Rublev sure has a aiming problem.
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And he’s needing a lot of second serves
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I refuse to watch his matches now
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Well 9 will be happy with this one I guess.
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Disappointing end for DeMinaur.
Led 2 sets to 1 and looked the goods to go on with it, but went down with a bagel in the last
6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-0
I think the Demon just ran out of energy in the 4 hour 5 setter. Rublev ran him all over the joint.
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Tonight’s scheduled mixed doubles match with Australians on RLA has been rescheduled to tomorrow afternoon, due to the 5 set de Minaur v Rublev marathon (which TBH should’ve been anticipated).
Nine’s telecast should, for once, finish on time around midnight aedt tonight. Brace about to wrap the day and preview tomorrow (which is stacked).
Oh, Alex 
He had his chances though, in the end Rublev proved his ranking/seeding and was just too good, even if Demon was fitter and Andrey had cramping. Rublev’s serving was far superior (something de Minaur still needs to work on - even if somewhat better this year but not this match) and final set accuracy was better, as well as a bit of luck tonight. I think some nerves also got to Alex again in yet another R4 appearance, depsite an amazing epic and nearly getting the job done (bar the 5th), I actually think it was his worst performance at this AO.
Anyway, onto Roland Garros and 2024 including an Olympics and fingers crossed for 2025 in Melbourne (wonder if Kyrgios or even Barty might be back 
)
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Also his toughest opponent too, as the old saying goes, you can only play as well as you’re allowed to, De Minaur just didn’t have the answers to Rublev’s power shots.
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Stop trying to make fetch, erm, bagel happen. 
Amazing match. Was in the crowd - electric atmosphere.
A shame he lost but it was a well fought battle. Our next rising star 
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It will always be harder for Demon against some of the much taller guys because of his lack of height,his speed around the court does make up for that though.
Still a great match though:tennis:
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DM is an interesting one. He is one of those players that will probably never win a Slam, but will get 75% of the way and hold major players to account.
His forehand and serve issues will always hold him back. He didn’t get the height, is what it is, not much one can do about that.
He might be QF material, but we are likely close to his maximum potential.
Similar match also between these two when they met last time. Rublev a bit sloppy at the start, but destroyed him in the end like we noticed here.
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Agree, and that’s all you can ask of him.
At least he reached his potential, unlike Krygios and Tomic. And not behaving like a twat in the process as well.
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This might sound weird, but I actually really enjoy the Aus Open even when there’s no more Australians left, because it’s not as stressful (last night nobody giving an inch made it 4hrs+ tension as a viewer) and I feel I get to relax a bit more, observing more of what’s going on, both in-play analytically with both players and off the court with things that are happing around the arena… Whereas with last night, all I’m really concentrating on is the score and Alex winning points the whole night.
As well as being able to really start focussing on other players, both bigger names and newer up and comers, particularly now around R4 and QFs before the real serious end looms and things get tense again, you can see some all-time great contests, not just night but daytime too. Like today, some big names and match-ups all day
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Agree, and now because you know you are really watching the best of the best, not just the *nearly good enough but not quite" like DeMinaur.
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I mean, with some of the missteps he made yesterday, you could say 90% of the other players would have thrown a wobbly. By controlling himself, He won’t have that baggage with him for the rest of his life, unlike those others you correctly mention.
He tries hard and doesn’t crack the sads. His a winner in my book. He will be ok, he is likely worth $30-40m, not bad for someone his age!
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Yep, exactly. Although, this year’s draw was a bloody tough one for the Aussies (most since the late 1980s I think) and a number lost R1 or R2 by the smallest of margins after very long 5 or 3 sets, I do think de Minaur (in time), even a 2018-esque really focussed/matured Kyrgios or another surprise local could go deeper and dare to dream like Barty. IMO Ajla Tomljanovic is probably out best hope, but coming back from bad injury, needs time to get her 100% A game back (like this AO and probably a handful more WTA tournaments and another Slam - maybe she can look to Wimbledon and the Olympics), look what she achieved in 2022, overshadowed by Barty and Kyrgios that year.
I’m keen to see two-time AO Champ Azarenka up shortly who’s having some run, as well as Zverev (still trying to find his championship not too dissimilar to yep Tsitsipas who got sent packing, Kyrgios, Demon, etc v UK’s Cam Norrie (on JCA too - crowd should be electric for this and they’ll give the Brit a bit) and Medvedev (who finished after 3:30am after 4hrs+ and another match perhaps a potential danger match, lack of energy and an onfire opponent in Borges to plant a seed of doubt). But Carlos Alcarez in prime time tonight, can’t wait to get a look at his game again, what a new superstar (commentators on Nine’s pre show today said it’s being said he’s got a bit of all the ‘Big 3’ about him including a multi-surface player).
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Will be a weapon once Novak finally one day eventually retires. His only 20, just imagine what the bloke will be like in 3/4 years.
His performance for someone of his age against Novak last year was sensational. He will be the name of the 2030s just you watch.
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Do you think organisers, broadcasters and public are hoping for a Joker v Alcarez final? That’d probably give us the best chance for a thriller, 5 setter, upset first ever Djokovic AO final loss. I feel Joker, even if looking amazing, will have the likes of Medvedev (probably next best chance to cause an upset, has played him in the final previously and beat Djoker in Dubai), Sinner (who I think will beat Rublev), Rublev and Zverev covered.
As for the women, wide open once again with some big names saying see ya later, but I feel they’d like if not Azaranka for arguably the most famous name remaining, romanticism and punching well above her weight these days IMO, then probably reigning champ Sabalenka or both in the women’s final?
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1 v 2 seed. Yes, I do.
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I hope Carlos Alcarez wins
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