January 21, 2024

Australian Open 2024 LIVE updates: De Minaur misses break chance as Rublev wins 35-shot rally; Fritz knocks Tsitsipas out as his girlfriend prepares fulfil for Vegemite pact

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12.44am

That’s all for tonight

That’s all we have for you tonight after a cracking match between Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur which Rublev won in five sets to move to the quarterfinals.

We will have more de Minaur stories to come and another Australian Open blog later in the morning.

Thanks so much for joining us and we will see you again later on today.

Bye for now.

12.18am

De Minaur ‘devastated’ after Rublev loss

By Roy Ward

Australian star Alex de Minaur says he is “absolutely devastated” to be out at the fourth round of the Australian Open and he felt he could have gone further in the tournament.

But the 24-year-old said he just couldn’t find an answer for Andrey Rublev’s power strokes in the last two sets as the tiring Russian swung hard and came up with too many winners.

Alex de Minaur.Credit: Getty Images

De Minaur also rued his poor first-serve percentage as it fed Rublev’s game plan to swing hard.

“It’s a tough way to end my time here, I had aspired to go further but he played too good in the fourth and fifth set,” de Minaur said.

“He just let go and started swinging freely. He caught a purple patch and was too good in the end.

“That is the thing, it’s tough as I thought he was hurting physically in the third and the fourth and he just let go and started swinging and the balls went in.”

He added that he didn’t think he lost the game physically but couldn’t make him move.

“It’s not a match that I thought I lost physically, it’s just that the racquet was taken out of my hand. I couldn’t make him move,” de Minaur said.

“He was just hitting from every part of the court at Mach 10.

“That is the most disappointing part of the match.”

yesterday 11.53pm

Son day special: Cruz Hewitt lays it on the line in Open debut

By Marc McGowan

Son-of-a-champion Cruz Hewitt’s Australian Open boys’ singles debut ended in a straight-sets defeat on Sunday, but not before displaying some uncanny resemblances to his former world No.1 dad.

The 15-year-old wildcard – one of the country’s most promising young players – lost 6-2, 6-3 to sixth-seeded American Alexander Razeghi in a contest lasting just short of an hour-and-a-half on a packed court three full of fans keen to see Lleyton Hewitt’s son in action.

Cruz Hewitt made an impression in the junior championships at the Australian Open but lost to Alexander Razeghi.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen,

Lleyton was front and centre in Cruz’s player box, along with wife Bec, the teenager’s coach Peter Luczak, Jaymon Crabb and Jordan Thompson, while John Millman arrived mid-match and instantly became a source of support.

Lleyton’s parents, Glynn and Cherilyn, were also in the stands, while former Western Bulldogs player-turned-Essendon assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa was another interested onlooker.

Speaking to Channel Nine on Sunday morning before Cruz’s match, Lleyton – now Australia’s Davis Cup captain after a stellar playing career – said he was “unbelievably proud” of his son.

Click here to read the story.

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yesterday 11.40pm

‘You will die today’: Rublev gave his all to win

Andrey Rublev has given a trademark candid interview about his wild five-set win over Alex de Minaur.

The No.5 seed admitted he feared he would lose when he went down two sets to one but told himself to battle out the match, no matter what it cost him.

Andrey Rublev.Credit: Eddie Jim

“Amazing match to Alex,” Rublev told Jim Courier with a smile.

“Two days ago I hoped we would play an amazing match and spectators would enjoy it, now I’m beginning to regret that.”

“When I was down two sets to one, I said to myself “you will die today but you will do everything”.

“Then I played better and better and was able to win.”

Rublev was hurting in the fifth set despite winning it 6-0 and admitted he had used a lot of energy and was hurting in the last set.

“When you play four hours, long rallies you start to feel some pain but it is normal with intensity like this. I just tried to push myself. Don’t cry, don’t feel sorry for yourself,” Rublev said.

“You keep fighting and see what happens.”

He has Italian star Jannik Sinner next up and he may have used up too many energy to get this win.

“Jannik is one more player who is had an unreal season last year and is amazing this year,” he said.

“He beat me last time, it looks like I’m in trouble but I will do my best.”

yesterday 11.29pm

Rublev wins

Andrey Rublev has outlasted Australian star Alex de Minaur to claim a five-set win and lock in a place in the quarterfinals.

Rublev won 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-0 in a high-quality match that lasted more than four hours.

Andrey Rublev.Credit: Eddie Jim

De Minaur looked a chance to win the match in four sets but as both players wore down, Rublev’s powerful forehand was too much for the young Aussie.

Rublev will play Jannik Sinner in the quarters.

yesterday 11.22pm

Rublev serving for the match

Rublev is up 5-0 and serving for the match.

The mixed doubles that was meant to follow this match has been postponed, presumably until tomorrow.

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yesterday 11.13pm

De Minaur trying everything but Rublev on top

Down 2-0, de Minaur is trying to summon all the energy he can to mount one last comeback.

Rublev is playing like someone who has been here before and he is coming up with some superb winners, despite being as tired as de Minaur.

Alex de Minaur.Credit: Eddie Jim

An unhelpful crowd member yelled out: “What would Lleyton do?” and the rest of the crowd drowned him out with cheers for de Minaur.

An ace at 30-30 had the crowd roaring but a running return, that would have been a winner, just landed over the line.

But Rublev came up with a brilliant winner and celebrated with some wild facial gestures.

He leads 3-0 in the fifth set.

yesterday 11.06pm

Rublev breaks to start fifth set

It’s like Rublev has put the cone of silence over Rod Laver Arena as he broke de Minaur to love to begin the fifth set.

His backhand winner to seal the break was sublime.

De Minaur has a huge hill to climb, this was another service game dropped to start a set.

yesterday 11.02pm

Rublev wins fourth set

We are going to a deciding fifth set.

Rublev coughed up an easy service win (to love) to de Minaur in the previous game but roared back to hold his serve and win the set 6-3.

Alex de Minaur.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

It’s two sets each and both players look tired.

Rublev has shown in the past and in this tournament that he can win in five sets, the question for de Minaur is does he have the energy reserves to win from this position.

There is a last eight spot waiting for one of these two stars.

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yesterday 10.56pm

Rublev holds – just

This set is pure chaos tennis after a number of early breaks and some very shaky service games but Rublev stood tall in that last game to bring up a couple of crucial winners and turn a break point into a hold of serve.

He leads 5-2 in the fourth set. It really looks like we are headed for a fifth set.

The players have been on court for three hours and 40 minutes.

Andrey Rublev.Credit: AP

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