World No.1 Iga Swiatek loses to Linda Noskova, Novak Djokovic dumped from Rod Laver Arena, Alex Zverev domestic abuse, updates, blog, scores, schedule

Teenager Linda Noskova has pulled off an upset for the ages, fighting back from a set down to knock the world number one Iga Swiatek out of the Australian Open 3-6 6-3 6-4.

The 19-year-old Czech qualifier, ranked 50th in the world, becomes the lowest-ranked woman to topple the No.1 seed at an Australian Open since world number 81 Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova in the 2007 final.

She is also the first teenager to defeat the world No.1 at Melbourne Park since Amelie Mauresmo in 1999 vs Lindsay Davenport.

Noskova, competing in her first Australian Open, now books her place in the fourth round of a slam for the first time, blowing the draw wide open with by far the biggest win of her career.

Conversely, it is Swiatek’s earliest slam defeat since the 2020 US Open.

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The big-serving Czech was equally impressive as courageous, showing a willingness to unleash her ferocious power and swing for the fences from the first point – but equally, backing her ability to stay with the No.1 even in long baseline rallies.

Swiatek, so used to controlling points as well as matches, failed to find her rhythm but scratched her way to a first set lead with trademark doggedness.

The Pole had faced a couple of break points at 1-1 in the opening set but fought back to hold, before claiming the crucial break at her third break point chance to lead 4-2 and going on to serve out the opener.

But as Noskova settled into the contest – her booming serve landing more regularly, and better returning the Swiatek serve – Swiatek couldn’t lift her level or find the relentless consistency that so often smothers rivals, grinds them into dust.

Swiatek seemed – if not comfortable or in control, then at least steady – for much of the second set.

But the errors continued to rise and Swiatek couldn’t capitalise on a crucial opportunity in the second set, when she had a break point at 3-3.

The underdog just held on as an unusually inconsistent Swiatek made a pair of errors – and Noskova capitalised on the champ’s failure to convert, holding serve before immediately breaking to love.

Noskova sealed the game and a 5-3 lead with a thunderous forehand return – her first return winner of the match – before some flawless serving closed out the set 6-3.

Noskova got her nose in front in the deciding set when another raft of unforced Swiatek errors handed the 19-year-old the break and a 2-1 lead.

But then the match was halted due to a medical emergency in the crowd during the changeover.

An elderly woman in the stands was attended to by numerous paramedics and carried from the stadium in a stretcher-slash-wheelchair.

When play resumed, Noskova lost the next three points in a row and was soon broken.

Nerves or sloppiness had set in on both sides of the court – and four unforced errors from Swiatek in the following game forced the Pole to stave off a break point, which she just managed to do.

Swiatek, normally so nerveless, her shots metronomic in the way they find the corner, then was down a break point while serving at 3-3.

The umpire spoke up: Swiatek had copped a time violation that was probably long overdue.

She responded by draining a forehand winner from the second serve. But errors struck again and she was broken when she rifled a forehand halfway up the net.

Noskova consolidated the break – 5-3, before Swiatek raced through a game.

It was all on Noskova’s serve, and the crowd blew up in anticipation of witnessing something special. But – as she so often has in the biggest moments throughout her career – Swiatek found her true self, racing to 0-30 with a pair of winners. The moment disappeared as soon as it arrived: two more errors gave Noskova 30-30, and an ace brought up match point.

If there were nerves, she didn’t show any, and Swiatek’s return sailed long to seal the biggest upset of this open.

“I’m speechless,” she said. “Obviously I knew it was going to be an amazing match with the world number one, such an amazing player.

“I didn’t really think it was going to end up like this.”

Noskova also revealed she was shaking between points as she tried to serve out the match.

Noskova will next face 19th seed Elina Svitolina, whose impressive form has her arguably the favourite to make it out of the top half of the draw.

‘VERY WEIRD’ ACT SUMS UP ZVEREV ISSUE

It always looked like a puzzling match to place on centre court.

