On Saturday in Melbourne, third round singles action concludes, with plenty of room for new names to advance after the bottom half of both singles draws saw a plethora of upsets on Thursday.
Andy Murray won an epic encounter in the last round, defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis after five hours and forty-five minutes, in a match that ended after 4:00am. After already spending over 10-and-a-half hours on court this week, what will Murray have left on Saturday against Roberto Bautista Agut, who had seemingly sent Andy into retirement four years ago at this same event?
Meanwhile Nine-Time Champion Novak Djokovic has struggled his way through two rounds with a significant leg injury, as his movement was obviously hampered on Thursday. In the third round, he faces Grigor Dimitrov for the 11th time. Dimitrov has advanced comfortably without dropping a set.
And Aryna Sabalenka is playing some of the best tennis of her career. But on Saturday, she faces her friend and former doubles partner Elise Mertens, who partnered with Sabalenka to win this tournament in 2021.
Each day this preview will highlight the four most intriguing matchups, while outlining the other notable matches on the schedule. Saturday’s play will begin at 11:00am local time.
Aryna Sabalenka (5) vs. Elise Mertens (26) – Third on Margaret Court Arena
Sabalenka has cruised to this stage, losing only nine games across four sets. And she’s now taken all 12 sets she’s contested in 2023, coming off a title run last week in Adelaide. Aryna has reached the fourth round in each of the last two years in Melbourne.
Mertens has achieved that same feat in each of the last three years, and was a semifinalist here in 2018. She was a modest 29-23 last season in singles, but won a hard court title in October.
Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 6-2, and has won their last five meetings. Most recently, she defeated Mertens in the fourth round of the 2021 US Open 6-4, 6-1. On Saturday, based on her recent strong form, Aryna is the favorite to defeat Elise for the sixth straight time.
Linda Fruhvirtova vs. Marketa Vondrousova – Third on 1573 Arena
Vondrousova upset Ons Jabeur in the last round, who was the runner-up at the last two Majors. Marketa was a Major runner-up herself four years ago in Paris, but injuries have hampered her career ever since. Still just 23-years-old, there’s seemingly plenty of time for the Czech to become a contender again.
Fruhvirtova is also a Czech player, though she’s six years younger than Vondrousova. The 17-year-old is into the third round of a Slam for the first time, and her younger sister Brenda was also in this main draw, as a qualifier. Linda first made waves on tour last March in Miami, where she upset Mertens and Azarenka on her way to the fourth round. She won her first WTA title this past September in Chennai.
Both players possess plenty of variety in their games, so this should be a fun contest. But based on Vondrousova’s experience edge, especially at this level, I like her chances to advance. Plus, since November, Marketa is now 12-2 at all levels on a hard court.
Grigor Dimitrov (27) vs. Novak Djokovic (4) – 7:00pm on Rod Laver Arena
Djokovic looked seriously hobbled at times during his second round match against Enzo Couacaud. He suffered a hamstring injury two weeks ago in Adelaide, and admitted after his second round victory that his injury “is not ideal.” Dimitrov is a considerable step up in competition for Novak, as his first two opponents were ranked 75th and 191st in the world.
The Australian Open is easily the best Major in Grigor’s career. The Bulgarian has advanced to the quarterfinals or better four times since 2014. But he was only 26-22 last season, and only 4-4 at Slams.
Djokovic has dominated their head-to-head 9-1, and 6-0 on hard courts. Dimitrov’s only victory came 10 years ago on clay in Madrid. While not knowing the full extent of his hamstring inury, after watching Djokovic fight his way through an abdominal injury to win this event two years ago, it’s hard not to pick Novak to fight his way to another victory over Grigor on Saturday.
Andy Murray vs. Roberto Bautista Agut (24) – 7:00pm on Margaret Court Arena
Murray can’t possibly recover enough to contend in this matchup, right? Coming back from back-to-back five-setters, the second of which lasted nearly six hours and ended close to breakfast time, seems impossible for almost any athlete, much less a 35-year-old with a metal hip.
While Bautista Agut is also coming off a five-setter, against American qualifier Brandon Holt, his lasted nearly three hours less, and ended even more hours earlier. Roberto is off to a strong start in 2023, as he was a runner-up just last week in Adelaide, where he lost the final in a third-set tiebreak to Soon-woo Kwon.
Four years ago in the first round of this tournament, Bautista Agut defeated Murray in a four-hour five-setter, with an on-court ceremony held thereafter for a thought-to-be retiring Andy. But here Murray is, still gritting his way through five-setters and defeating players nearly 10 years his junior. Roberto also beat Andy twice last year on hard courts, winning those four sets by score lines of 6-0, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. Murray claimed their first three meetings, which occurred between 2014 and 2016.
But on this day, a drained Andy has to be considered a huge underdog, as he tries to reach the fourth round at a Major for the first time in six years.
Other Notable Matches on Saturday:
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (Q) vs. Belinda Bencic (12) – Bencic is now 6-0 to start the year, coming off a title run in Adelaide. She’s split two previous meetings against Schmiedlova on hard courts.
Andrey Rublev (5) vs. Dan Evans (25) – Rublev is vying to reach the second week for the ninth time out of his last 12 Majors. Evans has only twice accomplished that. These players are 4-4 against each other at all levels.
Tommy Paul vs. Jenson Brooksby – Brooksby took out second-seeded Casper Ruud in four sets on Thursday, while Paul outlasted Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five. This past summer in Cincinnati, Tommy defeated Jenson 6-3, 6-2.
Laura Siegemund vs. Caroline Garcia (4) – Garcia managed to defeat Leylah Fernandez in straight sets in the last round despite a stern test from the Canadian. Two years ago at Roland Garros, Caroline easily prevailed over Laura, dropping just four games.
Saturday’s full Order of Play is here.
