Four seeds fell on day 3 of the 2019 Australian Open. The top eight seeds though all remain in the tournament with a cracking line-up of third round matches set in the bottom half for Friday. There was the odd highlight on Wednesday but it doesn’t feel like this tournament has really taken off just yet. Of the 16 WTA matches on Wednesday, 13 were decided in straight sets. Read on for highlights from day 3…

Match of the day 🎾

I tagged the match between Belinda Bencic and Yulia Putintseva as one to watch for the drama in yesterday’s post and oh MY did it deliver! In what was the match of the day, Bencic beat Putintseva, 7-5 4-6 6-2 in an absolute rollercoaster of a contest 🎢. This match had so much drama and wackiness and bizarreness (is that even a word?). From Putintseva checking the tension of her racquet after suddenly losing a game in the second game, to Mo Lahyani asking people to stop smoking in the stands, to Putintseva’s reactions as she walked off court. It was a good match on all levels.

It is a difficult one to review as there were so many swings in momentum and no obvious patterns of play. Putintseva failed to serve out the opener at *5-4, completing losing the plot at the end of the set. Putintseva then let slip a 4-0 second set lead before steadying impressively to win the last two games and force a decider. Putintseva was also a break up in the decider before Bencic reeled off six straight games.

There were some really close games in the third set and the one at 3-2 was the clincher as Bencic broke in a five deuce game. I thought Bencic was hitting cleaner at the end and more aggressively. Both had their emotional outbursts during the match. It felt like Bencic focused better at the end with Putintseva getting distracted and frustrated about things around her such as the pro-Bencic crowd, which she did complain about at one point. Putintseva ended the match by dishing out drive-by handshakes to both Bencic and Lahyani, wagging her finger to the crowd and then putting up her middle finger to them as she walked off. Poots is an absolute hoot 😂😂😂 .

A great win for Bencic who has now come through two three set matches and plays Petra Kvitova in the third round. I think BB will be relishing going up against Petra as the underdog and surely with some confidence from these wins and having plenty of matches in Oz.

Upsets 😲

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d. (9) Kiki Bertens, 3-6 6-3 6-3

I was surprised by this result as Bertens had looked in good form down under and played very well against Alison Riske in the first round. Bertens is the highest ranked player to fall so far. For Pavs, we all know what she is truly capable of and this was her 29th career top ten win (via Tennis Abstract). I think she’s most dangerous as an underdog as she proved today. It’s a big win for Pavs as she moves into the 3rd round of a Slam for the first time since the 2017 Australian Open.

Aliaksandra Sasnovich d. (20) Anett Kontaveit, 6-3 6-3

Not surprised to see Sasnovich win this match which was her ninth win already of 2019! The Belarusian is looking in superb form this year.

Amanda Anisimova d. (24) Lesia Tsurenko, 6-0 6-2

I fancied Anisimova’s chances in this match but omg that scoreline 👀. Regular readers will know i’m high on AA so I won’t go on anymore!

Kimberly Birrell d. (29) Donna Vekic, 6-4 4-6 6-1

As shocks go, I think this is the biggest one of the women’s tournament so far. The world number 240, Birrell beat the in-form, Vekic, 6-4 4-6 6-1 victory. It was the manner of the win that impressed me as Birrell played a sensational third set. The Aussie was absolutely relentless hitting side-to-side and dictating against Vekic, who is an aggressive player. Vekic lost her way towards the end of the second set when she was aggrieved at not being able to challenge. She never really recovered her form after that and was simply outplayed by Birrell in the decider.

Best shot 🎾

What a shot from Petra!

Super snap 📸

A great shot of Maria Sakkari by Jimmie48 celebrating her second round win over Astra Sharma.

LOL moment 🤣

I like Sasnovich’s humour! Keep listening to when she talks about how she will prepare for her next match.

Recommended media 🔗

Mert’s analysis is already on point and I learn so much. Click on the link below for his take on Petra Martic’s straight sets win over Marketa Vondrousova.

Tomorrow’s OOP ⭐

There are so many good matches on Thursday’s schedule. I’m most excited for Muguruza vs. Konta which gets the MCA night session.

Tomorrow’s tips 🤔

For Thursday, i’m not feeling that decisive! The only upset I would really go for is Yastremska over Suárez Navarro. I’m shocked to see Yastremska is actually the favourite with the bookmakers which instantly makes me wary! I’m interested to see how the teens get on against seeds. I will be very surprised if Andreescu can beat Sevastova as the Canadian player looked like she was struggling physically in her first round. Swiatek vs. Giorgi intrigues me.

I think Halep has another tough match on her hands against Sofia Kenin, but it is one I feel like she will scrap through again. I’m high on Kuzmova and she’s due a big win. Not convinced it will happen against Svitolina? The only other seeded players i’d tag with a minor upset alert would be Wang Qiang against Krunic and Mertens against Gasparyan. I read somewhere that Wang Qiang wasn’t feeling her game at the start of the season and Gasparyan, if fit and healthy, is a very dangerous player.

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