Australian Open 2021 tennis LIVE updates - Nadal and Norrie in action, Barty eases through

ByEurosport

Updated 13/02/2021 at 12:23 GMT

It’s day six at the 2021 Australian Open! And another day of drama awaits, with Karolína Plíšková, Daniil Medvedev, Elina Svitolina, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Ashleigh Barty, and Fabio Fognini all in action. Last on Rod Laver is British hope Cameron Norrie taking on Rafael Nadal. Watch every match live and ad-free on the Eurosport app and eurosport.co.uk.

12:30 - That's it for today!

Another day of drama comes to a close at Melbourne Park. We had a Daniil Medvedev five-set thriller, a marathon match between Donna Vekic and Kaia Kanepi.

Ash Barty eased through in comfortable fashion while Cameron Norrie gave Rafael Nadal a decent match, but fell short as the world number two claimed a straight sets victory.

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Keep an eye on the Eurosport site and app for reaction to today's matches and previews of tomorrow's action!

12:20 - Men's singles line-up

With today's play now concluded, we can look forward to the men's singles fourth round matches. This is what the lineup is looking like. Tasty!

12:15 - Nadal completes the job

NORRIE 5-7, 2-6, 5-7 NADAL

That was a very good effort from Norrie, but Nadal just had too much for him in the end. It feels like the number two seed will need to lift his performance levels if he is to go all the way at this year's Australian Open, but he did enough here. Fognini is next up for Nadal.

12:10 - Fognini is through

FOGNINI 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 DE MINAUR

There were some edgy moments at the end from Fognini, but the Italian takes his third match point with an unreturnable serve and lets out a huge roar! On the whole, that was a very impressive display from Fognini. De Minaur looked flat, it must be said.

11:25 - Nadal two sets up

NORRIE 2-6 NADAL (5-7)

There's the double break and with it the second set. It's unravelling a bit for Norrie now. Nadal's quality is shining through. He can quite simply take his game to the next level. He's in control.

11:20 - Fognini on his way

FOGNINI 6-3 DE MINAUR (6-4)

And now Fognini takes the second set in 41 minutes. This has been very efficient tennis from the Italian. You can't really see a De Minaur comeback coming here. He's so flat right now which is a bit of a shame for the spectacle.

10:50 - Nadal takes first set

NORRIE 5-7 NADAL

That first set was a good contest, but Nadal ultimately takes it in 49 minutes. When it came down to it, Nadal had Norrie on strings from the back of the court in that game. It also didn't help that the Brit got tight.

10:40 - Fognini ahead

FOGINI 6-4 DE MINAUR

Fognini takes the first set and it was a peculiar set. All the drama was loaded towards the finish when three successive breaks saw the Italian edge it 6-4. More unforced errors, but also more winners, from Fognini.

09:40 - Rogers beats Kontaveit

Barty will face Shelby Rogers in the last 16 of the Australian Open after a straight sets 6-4, 6-3 win over Anett Kontaveit on Rod Laver Arena. The number 23 seed is out.

Rogers was very impressive in her win over Kontaveit, so Barty will need to step up her game again to move into the quarter finals. But going on the way she played today, the Australian must be among the favourites.

09:35 - Barty in straight sets

BARTY 6-2, 6-4 ALEXANDROVA

A straight sets victory for Barty as she moves into the fourth round. Alexandrova showed glimpses of her ability, but wasn't able to maintain that over the course of the whole match. A bit erratic from the Russian, but Barty looks to be in good shape at the moment.

09:30 - Berrettini fights through!

Matteo Berrettini is through his third round match against Karen Khachanov, but that was a real fight for the Italian who won all three sets in tie breaks 7-6(1), 7-6(5), 7-6(5).

Berrettini had the trainer out at the end of the second set. He didn't look comfortable in the third set and was well down in the tie break. It looked like going to four only for Berrettini to win five straight points to win.

08:55 - Barty up and running

BARTY 6-2 ALEXANDROVA

The first set goes to Barty in just 39 minutes. Alexandrova started well with a break in the first game, but Barty has been using the slice well since then. The Russian has now asked for the trainer. Injury problem?

08:20 - Berrettini takes the second

Matteo Berrettini is well on his way in his third round match against Karen Khachanov on the John Cain Arena. The Italian has taken the second set in a tie break against his Russian opponent.

The key moment was a forehand into the net from Khachanov to gift Berrettini two set points and he took the second of those. One set away from a place in the fourth round.

08:10 - Next up, Barty

Next up on Margaret Court Arena is Ash Barty against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Barty is the number one seed in the women's singles.

There is great expectation on her as the home hope in Melbourne. So is this year the year she breaks her duck and wins the Australian Open? This could be a really good match.

