Australian Open: Naomi Osaka title defence ends after defeat to 20-year-old Anisimova
Nadal, Zverev, Berrettini all go through on Day Five of Australian Open
Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka saw her bid to retain her crown in Melbourne end in a third round exit to unseeded 20-year-old American Amanda Anisimova at the Margaret Court Arena.
After defeating unseeded American Madison Brengle in straight sets to progress from the second round, Osaka was pitted against 60th ranked Anisimova, who had won all seven of her matches in 2022, including her first two rounds at the Australian Open.
Osaka made a fast start against her younger opponent and raced to a 6-4 win in the first set against Anisimova. The young American recovered to claim the second set 6-3 and level the game, before going on to claim a 7-6 win in the third set to book her place in the last 16 of the competition.
Anisimova will face Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty in the Round of 16 after the Australian claimed a 6-2 6-3 win over Camila Giorgi in their third round clash at the Rod Laver Arena. Osaka’s defeat means she will be ranked 85th in the world after this tournament.
In the day’s other matches in the women’s draw at the Australian Open, Madison Keys defeated Wang Qiang 4-6 6-3 7-6 to qualify for the last 16. Maria Sakkari claimed a 6-4 6-1 straight sets win over Veronika Kudermetova. Barbora Krejcikova came back from one set down to defeat Jelena Ostapenko 2-6 6-4 6-4. Victoria Azarenka claimed a straight sets win over Elizabeth Svitolina.
In the men’s side of the draw, Matteo Berrettini and teenage Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz Garfia served up a classic Australian Open tie. Berrettini raced into a two-set lead before Alcaraz pegged him back and won the next two sets before eventually losing in the fifth set as the match ended 6-2 7-6 4-6 2-6 7-6 in favour of the world number seven Berrettini.
Alexander Zverev made light work of Radu Albot as he defeated him in straight sets to qualify for the Round of 16. The German claimed a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over his Romanian opponent.
Rafael Nadal defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1 in four sets to book his place in the last 16 of the Australian Open and move closer to a record-breaking 21st grand slam title.
Gael Monfils claimed a straight sets win over Cristian Garin to book his place in the Round of 16. The Frenchman won 7-6 6-1 6-3 against his Chilean opponent.
