By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 21 2022
Andy Murray's wild ride has come to an end in Melbourne. This and more in the Day 6 wrap.
Photo Source: Getty
And… just like that we already have the matchups for the round of 16, the ink still drying on our draw sheets – let “week two” begin. But before you do, catch up on what you missed from a wonderful Day 6 at the Happy Slam.
Also Read: AO Day 1 Wrap | AO Day 2 Wrap | AO Day 3 Wrap | AO Day 4 Wrap | AO Day 5 Wrap
Hey mate, fancy a banana?
Nice to see Dan Evans being a total gentleman and sharing his banana stash with Andrey Rublev during the pair’s third-round encounter.
Here’s how Evans explained the interaction: “I quite like him, so I shared with him. That was about it.”
Rublev wasn’t so gentle. He ruthlessly powered past Evans, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, to book his spot in the round of 16.
Riske Gets Risque After Bad Call
When umpire Nico Helwerth missed an easy call in women's doubles match on Day 5, Alison Riske made her case vehemently. It's too funny to be missed.
Here's the full video:
And here's our favorite part, isolated:
American Men Place Four in the Round of 16
A great tournament for the American men continues, and it isn’t the usual suspects that are still alive in the draw.
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are out. John Isner is out. So who is in? Ben Shelton, the 20-year-old who had never played outside of the United States until a few weeks ago. Shelton defeated Alexei Popyrin in three sets to reach the round of 16. He’s done it in his second main draw appearance at a major!
Joining Shelton are Tommy Paul, who defeated Jenson Brooksby on Day 6, Sebastian Korda, who toppled Daniil Medvedev on Day 5, and JJ Wolf, who defeated Michael Mmoh on Day 6.
Saying Goodbye to Legend Sam Stosur
With her mixed doubles loss on Day 6, the legendary career of Sam Stosur has officially come to an end. The 2011 US Open champion also won four major doubles titles and three mixed doubles titles. She was a true Aussie icon and will be missed.
And Update on the Novak Djokovic roller coaster..
It has been painful - and nerve-wracking - to watch, but ultimately Novak Djokovic is getting through his matches and moving on in the tournament. Even as he obviously struggles to keep his injured hamstring from sabotaging his chances at a 22nd major title.
Here's what Djokovic said after battling past Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets: "Well, it kind of always starts well in last few matches, including this one, and then some movement happens and then it gets worse. Yeah, pills kick in, some hot cream and stuff. That works for a little bit, then it doesn't, then works again. It's really a roller coaster, honestly."
Ben Shelton is in love
Ben Shelton needed time to fall in love with tennis, but now that he has embraced it, the 20-year-old could be headed for a beautiful “marriage.” Here’s what he told the crowd after reaching the round of 16:
"For the first 12 or 13 years of my life, I swore that I will never play tennis. It was my dad's thing. Then I kind of fell in love with the sport. Hopefully I can make a career out of it."
It’s over for Andy…
Andy Murray’s remarkable run has come to an end, with a four-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday night.
But what a week one we were gifted from the legendary Scot. His upset of Matteo Berrettini in the first round was one for the ages, and he capped it off in the next round with en epic victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis - his 11th comeback from two sets to love down - which took five hours and 45 minutes to achieve.
Wow. Just wow. 14 hours in three matches, with a metal hip?
You have to love the effort of the three-time Grand Slam champion, who has given every ounce of his soul to the sport in the hopes that he can end his career on his terms. Murray didn’t reach the second week, but he is most certainly doing things on his terms. And if he can handle 14 hours in three rounds, perhaps he can continue defying the odds this summer, and do something even more spectacular at Wimbledon.
No matter how it turns out, it will be brilliant just watching Murray pour his passion into the sport the way he always has.
But before that, a parting shot...
Murray tweeted out the following, as a reminder to those who doubted his ability to persevere through the hip issues that nearly ended his career in 2019. Gotta love the snark!