Key events
Medvedev holds, forcing Tiafoe to serve for the set, and he controls his emotions well, skipping in to guide a backhand winner down the line for 15-all; a service winner follows. So when a return is netted, he holds two set points, missing the first … and the second, losing patience in a long rally and hitting long. To deuce we go, tension ratcheting up.
Lovely from Medvedev who, at 30-all, clobbers a backhand to the corner, then makes space at net to raise break point with a tricky putaway. Tiafoe, though, eager to hang on to his break, finds a service winner followed by an outstanding stooping volley almost from behind him – the return was goodun too – then secures a crucial hold with another gigantic delivery. BF leads 7-6 5-3, a game away from the second set.
Tiafoe holds for 7-6 4-2 and this set is progressing much more swiftly that it’s forebear; Medvedev quickly arranges a hold of his own to keep his opponent honest, but he’s running out of road in this set.
Michelsea makes 40-15, wallops down an ace, and leads Etcheverry 7-6 6-4. It’ll take something monumental for the clay-court specialist to come back from here.
At 2-2, a Tiafoe drop and overhead earns him 15-40, and he then finds a terrific angle on the forehand when going cross, cutting the court in half and opening the space for a flat one down the line of frankly terrifying power. It feels like a big moment in the match and, at 7-6 3-2, he leads by a set and a break.
Michelsen holds for 7-6 5-3, and he’s a game away from taking a 2-0 lead. The winners of the two matches currently on court meet in the last eight.
“Thank you for sharing this tremendous interview,” emails Martin Davies. “Number five was a genuine WTF moment for those of us who remember Alan McGee signing him to Creation in 1997. Also, McConaughey has a very silly high laugh completely at odds with his regular voice.”
It’s great, isn’t it? And what a boss his older brother sounds.
Tiafoe holds, then from 40-0, fights back to deuce; trouble for Medvedev, who serves a double when up advantage. But from there, he secures his hold and a 2-1 lead in the second.
Gah, only berry ones left. Why do bad things happen to good people? Medvedev holds easily at the start of set two, while Michelsen leads Etcheverry 7-6 4-2.
And Tiafoe is soon bouncing, taking the breaker 7-1 after a 74-minute set. Medvedev will be feeling very, very poorly after putting so much into that; by way of empathy, I’m off downstairs to grab a Fruit-Pastille lolly.
Tiafoe snatches an early mini-break, consolidating it with an inside-out forehand that’s almost a table-tennis shot, cranking up serious power. And another break, then another, take him to 6-1, a tight set suddenly accelerating, Medvedev perhaps still smarting after making a mess of serving it out.
At 30-15, a double gives Tiafoe a sniff, then a forehand winner earns break-back point and a netted backhand means that, after 68 minutes, it’s 6-6. These two are really well-matched.
That’s in on Ashe for the day sesh, but on Armstrong, there’s Pegula v Cirstea to come – though I think we’ll be finished before that starts. For now, Medvedev and Tiafoe are locked at 5-5, but the former has two break points, the latter misses a forehand, and at 6-5, the 2021 champ will shortly serve for a fluctuating and punishing first set. On Grandstand, Michelsen has broken in set two to lead Etcheverry 7-6 2-0.
We’re on serve on Armstrong, Tiafoe up 5-4 on Medvedev. Meantime, Alcaraz is happy with his performance, saying he tried to put pressure on the return game. Is he back to his best? “I think so, ahahahaha!”
It really is absurd how good he is so young, and how honest he is about it in a way that’s not remotely arrogant or overbearing. He already has seven majors, and if he can stay fit, he’s going to end up with more than Djokovic.
Carlos Alcaraz (2) beats Tommy Paul (20) 6-4 6-4 6-4
Paul is a good player who played well, and Alcaraz still devastated him with a brutally, inspirationally good performance of unreal defence and exhibition attack. Next for him: Shelton or Tsitsipas. Good luck, lads.
Having held for 4-4, Medevev races in to flick a winner that makes 15-0, but let’s move to Ashe, where Paul is fighting with all he’s got, earning two break points only to ruin the first with a tame slice into the net and only for Alcaraz to seize the second with a swing-volley from well back. His forehand is so good it feels like cheating and, as I type, he unleashes a flat one cross-court with such power and whip it’d be illegal in some countries. Er, his wrist seems in OK nick on balance, and he’s got match point, ridiculous genius that he is.
Good work from Michelsen, taking back the mini-break when set-point down before earning one of his own. And, in a bruising rally, he finally ends it with an overhead at net to lead Etcheverry 7-6( 6).
But before he can, Medvedev, perhaps a little further back behind the baseline now, retrieves Tiafoe’s break and trails 3-4, Those seven games have taken 45 minutes. On the other hand, Alcaraz is breezing by Paul, who’s just held, forcing him to serve for the match at 6-4 6-3 5-3.
I nip for a … comfort break, so of course Tiafoe takes the opportunity to break and leads 4-2 in the first; on Grandstand, Ethcheverry leads Michelsen 5-4 with a break in the breaker and as I type, earns set point.
