Murray, Kerber crash in day of upsets

AFP, MELBOURNE: World number ones Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber both crashed out of the Australian Open on a day of major upsets Sunday, as Roger Federer fought his way closer to an 18th Grand Slam title.
Murray was stunned by 50th-ranked serve-and-volley specialist Mischa Zverev in four sets before Kerber, the women's title-holder, tamely succumbed 6-2, 6-3 to Coco Vandeweghe.
The unpredictable results, following six-time champion Novak Djokovic's stunning loss in the second round, opened the door to a host of challengers -- with Federer leading the charge.
The 35-year-old Swiss won the last of his record 17 Slam titles in 2012, but he took full advantage of Murray's demise with a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Kei Nishikori.
Federer, who looks back to full fitness after a six-month injury lay-off, said the hard-fought, fourth-round win could be significant as he now eyes a quarter-final with Zverev.
“This is a huge moment for me in my career,” Federer said.
“I was telling myself, 'Stay calm'. I feel fit, I've trained as hard as I possibly can in the off-season. That's what you tell yourself and you hope it pays off,” he added.
Murray had been the hot favourite after Djokovic's shock exit, but the Briton lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to Germany's Zverev to extend his wait for a first Melbourne title.
The Briton was never expected to be troubled by the 29-year-old, who has never won an ATP title, but he suffered his earliest Melbourne departure in eight years.
It isn't since the 2004 French Open that the top two men's seeds have gone out before the quarter-finals, and for Murray, a five-time losing finalist, it meant yet more Melbourne misery.
“I've had tough losses in my career in the past. I've come back from them. This is a tough one," Murray said.
“I'm sure I'll come back okay from it. But right now I'm obviously very down because I wanted to go further in this event, and it wasn't to be."
Zverev, a former junior rival of Murray's, stretched to a series of elastic volleys to frustrate the Scot, coming to the net 118 times as he reached his first major quarter-final.
“I was like in a little coma, just serving and volleying my way through it. There were a few points where I didn't know how I pulled it off but somehow I made it,” he said.
Meanwhile Stan Wawrinka, who won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Melbourne in 2014, came through 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) against Italy's Andreas Seppi.
The formidable Swiss, now into his fourth Australian Open quarter-final, will play France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who came from a set down to beat British surprise package Dan Evans.
Kerber's maiden Grand Slam title defence, and first major tournament as world number one, ended poorly as she came off distinctly second-best to the aggressive Vandeweghe.
The unseeded American broke Kerber's serve four times and was on top at the net and from the baseline as she grabbed her first win over a world number one.
In the quarter-finals, Vandeweghe, who halted Eugenie Bouchard in the previous round, faces French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, who swamped Romania's Sorana.

 

 

Murray, Kerber crash in day of upsets

AFP, MELBOURNE: World number ones Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber both crashed out of the Australian Open on a day of major upsets Sunday, as Roger Federer fought his way closer to an 18th Grand Slam title. Murray was stunned by 50th-ranked serve-and-volley specialist Mischa Zverev in four sets before Kerber, the womens title-holder, tamely succumbed 6-2, 6-3 to Coco Vandeweghe. The unpredictable results, following six-time champion Novak Djokovics stunning loss in the second round, opened the door to a host of challengers -- with Federer leading the charge. The 35-year-old Swiss won the last of his record 17 Slam titles in 2012, but he took full advantage of Murrays demise with a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Kei Nishikori. Federer, who looks back to full fitness after a six-month injury lay-off, said the hard-fought, fourth-round win could be significant as he now eyes a quarter-final with Zverev. This is a huge moment for me in my career, Federer said. I was telling myself, Stay calm. I feel fit, Ive trained as hard as I possibly can in the off-season. Thats what you tell yourself and you hope it pays off, he added. Murray had been the hot favourite after Djokovics shock exit, but the Briton lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to Germanys Zverev to extend his wait for a first Melbourne title. The Briton was never expected to be troubled by the 29-year-old, who has never won an ATP title, but he suffered his earliest Melbourne departure in eight years. It isnt since the 2004 French Open that the top two mens seeds have gone out before the quarter-finals, and for Murray, a five-time losing finalist, it meant yet more Melbourne misery. Ive had tough losses in my career in the past. Ive come back from them. This is a tough one, Murray said. Im sure Ill come back okay from it. But right now Im obviously very down because I wanted to go further in this event, and it wasnt to be. Zverev, a former junior rival of Murrays, stretched to a series of elastic volleys to frustrate the Scot, coming to the net 118 times as he reached his first major quarter-final. I was like in a little coma, just serving and volleying my way through it. There were a few points where I didnt know how I pulled it off but somehow I made it, he said. Meanwhile Stan Wawrinka, who won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Melbourne in 2014, came through 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) against Italys Andreas Seppi. The formidable Swiss, now into his fourth Australian Open quarter-final, will play Frances Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who came from a set down to beat British surprise package Dan Evans. Kerbers maiden Grand Slam title defence, and first major tournament as world number one, ended poorly as she came off distinctly second-best to the aggressive Vandeweghe. The unseeded American broke Kerbers serve four times and was on top at the net and from the baseline as she grabbed her first win over a world number one. In the quarter-finals, Vandeweghe, who halted Eugenie Bouchard in the previous round, faces French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, who swamped Romanias Sorana.