Sports
Australian Open 2020: Saturday Results, Highlights, Scores Recap from Melbourne
TPN/Getty ImagesRafael Nadal is safely through to the fourth round of the 2020 Australian Open after a routine win over Spanish compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta on Saturday.The top seed found his groove early in the contest and was able to coast to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory at the Rod Laver Arena.There was no easy…
TPN/Getty Images
Rafael Nadal is safely through to the fourth round of the 2020 Australian Open after a routine win over Spanish compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta on Saturday.
The top seed found his groove early in the contest and was able to coast to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory at the Rod Laver Arena.
There was no easy passage for Karolina Pliskova, though, as the second seed in the women's draw was upset in straight sets by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Sixth seed Belinda Bencic was also eliminated, winning just one game against Anett Kontaveit.
Elsewhere, there was a win for Dominic Thiem, with the fifth seed able to overcome Taylor Fritz in four sets. The likes of Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Nick Kyrgios will take to the court later in the day.
Read on for standout early results in Melbourne and a recap of some of the day's best moments.
Australian Open – Saturday Results
Men's Draw
(1) Rafael Nadal bt. Pablo Carreno Busta: 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
(5) Dominic Thiem bt. (29) Taylor Fritz: 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4
(10) Gael Monfils bt. Ernests Gulbis: 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-3
(17) Andrey Rublev bt. (11) David Goffin: 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (4)
Women's Draw
(30) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova bt. (2) Karolina Pliskova: 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3)
(4) Simona Halep bt. Yulia Putintseva: 6-1, 6-4
(28) Anett Kontaveit bt. (6) Belinda Bencic: 6-0, 6-1
(16) Elise Mertens bt. Cici Bellis: 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-0
(17) Angelique Kerber bt. Camila Giorgi: 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3
Saturday Recap
There have been few issues for Nadal down under, and he continued his excellent start to the competition with a high-class performance on Saturday.
From the first set, it was clear this was going to be an uphill task for Carreno Busta, with Nadal's forehand quickly dictating the majority of points. After taking just one game in the opening set, the underdog was always unlikely to find a way back.
Per the ATP Media Info Twitter account, Nadal is making a habit of getting through the first week of the competition with minimal fuss:
ATP Media Info @ATPMediaInfo
[1] @RafaelNadal advances to 4R @AustralianOpen for 13th time in 15 appearances with 6-1 6-2 6-4 win over [27] Carreno Busta. #Nadal hit 42 winners (7 unf. errors), broke 5 times and never faced break point.
Third straight year #Nadal has not lost a set (9-0) going into 4R.
After his win, Nadal detailed how he spent the previous night watching Roger Federer‘s epic win over John Millman:
#AusOpen @AustralianOpen
“Federer is Federer” 🍽️ x 🎾
@RafaelNadal said he spent Friday night in, with room service & Federer vs Millman on the 📺.
Sounds like he didn't miss a beat!
#AO2020 | #AusOpen https://t.co/HrGQDJsNkw
Following on from a day of shocks on Friday, there were more surprises on Saturday in the women's draw, with Pliskova's hopes being dashed.
She was involved in two tight sets against Pavlyuchenkova, with a tiebreak needed to decide each of them. Pliskova was unable to play to her best at the crunch point in either stanza, though, meaning her wait for Grand Slam glory goes on.
Per WTA Insider, the second seed was in despondent mood afterward:
WTA Insider @WTA_insider
As disappointed as No.2 Karolina Pliskova has looked after a Slam exit. Said it was the best Pavlyuchenkova has played against her, but felt off even in her warm-up. Said she thinks she struggles at Slams b/c of the 2-week format. Has to find a way to solve it. #AusOpen
Bencic was also eliminated, with the Swiss a long way below her best in the defeat to Kontaveit, who was the dominant force throughout the contest.
The 2016 champion Angelique Kerber is through, with the German able to hold off Camila Giorgi in three sets. Fourth seed Simona Halep continues to look imperious, too, breezing past Yulia Putintseva.
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