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Poll: What will the scoreline be in tonight’s marquee match?
Tsitsipas saves three break points
It got a bit dicey there for Tsitsipas, down 15-40, but the Greek star saved two break points, and then another, before holding serve at 3-2.
Sinner will now serve to move to 4-2.
So far in this fourth set, both players have hit five winners each, but Tsitsipas has hit 9-7 unforced errors.
Sinner has struggled to land his first serves in this set, but despite this, he hasn’t given Tsitsipas a break-point look.
Sinner breaks in fourth set
The momentum continues.
Sinner had two break point chances in the third service game.
He missed the first, staying deep in the court for a second serve as Tsitsipas attempted the serve and volley, but Sinner’s backhand passing shot attempt hit the net.
But he took advantage again with another smart drop shot, and sealed the break to take a 2-1 lead.
He’ll now serve to move 3-1 up in the fourth set, in his bid to level this match at two sets apiece.
Video: Sinner wraps up third set
Who will survive the ‘graveyard’ of the men’s singles draw?
By Paul McNamee
In Australian rules football, the third term is known as the “premiership quarter”. In golf, the third round is referred to as “moving day”. In World Cup soccer, there’s always a “group of death”.
Well, in this Australian Open, the third quarter of the men’s singles draw – positions 65 to 96 in the 128-strong draw – is the “graveyard”. Survive it and you can go the whole way.
Can Novak Djokovic survive the graveyard that is his quarter of the draw?Credit:AP
The word “graveyard” has tennis history. It was the nickname of Wimbledon’s infamous court two, which was, pardon the pun, dead centre of the All-England Club grounds. It ended the hopes of many great players. One example was Pete Sampras, who lost a five-setter there to “one-match wonder” George Bastl. We didn’t know it at the time, but that would be the last match Sampras ever played at Wimbledon. Not the farewell you want.
Sinner takes third set
No problem for Sinner on serve, he serves to love and takes the third set, 6-3.
It’s quite the match now.
Tsitsipas started very strongly, taking the first set 6-4, and while Tsitsipas took the second set 6-4, Sinner probably played better tennis in the second set, up until the final few games when he hit some unforced errors and coughed up a break to the Greek star.
But some tactical changes in the third set saw Sinner prevail, 6-3.
Scoreline: 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, in Tsitsipas’ favour.
Tsitsipas saves three set points
Another tactical service game, which saw Sinner move to 15-40 and give himself two set point chances.
But Tsitsipas forced the Italian into errors twice in a row, and despite Sinner creating a third set point chance, Tsitsipas again forced Sinner into a mistake.
An attempted drop shot, which didn’t make it over the net, allowed Tsitsipas to hold at 5-3.
Sinner will now serve for the third set.
Sinner closes in on third set
The Italian now leads 5-2 in this third set.
He has played brilliant tennis, and again, used the drop shot to great effect in that service game to hold serve.
Tsitsipas has hit 12-9 winners in this set, but also hit 14-9 unforced errors.
Sinner has only given him one break point chance, and Tsitsipas did not take it.
Sinner consolidates
It’s now 4-1 in Sinner’s favour in this third set.
Tactically he’s made some brilliant changes, and the drop shot is certainly being used to his advantage, given how far back Tsitsipas is standing.
Jannik Sinner.Credit:AP
Earlier, Tsitsipas’ clinical break point in second set
Sinner breaks Tsitsipas
With a deft drop shot, Sinner has finally broken Tsitsipas’ serve.
Again, Sinner had three break-point chances, with Tsitsipas saving two of them.
But Sinner came up with the goods at deuce, hitting a beautiful passing shot to set up the third chance, and then took the opportunity with a deft drop shot.
Sinner has made a key change to his returning position in this set, on the advice of his coaches. Instead of coming inside the baseline on second serves, he has decided to go further back, giving himself more time to return serve.
Sinner is serving with a 3-1 lead in this third set.
