double fault brings 30-30 but Anisimova hits another booming wide serve which opens up the court and brings her game point. She holds for 2-2.

Barty* 6-2, 4-2 Giorgi (*Denotes next server)

It’s all going swimmingly for Ash Barty on Rod Laver Arena, a break up in the second set.

*Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 1-2 Osaka (*denotes next server)

At 30-30, having just hit fractionally wide, Osaka hits long and it’s break point for Anisimova. Anisimova climbs into the second serve, but Osaka is absolutely rock-solid, winning back control of the rally and forcing the error, and saving the break point. Having said all that … Osaka double-faults on the next point, sending her second serve wildly long, and hands her opponent another chance. Anisimova misses out, netting a big chance to take the game! Anisimova then crashes a forehand into the net on Osaka’s second serve, at deuce, and chucks her racket on to the floor in disgust. Osaka closes out the game. That was a big, big game in this match and Anisimova will be regretting those missed chances. Maybe she’ll get another one, maybe she won’t.

In the men’s singles, Rafal Nadal (6) is due on court in about 20 minutes, against Karen Khachanov (28).

Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 1-1 Osaka* (*denotes next server)

A strong first serve down the middle for 15-0. An excellent serve out wide, and an unerring crosscourt double-handed backhand makes it 30-15. But then another double fault from Anisimova, and a fine angled drop from Osaka brings the two-times champion a break point. And yet … a lovely volley at the net saves the break point, and Anisimova takes it up another gear to hold her serve and make it 1-1 in the first.

Anisimova* 4-6, 6-3, 0-1 Osaka (*denotes next server)

Another unforced error from Osaka brings 15-30 for Anisimova on her opponent’s serve. Osaka produces a big first serve for 30-30, then Anisimova hits long, and looks frustrated to do so, to bring up game point for Osaka. Another error by Anisimova as she dumps a forehand into the net … and Osaka edges ahead in the third set.

We move into the third, decisive set in this increasingly enthralling match between Anisimova and Osaka.

Barty, the world No 1, has won the first set against Giorgi, 6-2.

Anisimova 4-6, 6-3 Osaka

Osaka has a chance to make it 0-30 but misses it. Anisimova edges back ahead but then coughs up a double fault for 30-30. Another unforced error by Osaka brings a first set point, and again, Osaka dumps the ball into the net to concede the second set. We’re into a decider …

*Anisimova 4-6, 5-3 Osaka (*denotes next server)

Anisimova will serve for the second set after a reasonably comfortable hold for Osaka. Anisimova looks increasingly focused, but needs to hold her nerve here.

Anisimova 4-6, 5-2 *Osaka (*denotes next server)

A hold to love for Anisimova, who is ranked 46 places below her opponent, at No 60 in the world. You wouldn’t know it at the moment. Osaka must serve to stay in the set.

*Anisimova 4-6, 4-2 Osaka (*denotes next server)

Osaka holds, hitting the ball with authority and wrestling a bit of control back.

Barty 5-2 *Giorgi (* denotes next server)

The Australian world No 1 moves to within a game of the first set.

Anisimova 4-6, 4-1 *Osaka (*denotes next server)

Now a regulation hold for the 20-year-old. Her confidence is clearly increasing. Osaka had been living with her, and controlling the match, but Anisimova is now in the ascendancy in this second set.

Anisimova* 4-6, 3-1 Osaka (*denotes next server)

Anisimova breaks Osaka’s serve! And does it in style, with a beautifully disguised backhand drop shot which glides over the net. Osaka can only watch it drop into the court. Anisimova smiles and allows herself a little fist bump into the bargain. That was top-class.

Anisimova 4-6, 2-1 Osaka* (*denotes next server)

A hold for the American. Only one break so far, in the first game of the match, and Anisimova (ranked 60) is competing well. Before the fourth game of the second set, the umpire asks three arriving spectators to sit down. They appear oblivious to begin with but eventually get the message.

Elsewhere, Giorgi gets on the board against Barty: It’s 3-1 there now.

On Rod Laver Arena, Ash Barty (1) has begun her match against Camila Giorgi (30) and raced into a 3-0 first-set lead.

Anisimova* 4-6, 1-1 Osaka (*denotes next server)

Anisimova starts to muster some impressive returns of serve, one in particular from out wide on the forehand side which she somehow manages to direct back across court, the ball flashing past Osaka before she has a chance to react. Osaka saves a couple of break points, much to the frustration of Anisimova, who is attacking Osaka’s second serve determinedly. At deuce, Anismova has almost an open goal, a short ball on her forehand with Osaka well out of position, but she puts it into the net … Osaka eventually holds, keeping her composure, and closing out the game in the face of some fierce hitting from the American.

Anisimova 4-6, 1-0* Osaka (*denotes next server)

Attacking the net, Osaka hits a highly accomplished, powerful and accurate forehand volley on the run to make it deuce on her opponent’s serve, making Anisimova work to hold at the beginning of the second set. However, the American holds, and edges 1-0 ahead in the second.

