We’re still waiting for Novak to get going.
In the meantime, I’m watching Ben Skelton (16) take on Adrian Mannarino (20). It’s a bit of a belter so far.
The first set is locked at 6-6 with Mannarino 5-4 up and serving with two set points. Can he stick it?
Oh yes he can! The experienced Frenchman takes the first set over the 21-year-old American.
Emma Raducanu might be out of the Australian Open, but it’s not all bad news for the young Brit.
She’s just been named most ‘influential’ British tennis player and can earn over £12K per social media post!
Research conducted by the multiplayer card game site, World of Card Games, examined the social media profiles of 59 of the most influential players competing in the men’s and women’s singles main draws at the Australian Grand Slam. An influencer marketing calculator was used to establish which star is the most influential on social media and how much they can potentially earn per sponsored post.
The data revealed that Emma Raducanu is the highest-earning British competitor, with the potential to earn up to £12,200 per post.
There are worse ways to earn a buck, that’s for sure.
I’ve just watched Novak Djokovic crying on my TV talking about a tree.
“I got connected with that tree,” the teary Serb said. “I just liked it. I liked its roots and the trunks and branches and everything. So I started climbing it years ago. That’s it. I just have a connection.”
Hey, he’s got 24 slams. Maybe there’s something to it.
Here’s a run through of selected from earlier today:
Men’s singles:
Stefanos Tsitsipas (7) beat Luca Van Assche 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.
Taylor Fritz (12) beat Fábián Marozsán 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Jannik Sinner (4) beat Sabastian Baez (26) 6-0, 6-1, 6-3.
Karen Khachanov (15) beat Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6.
Women’s singles:
Coco Gauff (4) beat Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-2.
Marta Kostyuk beat Elina Avanesyan 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Aryna Sabalenka (2) beat Lesia Tsurenko (28) 6-0, 6-0.
Amanda Anisimova beat Paula Badosa 7-5, 6-4.
Magdalena Fręch beat Anastasia Zakharova 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Mira Andreeva beat Diane Parry 1-6, 6-1, 710-65
Good morning tennis fans. We kick things off with the big man. That’s right. Novak Djokovic, the winning machine who is not afraid to get into a scrap with hecklers is on at 8am GMT/6pm AEST against Tomás Martin Etcheverry from Argentina.
Aussie Alex de Minaur is also in early action against Flavio Cobolli. The Sydney lad looked good in the last round will be after a career-best equalling fourth-round entry at the Australian Open.
On the women’s draw we have two live games coming up. The first is 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia from Brazil against the Russian nationally neutral Maria Timofeeva. At the Rod Laver Arena at 10am GMT/8pm AEST, Queenslander Storm Hunter has a tough task as she faces ninth seed Barbora Krejčíková from the Czechia.
Of course the action started a few hours ago. I’m off to make a coffee and when I’m back I’ll fill you in on all the happenings Down Under.