07:50 - What you missed

Elina Svitolina and Daniil Medvedev were among the big winners on day six 👇

What You Missed: Svitolina and Medvedev among winners on day six

07:40 - Tomorrow's order of play

Is looking very strong indeed!

The day session kicks off at midnight GMT while the evening session starts at 8am. Except for Zverev vs Lajovic which is expected to start at 7:30am on Margaret Court Arena.

07:22 - Berrettini takes first set

Khachanov whacks a forehand into the net and Berrettini wins the opening set tie-break comfortably 7-1. He started fast and finished strongly to take the lead.

Meanwhile Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are in doubles action right now against Lloyd Harris and Julian Knowle. The Australian duo are a set and a break up.

You can watch that one live on Eurosport 2 or live and ad-free on the Eurosport app and eurosport.co.uk.

07:10 - Khachanov playing Berrettini

Karen Khachanov is playing Matteo Berrettini on John Cain Arena right now. The number 19 seed is 4-3 up going with serve after 26 minutes.

Earlier this morning Daniil Medvedev joined compatriot Aslan Karatsev in the fourth round after the Russian qualifier manufactured a straight sets upset of Diego Schwartzman on Friday.

Seventh seed Andrey Rublev later made it a trio of Russians in the last-16.

Victory for Khachanov over Berrettini would give Russia an open era record four men in the last-16 of a Grand Slam.

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06:45 - 'Let me play!'

Daniil Medvedev forced his coach Gilles Cervara from the empty stands in Rod Laver Arena following several rants in his direction in a tempestuous feud.

During his five-set win over Filip Krajinovic, Medvedev screamed at his coach in various languages at different stages of the match, with perhaps the most striking line coming at a changeover:

Will you let me play? Let me play!

'Let me play!' - Astonishing moment Medvedev tells his coach to leave stadium

Full story

06:32 - Rublev: I feel physically great

“We are good friends," he said post-match. "I knew it was going to be a tough match because the way he’s playing… his amazing serve, slice and volley so I knew that it was going to be tough because of his serve.

“The first set I was really nervous. I had a couple of chances, he had a couple but in the end I make it. After the first set I started to feel a little bit better and I think he was a bit more down because he had tough matches in the first two rounds and he was maybe more tired. I felt more confident and started playing better and better.

"I feel physically great. For the moment I haven’t played really long matches so physically I’m quite fresh and ready for the next match.

“The next round is going to be really tough. Casper [Ruud] is a really great player. We’ve played a couple times and it’s always a tough match with great intensity.

"He’s in great shape and he’s won great matches. I need to prepare physically and mentally, it’s going to be long rallies, high intensity. We’ll see what happens."

06:22 - Rublev into fourth round

Andrey Rublev becomes the second Russian today to progress to the Australian Open men's singles last-16. He's beaten Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

06:20 - Tsitsipas: Dreaming of my first slam

"It took me some time to get used to the new conditions on John Cain but I'm very happy with my game," he said post-match.

"I showed good quality of tennis today. Mikael is someone I've known for a long time and it's very important to have battles like this against him and for the next generation of tennis as well.

"All of us have been working really hard to get here today so it's a great opportunity to be playing here.

"It's certainly different without a crowd. I'm sure if I get some more matches then the crowd will be back. It's just five days and I'd be happy to see them back.

"It will come when it will come [a grand slam]. If I win it then that is the only way I will find out if I am capable of winning it. I don't focus too much on things that haven't happened yet.

"For me it's a process and to show a better version of myself. I see every single day as a potential opportunity to get closer to my dream of winning a slam or a very important tournament."

06:03 - An easy win for Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas is into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win over Mikael Ymer on Melbourne Arena

Tsitsipas did not appear to show any signs of fatigue from his five-set marathon against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the previous round as he cruised to victory over his Swedish opponent, who was playing in the third round of a grand slam for the first time in his career.

The 22-year-old will play Karen Khachanov or Matteo Berrettini in the last-16.

05:55 - Rublev in control

Andrey Rublev is now two sets up against Feliciano Lopez, taking the second 6-2.

Tsitsipas breaks Ymer again to move into a 4-1 lead in the third set. It looks very likely that the Tsitsipas will reach the fourth round.

05:37- Tsitsipas two sets up

In just over an hour Tsitsipas is just a set away from the last-16. He leads Ymer 6-4, 6-1. It's all been very straightforward for the Greek so far. He won't want to get dragged into another marathon match this tournament.

05:30 - Medvedev through

Daniil Medvedev is into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a five-sets win over Filip Krajinovic 6-3, 6-3, 4-6 3-6, 6-0 on Rod Laver Arena.

Medvedev has extended his winning streak to 17 matches and ends his record of not winning a fifth set as he progresses to the fourth round for the third year in a row.

