Key Highlights
- Ruud had repeatedly stated that he would withdraw and immediately begin the long journey home if she went into labour during the tournament. How Alex de Minaur can beat Carlos Alcaraz in Australian Open quarter-finalRead moreRuud told the Guardian last week: “She’s due later in the tournament, so we’ll see.
- It’s not until the final weekend of the tournament, the due date.
- It’s not a guarantee that you’ll make it there but you never know, she can come earlier.
- If I get the call, if she goes into labour I’ll jump on the first flight home for sure.”Although Ruud was solid in the first three rounds and his opening set against Shelton, the seventh seed, he was completely outplayed by the American in the final three sets of their match.
- Once Shelton’s devastating serve kicked into gear, the 23-year-old played with freedom, winning an incredible 29 of his 30 net points in the match and returning uncharacteristically well. The first nine days in Melbourne have been marked by the top players establishing a historic hegemony as each of the top six seeds in the men’s and women’s draws reached the quarter-finals for the first time in the Open era. The early rounds have been some of the most uneventful in recent memory at the tournament, with nearly all of the main title contenders advancing through with minimal problems. The victors on Monday were led by Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champion, who comfortably navigated his first meeting with his Italian compatriot Luciano Darderi, the 22nd seed, returning to the last eight with a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (2) win. Sinner’s full-body cramps in the heat during his third round recovery against Eliot Spizzirri had been one of the few real moments of jeopardy for the top title contenders on either tour during the first week, but in warmer conditions in the late afternoon Sinner was dominant. Jannik Sinner is building momentum, having beaten Luciano Darderi in straight sets.