For the first time in over a decade, Marin Čilić entered a grand slam tournament unranked. The 31 year-old 2014 US Open champion made quick work of Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the first round of the 2020 Australian Open – winning in straight sets – before encountering another French tennis player: #21 Benoit Paire. Čilić took the first set and then threw the second set tiebreaker away; giving Paire life. The match eventually went the distance where Čilić would win the fifth set 10-point tiebreaker 10-3 to set up a third round match with #9 ranked Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday in Melbourne.
At 40 years young, Ivo Karlović became the oldest player in tennis grand slam history to win a match. On Tuesday, Karlović defeated Canadian Vasek Pospisil in straight sets to set up a second round match with #10 Gael Monfils Thursday night. Although Karlović has never been known for his movement on the court, his powerful aces have kept him in the game thus far. It’s really incredible what Karlović has done in his career; still winning matches at Grand Slams.
#25 ranked Borna Ćorić will have to be disappointed with himself as he was bounced out of the tournament before the seats even got warmed up. He lost his opening match in straight sets to American Sam Querrey.
#19 Donna Vekić has been perfect throughout the first two rounds of the Aussie Open. In the opening round, Vekić took down former superstar Maria Sharapova in straight sets before doing the same to Alize Cornet. Vekić is now safely to the final 32 of the tournament and could play #6 Belinda Bencic in the 4th Round if they both win their next matches.
#13 ranked Petra Martić cruised past her first opponent Christina McHale – only dropping three games – and then took the first set off of German Julia Gorges. However, Gorges rallied back to take the next two sets which will bounce Martić out of the tournament before the Third Round begins. Martić is coming off a quarterfinal appearance in the 2019 French Open – her best result at a Grand Slam.
How much of that 35 large will find its way to Mamic? He’s still the Donald Trump of Zagreb.
Damn.
Looks like Dinamo will be getting 35 million Euro for Dani Olmo in the next few days.
Dinamo is joining the big clubs in terms of transfer fee amounts. That’s great for Cro football.
Hopefully we don’t see any more talent being sold for 3 million Euros (I’m looking at you Hajduk).
Cilic to play Bautista-Agut today, which i’m expecting him to lose unfortunately. I think he lost to the same guy last year in round of 16 or so actually.
Be nice if at least one of Cilic / Vekic can make it to week 2 tho.