The 25-year-old will face unseeded American Mackenzie McDonald in the next round as he bids to win his maiden Australian Open title.

Medvedev absolutely furious, shouts wildly at his box

05:15 - Medvedev breaks!

Medvedev has never won a fifth set but he is not going to let his 16-match winning streak go too easily. He leads 2-0 in this final set thanks to a fine winner.

05:08 - Krajinovic wins fourth set 6-3

It's brilliant from Krajinovic who comes back from two sets down to set up a fifth-set decider against Medvedev. The Serb did double fault twice before clinching it though.

Tsitsipas is a set up against Ymer, taking the opener 6-4.

04:57 - Medical timeout

At 5-2 down in the fourth set, Medvedev has gone off court to get medical attention for what appears to be a glute problem.

Tsitsipas and Ymer are going with serve in the opening set at 4-3 as is Rublev 2-1 Lopez.

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04:45 - Rublev in action

Seventh seed Andrey Rublev takes on Spain's Feliciano Lopez on Margaret Court Arena.

Rublev is yet to drop a set at this year's tournament, while Lopez became the oldest player to recover from two sets down and win a match in a slam since Ken Rosewall in Wimbledon 1974 when he beat Lorenzo Sonego 5-7 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 on Thursday.

Krajinovic has gone a break up against Medvedev in the fourth set. Could we be in for a five-setter on Rod Laver Arena? Quite possibly.

Krajinovic looks a different player to what we saw in the first two sets. He is playing with far more aggression.

04:25 - Tsitsipas on court

Stefanos Tsitsipas is out on John Cain Arena against Sweden's Mikael Ymer. Tsitsipas was forced to dig deep against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday.

The Greek did not drop his serve once in the entire match but still needed five sets to secure his progression 6-7 6-4 6-1 6-7 6-4.

Ymer is enjoying his career-best result in any grand slam by reaching the third round. He will be desperate to impress on his big day.

Krajinovic wins the third set against Medvedev after 54 minutes.

That was a sloppy set from the Russian who blazes a backhand well wide, but all credit to Krajinovic who fought back with some aggressive, high-octane tennis.

04:20 - An excellent hold from Krajinovic

Medvedev had three break points but Krajinovic recovered every time before going 5-4 up with a volley at the net effectively killing the point.

We have already had 49 minutes of action in this tense third set. Medvedev currently leads 6-3, 6-3, 4-5

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03:58 - Medvedev straight back in it

Momentum looked to be with Kraijnovic but Medvedev has got straight back into this third set after Krajinovic hits a backhand just wide of the line. The fourth seed wants this match over with ASAP

03:50 - Krajinovic breaks!

For the first time this match, Kraijnovic converts a break point to take a 3-1 lead in the third set and he does it in style with a neat drop shot.

03:30 - Medvedev two sets up

Krajinovic showed some fight at 5-3 down with two break points, but he squandered them and Medvedev eventually takes the game with his second set point coming from yet another criticial Krajinovic unforced error.

The 25-year-old is closing in on the fourth round.

03:20 - Medvedev breaks

Medvedev leads 4-2 in the second set after Krajinovic hits a poor backhand into the net. The fourth seed is starting to get going now.

03:16 - Medvedev leads 3-2

It's been a slow start to this second set. Medvedev has taken the foot off the gas a bit and did have to save a break point in the third game. Nevertheless, the Russian is comfortably ahead in this tie as things stand.

02:55 - Medvedev takes the first set

The Russian gets his first set point against the 28th seed at 5-3 up. He fires into the trams but an Krajinovic unforced error hands him another and he makes no mistake this time, pushing the Serb into another blunder.

Medvedev plays a high quality set and he wins the opener in 30 minutes.

02:20 - Medvedev in action

Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev continued his excellent start to the season with a routine straight-set win over Roberto Carballes Baena on Thursday, 6-2 7-5 6-1 in the last round.

He faces Filip Krajinovic, who looked far from convincing in both of his matches in this Australian Open campaign as he dropped a set against the struggling Robin Haase in the first round and just managed to scrape his way past the 35-year-old Pablo Andujar in the second.

02:15 - Muchova: Good friends with Pliskova

"I am little sad," Muchova said post-match. "We are very good friends but it's a game so I'm definitely happy I made it through in two sets. We were both a little nervous.

"I must say when we played practices in the quarantine it was a bit different but I'm happy I'm through.

"I had a good run at Wimbledon and the US Open and it gave me confidence I could play these players. It's everything about believing in yourself.

"I was happy yesterday morning when I found I would play on a bigger court then there's going to be a crowd but now not for five days. It would be nice to have a crowd here but I just try to be in the zone and play my game.

"I played Elise [Mertens] last year. I've never played Belinda (Bencic) but both are very good players and tough so I'll rest now and get ready for another battle."