Osaka rounds off a hold to love, sealing the first set, with a crunching smash that leaves her opponent motionless. The 20-year-old American started seeing the ball nicely at times in the that first set, but Osaka is firmly in control.

Anisimova 4-5 Osaka* (*Denotes next server)

Osaka will now serve for the first set against the American.

Zverev speaks: “I had my struggles on the court today, I didn’t feel perfect, but who is perfect? Luckily enough I won, and I’m happy about that.”

Regarding his next assignment, in the fourth round, against the big-hitting 14th seed Denis Shapovalov: “He’s playing well, today’s match was a high level from him. We’re both going to be happy that we’re in the second week. Hopefully I can win. But it’s going to be a great match as well.”

How is he going to prepare for the match against Shapovalov in a couple of days?“I’ll probably get drunk at some time tonight. That’s very popular here in Australia, so why not try it out? [Laughs] … No, I won’t do much. You won’t see me out on the streets.”

The German steamrollered Millman in the previous round, and that was less straightforward against the Romanian who is ranked 124, but it’s still a comfortable win.

Anisimova 3-4 Osaka* (*Denotes next server)

The American is hitting it nicely now and holds for 4-3.

On John Cain Arena, Zverev has a third match point against Albot now for a straight-sets win …

Anisimova* 2-4 Osaka (*Denotes next server)

After a nervous start, Anisimova is growing into this, and forces a first break point. There’s then a slice of luck for the two-times Australian Open champion as a groundstroke flicks off the top of the net and she wins the point. Eventually she closes out the game, but this isn’t going to be easy.

Over on Margaret Court Arena, Naomi Osaka leads Amanda Anisimova 3-2 in the first set, a break up.

Albot and Zverev, meanwhile, are 4-4 in the third, with the German third seed two sets to the good, 6-3, 6-4.

Berrettini speaks and is first asked about his opponent, Carlos Alcaraz: “He’s unbelievable … he’s impressive and he’ll only improve playing matches like this, he showed everyone his potential. Luckily I won but congrats to him.

“I was feeling confident, and in the third, there were a couple of games I was love-30 and I felt the momentum on my side, but I got broken, and that’s tennis … I feel like every match something has to happen [injury wise – he had an ankle problem] but this is my body.”

A stunning effort from the 18-year-old Spaniard, Alcaraz, to fight back from two sets down. But Berrettini eventually had a little too much in the first-to-10 tiebreak. Alcaraz crushes that forehand of his with astonishing power and accuracy, and has a very exciting career ahead of him.

Alcaraz v Berrettini: 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-6, 5-8 tiebreak

Berettini makes it 7-5. Alcaraz, impressive under pressure again, hits a decent backhand drop shot and although Berrettini gets there, he can’t get it back … it’s 8-5 Berrettini but it’s a first to 10 tiebreak so he still has work to do.

Osaka’s match against the unseeded Anisimova has begun, with the 2019 and 2021 champion breaking straight away, Anisimova starting nervously and serving up two double faults.

Final set, first-to-10 tiebreak! Alcararaz 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-6 Berrettini, 3-3

The match moves into a fifth hour with Alcaraz taking a mini-break on the first point after a thrilling rally. Berrettini wins that straight back on the next point before edging ahead 3-2 after another rally of incredible intensity and power with both players hitting it sweetly … next up, Alcaraz winds up a power-packed forehand that Berrettini can’t get back. 3-3

Tiebreak! Alcararaz v Berrettini: 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-6 (*denotes next server)

Berettini takes it to 30-30. Alcaraz mixes it up in the next rally with a drop shot. Berrettini shows impressive mobility to chase that down, then run down the resulting lob … Alcaraz has a volley on the forehand side which he should put away, but puts it long! Match point for Berrettini! But, impressively, Alcaraz hangs tough on match point, Berrettini produces the error by finding the net from the baseline, with Alcaraz tucking away a better volley for advantage Alcaraz and game point. The next rally is a work of art from Alcaraz as he works Berrettini around the court with some punishing groundstrokes … and we have a tiebreaker to decide it!

Alcararaz* v Berrettini: 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-6 (*denotes next server)

The Italian tonks down a few massive serves and easily holds to move, again, within one game of victory. He then smokes a wonderful crosscourt forehand winner, which kisses the line, for 0-15 in this potentially decisive Alcaraz service game.

Alcararaz v Berrettini* – 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-5 (*denotes next server)

Alcaraz, who is seeded 31 and is only 18 years old, holds to love for 5-5 in the fifth and shakes his fist in celebration, looking to his team in the stands. He battled back into this from two sets down!

Hello everyone. What’s occurring at the Australian Open today? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Right now, Carlos Alcaraz and Matteo Berrettini are duking it out in a fifth set, with Berrettini (seeded seventh) having just served to make lead 5-4 in the final set. Plenty more to come, too, with Alexander Zverev currently two sets up on Radu Albot, and Naomi Osaka due to be up against unseeded Amanda Anisimova any second now.