A straightforward hold for Tiafoe, who leads Medvedev 3-2, and the same for Alcaraz, who’s up 2-0 4-2 on Paul. His defensive work today has been especially incredible, but his next match, against Shelton or Tsitsipas, should be much more of a test – especially if they can take him deep, into rallies and sets. Is he ready for a long, physical match? I mean, almost definitely yes, but that feels the field’s best hope.
Matthew McConnaughey is in the crowd, excuse enough to post this interview I really enjoyed.
Tiafoe holds, then takes Medvedev to deuce on serve, prior to burning a break point. An ace follows, then a Big Foe forehand down the line drops long, taking us to 2-2. This contest is going to age these two several years
Alcaraz holds then makes 0-40, but Paul saves three more break points. He’ll not be chuffed he’s having to face them but he’s showing proper fortitude in trying to deal; problem is, the pressure tells, Alcaraz stopping in the next rally with ludicrous athleticism, eventually eliciting the error. Then, at the net, he somehow reacts to volley when a ball is hit at him – that’s a mostake from Paul, who loads at which to aim, one he compounds but hitting wide, again with options. The champ leads 2-0 2-1, and this display is ominous for the rest of the field.
A big hold for Paul to open set three, who has a proper job on trying to convince himself he’s not already done for. On Armstrong, meanwhile, Medvedev is standing closer to the line than usual, while Tiafoe is looking to come in where possible, and he breaks back through deuce. Already, this has the feel of an epic.
A long game to open up, Medvedev showing he’s ready to suffer and asking Tiafoe if he wants to come with, breaking for 1-0. Back on Grandstand, Etcheverry has broken Michelsen back and those two are now level at 3-3 in the first.
A delicious drop from Alcaraz earns him set point, he drives it home with a nails serve, and this is some very serious tennising. Paul is playing pretty well and can’t even get close to close. The champ leads 6-4 6-3 and looks to be nicely recovered; it’ll take something to beat him here.
Alcaraz is just way too good for Paul, making 0-15 for the sixth return-game on the spin. Paul, though, serves his way out of trouble, securing the hold, but must now break to stay in the set. Meantime, Medvedev and Tiafoe have just got going while, on Grandstand, Michelsen leads Etcheverry 3-1.
Alcaraz looks he’s playing in pair of policeman’s shoes. It’s very strange indeed, of Nike for giving him such footwear and of him not to tell them to go again. He holds to 15 for 6-4 5-2, playing beautifully, and is within a game of the second set.
Paul does really well to save all three, then another on advantage, then another with a service winner, then another. And when he makes game-point of his own, Alcaraz nets a backhand, the crowd are extremely chuffed for him, and he’s still in this set, just about, at 4-6 2-4. Meantime, on Armstrong, Tiafoe and Medvedev are out.
Back with our men’s champ, Alcaraz has broken Paul in set two to lead 6-4 4-1, and he has three points for the double break.
Next on Armstrong; Daniil Medvedev (7) v Francis Tiafoe (11).
Noskova is a helluva player, and at just 21, we’re going to see helluva lot of her over the next decade. And the same is so of Kostyuk, who I think has a more varied game, but for now, Noskova’s power is giving her the edge.
Oh, and hi again all.
Noskova is relieved to have won a match tougher emotionally than physically – and it was taxing in that aspect too. She’s won 11 grand slam matches in a row but doesn’t feel like she can win every match. Marta is a huge competitor and she knew it’d be a tough match; it was especially hard to get going again in the third set.
She’s a wrestling fan and had Charlotte Flair in her box the other day, which she enjoyed a lot. And that’s our lot; what a match.
Linda Noskova beats Marta Kostyuk 7-5 5-7 6-4
But the Wimbledon champion does not squander the sixth match point. Kostyuk can only return into the net and an Armstrong classic comes to an end. Noskova recovered well after that collapse at the end of the second set to set up a quarter-final meeting with Aryna Sabalenka.
That’s all from me. Daniel Harris is back for the rest of tonight’s coverage.
Noskova squanders another three match points and we’re at deuce. On Ashe, Paul breaks and we’re back on serve in the second set.
A ferocious crosscourt forehand from Alcaraz brings three break points … and he only needs one to lead Paul 6-4 2-0. ‘Alcaraz has this match by the scruff of the neck,’ says Tim Henman on Sky. Kostyuk holds to 30 on Armstrong but Noskova will be serving for the match.
Noskova’s booming backhand on the line at 30-30 sets up game point – and the Wimbledon champion moves to one game from victory. She leads Kostyuk 5-3 in the deciding set.
We have the third straight break of serve on Armstrong. Noskova seals a 4-3 lead, on her third break point, with a powerful and precise backhand.
Alcaraz wins the first set 6-4. He raced to love-40, despite Paul getting in three first serves. Paul saved the first break point of the set with an ace but is unable to save the second.
Kostyuk breaks. A long forehand from Noskova on 30-40 bring us level in the decider. On Ashe, Paul is serving to stay in the first set at 4-5.
