MATCH OF THE DAY: [CR30] Kristina (FRA) vs. [CR39] Daria Gavrilova (AUS)
This match had it all, drama, brilliant shot making from both players, intensity and nerves. Gavrilova was overcome by nerves when she served for the match the first time. Mladenovic would succumb to the intensity and fatigue of the emotionally and physically demanding match. Perhaps the advantage was always Gavrilova, newly minted Australian citizen and winner of the Hopman Cup earlier this year with Nick Kyrgios; however, Mladenovic deserved a lot of credit, she maintained her focus amidst the cheers for Gavrilova and was right in the match until fatigue took a toll. She could no longer move as freely to the ball and was not thinking clearly and compensated by going for ill-advised winners. In the latter stages of the match, she was too tired to execute her shots; while across the net, Gavrilova was bouncing with energy and looked like she could go another hour. Gavrilova won 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 and is in the round of sixteen of a Major for the first time in her career.
MORE SEEDS FELL DOWN UNDER
[12] Marin Cilic (CRO) lost to [24] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)….4-6, 6-7(5), 5-7
[13] Roberta Vinci (ITA) lost to Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER)…. 6-0, 4-6, 4-6
[19] Dominic Thiem (AUT) lost to [15] David Goffin (BEL)….1-6, 6-3, 6-7(2), 5-7
[26] Guillermo Garcia Lopez (ESP) lost to [7] Kei Nishikori (JPN)….5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6
[27] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) lost to [3] Roger Federer (SUI)….4-6, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6
[28] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) lost to Daria Gavrilova (AUS) 4-6, 6-4, 9-11
AMERICAN WINNERS ON DAY 5
[1] Serena Williams def. [CR69] Daria Kasatkina RUS) 6-1, 6-1. Next up for Williams is Margarita Gasparyan. They met once before, last year in the first round of Wimbledon and Williams won in straight sets.
[3] Bob and Mike Bryan def. Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)/Gilles Muller (LUX) 6-3, 6-2. Next up for the Bryan brother is the team of [13] Rajeev Ram (USA)/ Raven Klaasen (RSA)
MATCHES TO WATCH ON DAY 6
Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs. [14] Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
[15] Madison Keys (USA) vs. [20] Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
[13] Milos Raonic (CAN) vs. [21] Viktor Troicki (SRB)
Madison Brengle (USA) vs. [7] Angelique Kerber (GER)
[31] Steve Johnson (USA) vs. [8] David Ferrer (ESP)
