Australian Open 2021 day four: Tsitsipas v Kokkinakis, Barty makes hard work of progress – live!

Second set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (7), 4-3* Thanasi Kokkinakis (denotes server) The pair trade service games and something has to give soon if Kokkinakis is to stay in this second set. Trouble is, Tsitsipas is looking comfortable on his serve at the moment.

Second set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (7), 3-2* Thanasi Kokkinakis (denotes server) Kokkinakis has looked a bit fatigued over the last two games, so he’ll be happy to get through this one with the minimum of fuss. The Australian holds to love, but he’s still down a break this set.

Second set: Stefanos Tsitsipas* 6-7 (7), 3-1 Thanasi Kokkinakis (denotes server) Just brilliant tennis from Tsitsipas at 15-30 down. He moves to the net, puts Kokkinakis exactly where he wants him, and then finishes off the point with a volley. An ace follows and the Greek consolidates that break from 0-30 down.

Second set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (7), 2-1 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) Is this the start of the inevitable fightback from Tsitsipas? The Greek has two break points. But Kokkinakis saves both! Not just yet, Stefanos! Tsitsipas maintains the pressure, but he can’t quite get over the line as he wastes a further two break opportunities. A fifth comes along following a double fault and this time, a flagging Kokkinakis bows to the pressure and sends a tired shot into the net.

Second set: Stefanos Tsitsipas* 6-7 (7), 1-1 Thanasi Kokkinakis (denotes server) The crowd is mainly pro-Kokkinakis today, but safe in the knowledge at least one person out there loves him, Tsitsipas wastes no time in securing his first service game of the second set.

Second set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (7), 0-1 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) Kokkinakis heads into the sheds before the second set gets under way and the break appears to have done him no harm as he races to a 40-0 lead before getting on the board with the loss of just one point. “I love you Stefanos, I love you,” is the call from a woman in the crowd. “I love you,” she continues. Persistent, you’ve got to give her that.

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (7) Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) There’s really nothing to separate these two during the breaker as they trade blows time after time. Until Kokkinakis aces and then runs around a blistering forehand winner to bring up set point! And when Tsitsipas double faults, the Australian draws first blood and takes a one-set lead!

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 5-5 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) Kokkinakis keeps his cool on serve and we’re heading into a tie-break to decide the first set.

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 5-5 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) Tsitsipas races through this game, to love, to heap the pressure back onto Kokkinakis’s serve.

Over on Court 3, another Australian, Alexei Popyrin, has met his match in South African Lloyd Harris, who wins in five sets.

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 5-5 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) Kokkinakis finds himself under a degree of pressure with Tsitsipas sniffing around at the pointy end of this game and that feeling intensifies as he goes wide to gift the Greek break point, and set point. Kokkinakis thinks he’s got himself out of jail with an ace, but there’s a beep and it’s a net cord. The crowd don’t like it, but the player himself doesn’t make any complaints. Kokkinakis saves second break point with an ace and he goes on to hold… with another ace!

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas* 5-4 Thanasi Kokkinakis (denotes server) And we remain on serve in the first set as Tsitsipas holds again, without too much drama.

Over on John Cain Arena…

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-4 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) Kokkinakis throws down a love service game for the first time this match. The Australian keeping things simple there.

Here’s Emma Kemp’s match report from the earlier Barty-Gavrilova match:

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas* 4-3 Thanasi Kokkinakis (denotes server) Tsitsipas is called for another time violation as he readies himself to serve this game. It might be coincidence, but Kokkinakis then brings up break point. He fails to take it but he brings up another one after forcing an error from the Greek with a ball that kicks high again. Tsitsipas responds with class though, drawing Kokkinakis across before moving the net and finishing off with a simple volley. And the fifth seed makes no more errors as he moves into a 4-3 lead.

Meanwhile, there’s been a big upset in the women’s draw over on Margaret Court Arena…. defending champion Sofia Kenin is out of the Australian Open after falling in straight sets to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, 6-3, 6-2.