In the second match of the night on Rod Laver Arena, No.6 seed Alexander Zverev – who has been accused by two ex-partners of domestic abuse, and will go on trial in May – easily took care of business against American Alex Michelsen, 6-2 7-6(4) 6-2.

Those accusations are the dark cloud that remain hovering over the tournament, especially as Zverev reaches the second week.

The problem is that, while tennis itself has totally failed to act against Zverev – refusing to stand him down despite the multiple accusations, and despite the ‘penalty order’ sanction already placed upon him by a German court – the world around tennis is finally starting to treat him differently.

Despite his ranking Zverev’s match was only covered on broadcaster Nine’s main channel once it was the only match being played at Melbourne Park; and as US journalist Ben Rothenberg pointed out, the Australian Open didn’t even tweet live updates (like it does through other major matches).

“It’s very weird that @AustralianOpen would put a match on a Laver night session that they don’t feel comfortable live-tweeting about, isn’t it?” he asked.

The decision not to celebrate Zverev, but just acknowledge him when necessary, is the closest thing to a morally correct one the tennis world can make – because of the awkward situation the sport has created.

But it’s only going to get more awkward if he keeps winning. And he’ll be favoured against No.19 seed Cam Norrie in the fourth round.

MEDDY READY FOR SECOND WEEK

No.3 seed Daniil Medvedev has taken advantage of a below-par No.27 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime to prevail 6-3 6-4 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena.

It took 19 minutes to get through the opening three games, with a marathon third ending in Medvedev earning a break to lead 2-1.

Consistent errors from the Canadian then saw Medvedev power his way to a 6-3 opening set win.

However Auger-Aliassime earned two break points in the opening game of the second set and converted the latter.

A return to the errors of the opening set soon allowed Medvedev to break back for 3-3.

“That’s a really disappointing game for Auger-Aliassime here. Just handing it back to Medvedev,” Jim Courier said on Nine.

Another “error-ridden game”, per commentator Todd Woodbridge, handed Medvedev the second set 6-4.

It was much of the same from there as Medvedev cruised into the fourth round.

DJOKER DUMPED AS DEMON CASHES IN ON TREND’S END

For the first time since 2021, Novak Djokovic has been booted from the centre court night session at the Australian Open, overtaken by Aussie world No.10 Alex de Minaur in the pecking order.

Djokovic has stated, both publicly and privately, his preference is to play on Rod Laver Arena in the night session as the conditions suit him.

And tournament organisers have given him what he wants, handing the 10-time champion 15 consecutive appearances in the primetime spot, for 15 consecutive wins. His last loss at the tournament, in 2018 to Hyeon Chung, came at night.

But he’ll instead play in the day session on Sunday, battling French veteran Adrian Mannarino.

It’s not completely a penalty for Djokovic, given Mannarino has played three consecutive five-setters to begin the tournament, including a late-night finish on Friday, and now gets less recovery time.

It’s also predicted Melbourne will be much warmer next week than on Sunday (tipped to be 21 degrees) meaning, if Djokovic was going to have to play a day match, this is the most comfortable option for him.

Djokovic and Mannarino will play their fourth-round match not before 1:30pm AEDT, after US Open champion Coco Gauff battles Magdalena Frech.

De Minaur’s clash with No.5 seed Andrey Rublev is the only match scheduled for the Rod Laver Arena night session starting at 7pm AEDT, with a mixed doubles contest to follow.

“For me (John Cain Arena) felt a little bit slower than RLA,” de Minaur said after advancing into the fourth round.

“Playing on a different court today made it a little bit tricky for me to find my footing and my timing in certain shots.

“I would love to play on RLA. Obviously that prime time slot is pretty special and you’ve got to earn it.

“If the organisers decide to put me there, then I’ll be happy to play on it.“But ultimately it doesn’t really matter when I play – whether I play first match, whether I play last, whether I play on RLA or court 27.”

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