Sloane Stephens stunned by 781st ranked Yulia Putintseva
American star Sloane Stephens’ Australian Open preparations have been dealt a major blow after a stunning defeat to world no. 781 Yulia Putintseva.
Stephens looked on course for a regulation victory after taking out a first set 6-3 and up a break in the second set before Putintseva staged a comeback for the ages.
Spurred by the crowd, the Kazakh fought back to force a tiebreak in the second set before steamrolling the world no.5 6-0 in the final set.
While Stephens looked despondent in the final set, Putintseva went from strength to strength in a sterling performance.
Putintseva looked gone for all money half way through the second set before she roared to life (AAP)
Millman clinial in straight sets win
Australian hero John Millman has shown ominous signs with a comprehensive straight sets win over Marton Fucsovics.
Millman was in control from the outset against his Hungarian opponent, taking just over an hour to wind up a 6-3, 6-4 winner.
The Australian No.3 joins countrymen Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson in the final eight, where he will take on either Sam Querrey or Gilles Simon.
“I’m still not 100 per cent but I was really happy with how I came out here today. I tried to back myself and for the majority I thought I played some really good tennis,” Millman said.
John Millman put together a complete performance as he dismantled his Hungarian opponent (AAP)
“It’s heavy conditions out here. It’s not easy. You don’t get too many free points on serve. Marton’s a great player.”
It is the first time Millman has reached the quarter-finals in five attempts in Sydney and, should he win that match, he’ll face either de Minaur or Thompson for a spot in the final.
The victory comes a day after outlasting American Frances Tiafoe in three sets, when he battled through a virus.
Millman continues perfect Open prep
Barty stuns top seeded Simona Halep
Ashleigh Barty has sent out a huge statement to her foes ahead of the Australian Open with a spectacular win over Simona Halep.
Barty triumphed over the Belgian star in a 6-4, 6-4 straight sets win despite never having previously taken a set off the world number one.
While top-seeded Halep will head to Melbourne with just one match under her belt this season, Barty will play either Belgian world No.12 Elise Mertens, 2016 Olympic champion Monica Puig or Estonian Anett Kontaveit on Thursday for a Sydney semi-final berth.
Barty had previously not taken a set off Halep but took two in a stunning upset of the Belgian (Getty)
Stosur hamstrung by unforced errors as home woes continue
Australia’s Samantha Stosur has been left to rue a whopping eight double-faults as she coughed up a lead to Swiss opponent Timea Bacsinszky.
After taking out the first set 7-5, Stosur was pegged back by the former world number nine in an eventual 7-5, 4-6, 4-3 loss.
Despite Stosur missing out on only a third last-eight place in 12 visits to Sydney, the epic work-out was a perfect warm-up for the Australian Open starting in Melbourne on Monday.
Bacsinszky is certain to meet a qualifier next, either Australian youngster Priscilla Hon or Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Stosur hamstrung by unforced errors
De Minaur stages epic comeback to defeat American giant
Alex de Minaur has cut down the equal-tallest man in professional tennis to move into the Sydney International quarter-finals for a second straight year.
In a match suspended on Tuesday night after just one game, de Minaur was relieved after returning to Ken Rosewall Arena 14 hours later to carve out a hard-earned 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory over towering American qualifier Reilly Opelka.
Opelka, who stands as high as tennis man mountain Ivo Karlovic at 211cm, thundered down 17 aces in 11 service games.
Crucially, de Minaur nabbed the only service break of the match before rain halted play late Monday night before fighting back from 4-1 down in the second-set tiebreaker to progress.
Alex de Minaur staged an incredible second-set tiebreak comeback against Reilly Opelka (Getty)
“I think I got lucky today. Reilly’s an incredibly tough opponent,” de Minaur said.
“I took care of my chances. I would have loved to get the break in the second. I had a couple of chances, but I did well to focus on my serve and I’m glad things went my way today.”
The fifth-seeded teenage ace, who has soared from No.208 to 29th in the world since making the Sydney final last year, has become a cult hero in front of home fans.
“There’s nothing better than this. I love playing here. I love playing at home, loving playing in front of you guys and I can’t wait to just keep it going,” de Minaur said.
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