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-3 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) High quality stuff from both players at 15-15 before Kokkinakis unfurls a lovely backhand winner down the line that draws oohs from the crowd inside Rod Laver Arena. And the Australian builds on that as he serves out the game to draw level once more.

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas* 3-2 Thanasi Kokkinakis (denotes server) Tsitsipas is dealt a time violation, which means he’ll have to watch his step from now on. If he’s over time from on, he’ll lose his first serve and have to serve a second, or if on his opponent’s serve, he’ll lose the point. He doesn’t let it bother him for the rest of this game though, which he holds.

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-2 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) Tsitsipas grinds down Kokkinakis with a lengthy 18-shot baseline rally, mostly on the backhand, to bring up break point. Kokkinakis responds with an impeccably-timed ace but he faces another one soon afterwards… again he saves it in somewhat bizarre fashion as Tsitsipas swings and misses at a second serve! To be fair to the Greek, it did kick up on him a bit. Nevertheless he looks utterly bemused, but stops short of inspecting his racket for a hole that doesn’t exist. Anyway, having saved two break points, Kokkinakis holds.

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas* 2-1 Thanasi Kokkinakis (denotes server) A quickfire game as Tsitsipas pulls the trigger on some big serves – two aces to bring up game point and then a pretty much unreturnable effort seals the game.

First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 1-1 Thanasi Kokkinakis* (denotes server) OK, to the big match on Rod Laver, where Tsitsipas enjoyed a comfortable hold in the opening game, before Kokkinakis followed suit. On serve in the first.

Before we turn attentions to the match about to start on Rod Laver, let’s quickly get up to speed with other matches around the grounds.

Alexei Popyrin has just won the fourth set against Lloyd Harris of South Africa and is heading into another five-setter. Poor bloke must be knackered already and we’re only in the second round. Elsewhere, Svetlana Kuznetsova’s comeback was shortlived against Belinda Bencic with the Swiss posting a a three set win, while men’s seventh seed, Andrey Rublev, saw off Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (8).

There have also been wins for Elise Mertens and Shelby Rogers in the women’s draw, and Feliciano Lopez in the men’s so far.

Right, time for a quick break before Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thanasi Kokkinakis begin their second-round encounter on Rod Laver. This should be a cracker.

“It’s a different challenge every single day,” she continues. “Different conditions in here today. A bit warmer and a fair bit of wind down here on court level which makes it a little tricky. I think it is just trying to be the best that I can be every single day, whatever that level is just making sure that I apply myself as best asI can and then I know regardless of the result I can walk off the court with my head held high. That’s the challenge over the last couple of years for me.

“I’m just trying to do the best I can and obviously having 12 months off, it’s a little rusty, but certainly happy with how I’ve been able to fight through the last couple of weeks.”

Aha, more information on that taping around her left thigh.

“This isn’t very subtle, is it. There is a bit of taping going on there. It’s actually a very small tape job, we just wrap it to make sure it stays on. I can’t really hide it. I’m fit as a fiddle. I’m good to go. It’s been nice to get some matches and general soreness is good, but this one it’s not super subtle.”

Here’s Barty: “Firstly, it’s so nice to see her [Gavrilova] back. She has had a bit of a tricky run with injury over the last 18 months or so, so it’s nice to see her back out competing. I think when you play another Aussie, rankings and experience goes out the window. Always going to be a tricky match, no matter what. Genuinely I’m so pleased that she is back out here competing and healthy again.”

Second set: Ash Barty 6-1, 7-6 (7) Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Barty turns it around, brings up match point, and doesn’t pass up the chance to move into the third round! She wins the tie-break 9-7 to progress after a topsy-turvy match that really should have been over about 30 minutes ago. Barty twice served for the match in the second set, but failed to close it out, allowing Gavrilova to mount a comeback. And she very nearly took the match to a deciding set, but ultimately fell short.

Second set tie-break: Ash Barty 6-6 Daria Gavrilova But here’s another chance for Gavrilova as Barty can only return a big serve into the net. Again though, the chance goes begging, as Gavrilova finds the net.

