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Australian Open Highlights: Thiem beats Zverev to set up final clash against Djokovic
Australian Open: France’s Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos of Hungary stunned Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strycova to win their second Australian Open women’s doubles title in three years. Mladenovic and Babos upset the top seeds 6-2, 6-1 in 1hr 12mins. Dominic Thiem comes back after first set defeat to beat Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4) to set up final clash against defending champion Novak Djokovic. The two will clash on Sunday.Follow Highlights:
17:51 hrs IST
Thiem wins, sets up Djokovic clash in the final
Dominic Thiem comes back after first set defeat to beat Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4) to set up final clash against defending champion Novak Djokovic. The two will clash on Sunday.
15:45 hrs IST
Tie-breaker
The pressure was beginning to show on Alexander Zverev, but he manages to hang on and push the fourth set to a tie-breaker. If Zverev wins, we are heading into a fifth set.
15:24 hrs IST
All level in fourth set
Things are all level in the fourth set as Alexander Zverev is working hard to save the match. He is not letting any loose serves go, and is holding to serves comfortably. So is Thiem. This could go to tie-breaker again.
17:00 hrs IST
Thiem wins third set
Dominic Thiem wins the third set against Alexander Zverev after an easy tie-breaker 7-6 (7-3). He is now one set away from setting a finale date against Novak Djokovic on Sunday.
16:45 hrs IST
Zverev holds serve!
Alexander Zverev holds serve once again as he manages to take 6-5 lead in the third set. He is really starting to get into the groove, and seems to have woken up. Interesting contest.
16:34 hrs IST
ZVEREV ROARS!
After going down 30-0 in the game, Zverev fought hard to keep hold of the serve. He is starting to get himself involved and the roar certainly will pump him up. Over to you, Thiem.
16:22 hrs IST
Zverev breaks!
Thiem makes one error too many, and Alexander Zverev finds a way back into the set. He breaks serve after the first deuce to make it all level.
16:16 hrs IST
Zverev shows signs of life
Alexander Zverev has been quite passive in the game so far, relying on errors. But he showed signs of life in the previous game, and manages to keep hold off the serve.
16:02 hrs IST
Stats attack
First set:
Zverev: 90% first serves, 67% first serve points won, 50% second serve points won, 6 winners and 6 unforced errors, 48% receiving points won.
Thiem: 59% first serves, 47% first serve points won, 50% second serve points won, 5 winners and 13 unforced errors, 35% receiving points won
Second set:
Zverev: 69% first serves, 72% first serve points won, 25% second serve points won, 8 winners and 8 unforced errors, 34% receiving points won
Thiem: 69% first serves, 75% first serve points won, 44% second serve points won, 9 winners and 5 unforced errors, 35% receiving points won
15:58 hrs IST
Thiem breaks serve!
Alexander Zverev is finding it hard to regain his concentration here. A fantastic back hand slam from Thiem and he manages to break serve. He has taken 2-1 lead in the third set now and will serve once again.
15:53 IST
Back live!
After the bizarre stoppage, the match resumes almost after 10 minutes. Thiem is on the serve. And he looks on the verge to keep hold of it.
15:47 hrs IST
Bizarre stoppage!
There has been a bizarre stoppage in the match. Some of the lights have gone out, and the umpires are figuring out what to do. What is going on!?
15:43 hrs IST
Zverev holds serve!
Alexander Zverev barely manages to hold serve. This match has seen too many careless serves given, and too many unforced errors. Awkwardly, Zverev gave Thiem full chance to get back into the game. But he finally managed to get some swerve and hold on to the serve. Takes 1-0 lead.
15:34 hrs IST
Thiem does it!
Dominic Thiem manages to hold serve... twice Zverev was on the verge of breaking it, but Thiem kept his cool. He now brings things back on level terms, winning the 2nd set 6-4.
15:29 hrs IST
Thiem serving for set
Dominic Thiem is serving for the set here. Can Zverev break to make a come back in the set?
15:26 hrs IST
Thiem holds serve!
Dominic Thiem manages to hold on to serve comfortably to take 5-3 lead in the 2nd set. He will hope to break another one to win the set quickly and bring things back on level terms.
15:22 hrs IST
Thiem bounces back!
After failing to hold on to serve, Thiem breaks serve again against Zverev to retake his lead. He now will serve with 4-3 lead in the 2nd set. Plenty of twists in this match already.
15:18 hrs IST
Zverev breaks!
Zverev breaks to bring things back on level terms in the 2nd set. Thiem struggled against Zverev’s pace, and failed to hold on to serve.
15:10 hrs IST
Thiem leads
Dominic Thiem has managed to break Zverev in the second set. He leads 3-1.
14: 58 hrs IST
Zverev wins first set
Alexander Zverev has won the first set 6-3.
14:50 hrs IST
Zverev has upper hand
Alexander Zverev is close to winning the first set against Dominic Thiem. He leads 5-3 as he looks to reach first Grand Slam final.
14:22 hrs IST
Zverev breaks Thiem
Alexander Zverev breaks Dominic Thiem in the very first game of the match.
13:57 hrs IST
Thiem and Zverev out on court
Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev have made their entry onto the centre court for their semi-final clash.
12:41 hrs IST
Babos-Mladenovic win
Babos-Mladenovic have routed S. Hsieh and B. Strýcová in the final of the women’s doubles category at the Australian Open. They win the match 6-1, 6-2.
12:09 hrs IST
Babos-Mladenovic take first set
Babos and Mladenovic have taken the first set against Hsieh and Strýcová by 6-2.
11:45 hrs IST
Mixed doubles update
Mattek Sands and Jamie Murray have advanced to mixed doubles finals.
Jumping into the #AO2020 mixed doubles final!@matteksands/@jamie_murray end the run of Aussie wildcards Sharma/Smith 6-3 7-6(4).#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/8rVu8sCEGl
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2020
11:35 hrs IST
The women’s doubles final begins
It is the first time the top two seeded teams are meeting in the final in Australian Open since 2010
Who are you picking to lift the 🏆?
The head-to-head is locked at 1-1.#AusOpen | #AO2020 pic.twitter.com/kGxEtnKItT
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2020
