AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Melbourne

DAY 5/ ROUND 3

NOTABLE MATCHES

[17] Roger Federer (SUI) defeated [10] Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.  I thought this would be a more compelling match; however, despite the score, Federer was never really in any danger of losing. He never gave Berdych any break point opportunities and broke him 4/5 times.  He was sharper than Berdych, who just seemed so anxious he never got going. The difference, Federer still believes he can beat any opponent on any given day, while Berdych has doubts.  Berdych is a talented player, unfortunately for him, he played in the era of Federer and Rafael Nadal and perhaps the years of constantly losing the big matches to those top guys have finally worn down his resistance to the point that on a subconscious level he does not really believe he can beat those guys, at least not when it matters. This was a good match for Federer, who will play Kei Nishikori in the round of sixteen. Hopefully that will be a more competitive and thrilling match.  Federer leads their head-to-head 4:2.

[27] Bernard Tomic (AUS) lost to Daniel Evans (GBR) 5-7, 6-7(2), 6-7(3)

Mischa Zverev (GER) def. Malek Jaziri (TUN) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0

NO AMERICAN MEN INTO ROUND 4

Coco Vandeweghe (USA) def. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

[12] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. [23] Jack Sock (USA) 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-7(8), 6-3

[13] Venus Williams (USA) def. Ying-Ying Duan (CHN) 6-1, 6-0

[2] Andy Murray (GBR) def. [31] Sam Querrey (USA) 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

[1] Mattek-Sands/M. Bryan (USA) def. Rodionova/ J-P Smith (AUS) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) def. Alison Riske (USA) 6-2, 7-6(2)

[3] Makarova/Vesnina def. Huber/Sanchez (USA) 6-3, 6-1

[13] Srebotnik/Zheng def. Davis/Moulton-Levy (USA) 6-3, 6-3

At the end of day 5, no American men remained in the singles draw, while 5 American women are still going strong in the singles draw.  Venus Williams and Coco Vandeweghe are the first Americans into the round of sixteen.

SOURCE OF IMAGE:  Zimbio