Second set tie-break: Ash Barty 6-6 Daria Gavrilova Gavrilova cannot take it though, hitting the net. The chance goes begging…

Second set tie-break: Ash Barty 5-6 Daria Gavrilova Gavrilova puffs out her cheeks as Barty inches ahead but parity is restored at 4-4 as Barty hits a backhand volley into the net. Nothing can separate the pair until Barty shanks a regulation forehand and Gavrilova has an unlikely set point!

Second set tie-break: Ash Barty 3-3 Daria Gavrilova Barty opens up a 2-0 lead after Gavrilova opens the breaker with a double fault but a couple of wayward Barty shots allow her back to level things up. Gavrilova then hits the lead before Barty opens up and hits a forehand winner. All square midway through the tie-break!

Second set: Ash Barty* 6-1, 6-6 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Barty has twice failed to serve for the match, but when serving to stay in this set, she does enough to hold. But only just; she’s made to work for it. Barty is getting annoyed with herself and becoming vocal about it. You don’t often see that. Into a tie-breaker we go.

Second set: Ash Barty 6-1, 5-6 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) This match has just got interesting. Gavrilova holds without fuss and she now leads Barty, having trailed 5-2 this set. What a turnaround! Are we in the midst of an incredible comeback? It certainly makes this next game very, very interesting.

Second set: Ash Barty* 6-1, 5-5 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Murmurs from the stands tell you all you need to know as Barty drops to 0-30 as she tries to serve out this match. And when the world No 1 is long on a regulation forehand, she’s facing two break points. One is saved but not the second! Incredible really, but Gavrilova is back on level terms! And Barty is not at all happy with herself. She refrains from chucking her racket, instead opting to hit herself with it (on her heavily-strapped thigh, no less!).

Second set: Ash Barty 6-1, 5-4 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) Gavrilova races to a 40-0 lead and, while she errs a few times on her way, she manages to secure the hold. She needs to break now to stay in the match and keep alive hopes of an unlikely comeback.

Second set: Ash Barty* 6-1, 5-3 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Gavrilova pulls out some of the best tennis she’s played today in this 15th game of the match, a clever move to the net setting her on the way to a 40-0 lead. Barty aces twice down the T – her sixth and seventh of the day – to save two break points, but she can’t three-peat and Gavrilova hangs in there with a timely break of serve!

Second set: Ash Barty 6-1, 5-2 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) Gavrilova, at 40-30 up, opts to attempt a backhand drop-shot. It falls sadly into the net, and you wonder what she was thinking with that decision. It proves the turning point of this game; Barty’s ruthless from that point on and she breaks again. The world No 1 will now serve for the match.

Second set: Ash Barty* 6-1, 4-2 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Gavrilova looks to find a winning shot but her forehand lands just the wrong side of the line to Barty’s left. But she doesn’t have a monopoly on wayward shots and Barty gifts Gavrilova two break point chances with one of her own. Barty, though, saves both, the second with a ridiculous whipped Nadal-esque forehand. The top-ranked player here at Melbourne Park goes on to hold. Close but no cigar for Gavrilova this time.

Second set: Ash Barty 6-1, 3-2 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) Now Barty pulls out a lob from her deep drawer of shots, successfully so, while Gavrilova struggles to land her big shots. The gap in levels between the two is increasing the further into the match we go, and Barty breaks to take the lead for the first time this set.

Second set: Ash Barty* 6-1, 2-2 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Barty moves into the net and volleys – we haven’t seen that much so far today – early on in a more straight forward service game for her. She’s still not firing on all cylinders though, and clearly has plenty in reserve.

Second set: Ash Barty 6-1, 1-2 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) “C’mon!” shouts Gavrilova after running around a forehand to strike her fifth forehand winner of the day. But the struggles on serve continue for her; Barty capitalises to break back and she’s back in things this set.

Second set: Ash Barty* 6-1, 0-2 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Barty’s blowing hot and cold on serve at the moment – back-to-back aces should really take her to 1-1 but she makes life difficult for herself with a pair of double faults, the second of which hands Gavrilova a break point. Her first serve is into the net and when the she does get the ball into play, she goes long. Gavrilova breaks at the first time of asking!

Second set: Ash Barty 6-1, 0-1 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) Gavrilova has a bit of trouble with her ball toss n in this game, apologising to Barty more than a couple of times after abortive attempts, but she manages to keep her focus and she holds to 15. The importance of that hold may become clear as we move through this second set.

Over on Margaret Court Arena, veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova has taken the second set against Belinda Bencic, the 11th seed.

First set: Ash Barty* 6-1 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Gavrilova saves the first of two set points she faces here but Barty aces on the second and that’s that for the first set. The top seed, despite not really having hit her straps fully, claims it after just 27 minutes.

First set: Ash Barty 5-1 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) Barty’s sporting some heavy strapping on her left thigh, by the way, although she seems to be moving freely enough at this stage. And it’s certainly not affecting the scoreboard – the world No 1 breaks again. If there’s any consolation for Gavrilova at this point it’s that she has already surpassed the meagre 10 points managed by Danka Kovinić two days ago in Barty’s opening match.

First set: Ash Barty* 4-1 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Gavrilova clenches her fist after enjoying a big forehand winner, but she’s wide from a narrow angle at the net on the next point. Nevertheless she forces deuce and then saves game point with a huge, aggressive forehand – encouraging signs, if she can keep her radar in check. But she’s wide again soon after and Barty holds. Rather up-and-down play from both players so far and a pattern to the match has yet to emerge. Still, without setting the arena on fire yet, Barty holds a three-game advantage.

First set: Ash Barty 3-1 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) Gavrilova sends down her first ace of the game to level at 30-30 but she then offers Barty another break chance with a ball that lands just out at the baseline. And a double fault sees Barty break for a second time.

First set: Ash Barty* 2-1 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Barty double faults midway through this game, but she recalibrates and, after a forehand winner played across Gavrilova, she holds for the first time today as Gavrilova fires one wide.

First set: Ash Barty 1-1 Daria Gavrilova* (denotes server) Of course, there’s a completely different vibe on Rod Laver compared to last night’s raucous atmosphere for Nick Kyrgios. It’s all very sedate so far, but that should change as we move forward. Barty breaks back immediately as Gavrilova plays some loose shots of her own. Back on serve in the opener!

First set: Ash Barty* 0-1 Daria Gavrilova (denotes server) Oh dear, not the start the higher-ranked player wanted on her serve. Barty faces three break points after a couple of unforced errors and, despite responding with an ace to pull back to 15-40, another sloppy shot, into the net this time, gifts Gavrilova the opening game.

Barty and Gavrilova (Ash and Dash in case you weren’t aware) are out on court, warming up. Gavrilova is on her way back from injury, but Barty spoke before the match of the challenge she faces today.

“It will be a challenge,” Barty said. “I’ll enjoy it – I always enjoy testing myself against other Aussies.”

OK, we’re good to go. Barty with the ball in hand first. Ready? Play.

It’s not just about Barty today, of course. Up after this one on centre are Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thanasi Kokkinakis in a match-up sure to capture the local imagination (particularly in Melbourne’s Greek community). Then Coco Gauff plays fifth seed Elina Svitolina first up in the night session, followed by Rafael Nadal’s big win over Michael Mmoh. Sofia Kenin and Daniil Medvedev are also in action, along with a host of local hopes, including Alex De Minaur, Sam Stosur and Alexei Popyrin.

The reason for that rather brief preamble is that I’ve been caught somewhat on the hop, given the speed with which Karolína Plíšková ploughed through the end of the second set against Danielle Collins in the match just finished on Rod Laver Arena. After an evenly-matched first set, the sixth-seeded Czech took just 35 more minutes to complete a 7-5, 6-2 win over her American opponent. She moves into the third round against another Czech Karolína, Karolína Muchová.