'I am a little sad' - Muchova's reaction to defeating Czech friend Pliskova

02:06 - Muchova seals it!

Karolina Muchova comes from 5-0 down in the second set to reach the fourth round after a 7-5, 7-5 win over fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova.

The number six seed is out!

Highlights | Karolina Muchova - Karolina Pliskova

02:00 - Muchova breaks!

Wow. Muchova has now broken Pliskova with a forehand winner for her sixth game in a row and on the brink of the last-16.

01:55 - Muchova fights back

Muchova was 5-0 down in this second set, but she's rattled off five games in a row to the delight of her camp in the stands and is now just two games away from the fourth round.

01:50 - Svitolina: I expected a battle

"I am happy with the performance today," Svitolina said post-match. "I am happy to come back in the first set and then I was trying to find my game back and in the end I was very pleased with the performance today.

"I've known Yulia for a very long time. We used to play when we were kids at under 10 and under 12 so I've known her from a very young age and I always expect a battle against her.

"She's a big fighter so I had to really play my best and in the end it was a good match today.

"I know Pegula and Mladenovic quite well. I've played against them and they're both a little bit different. I will try to recover and be ready for the next round."

'I've known her from a young age' - Svitolina after beating Putintseva

01:34 - Svitolina into round 4

Elina Svitolina is into the fourth round of the Australian Open after a 6-4, 6-0 win over Yulia Putintseva on Margaret Court Arena.

The Ukrainian fifth seed moves into the second week of the Australian slam for the third successive year following a confident display against her Kazakh opponent.

The 26-year-old will play either Jessica Pegula or Kristina Mladenovic in the next round.

Highlights | Yulia Putintseva - Elina Svitolina

01:25 - Svitolina two games away

Putintseva fires wide and desperately challenges it, despite the computer now in control of line calls.

Svitolina is 6-4, 4-0 up in the second set and two games away from the fourth round.

Pliskova is 4-0 up in the second set on Rod Laver Arena so her clash with Muchova looks to be heading for a third set.

01:12 - Svitolina a break up in set 2

Putintseva plays a slow slice and Svitolina follows it up by producing an excellent reverse forehand down the line to go into a commanding lead.

Pliskova has also broken early in the second as she looks to mount a fightback. It's 7-5 0-2 in that one.

01:00 - Svitolina takes the first set

Svitolina breaks back against Putintseva for the second time before winning the set 6-4 on the Kazakh's serve on her fourth set point.

Putintseva smashes her racket on the ground in frustration and it is not hard to see why. She did so well to save three break points and take it to deuce.

Muchova has just won the first set against Pliskova, who hits an unforced error, to grab it 7-5.

00:54 - Muchova breaks at 5-5

A double fault from Pliskova hands Muchova a huge opportunity to clinch the opening set in this closely contested match.

00:43 - Putintseva in the lead

Svitolina comes to the net and presents Putintseva the opportunity to play a passing shot and she takes it. She breaks and leads 4-2 in this first set.

Svitolina in trouble here.

00:38 - Pliskova back on serve

Pliskova with the smash gets her break back so it it now 3-3 in her clash with Muchova in the opening set.

Putintseva holds her service game against Svitolina so it is also 3-3 on Margaret Court Arena.

00:30 - Svitolina breaks back

Svitolina is breaks back to make it 2-2 in this hard-fougtht contest with Putintseva.

Pliskova is a break down against Muchova in the all-Czech contest.

00:15 - Svitolina the favourite

On Margaret Court Arena, the fifth seed Elina Svitolina takes on Yulia Putintseva. Svitolina of course knocked out Coco Gauff in the previous round so she comes into this in fine form.

However, it is Putintseva who has broken in the Ukrainian's opening service game.

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00:10 - Pliskova, Muchova have history

Not only have they trained together in quarantine and are good friends, the compatriots have already battled twice in the slam arena.

Pliskova prevailed over Muchova in the first round of this tournament in 2019. Later in the year, Muchova won a brilliant three hour, 17 minute epic in the Wimbledon last-16 4-6, 7-5, 13-11.

We should be in for a good one.

00:00 - Day 6 has arrived

Hello and welcome to Eurosport's live digital coverage of Day 6 from the Australian Open.

Hopefully you have recovered from Dominic Thiem's remarkable five-set win over Nick Kyrgios and are ready for another day full of big names and guaranteed drama.

First up on Rod Laver, Karolina Muchova takes on number six seed Karolina Pliskova and Let's get going...

Top matches

All eyes will turn to Rafael Nadal, with the fourth round one match away for the Spanish second seed. The 34-year-old has not won the Australian Open for over a decade, his last win coming in 2009. This could be one of Nadal's best chances to bring that drought to an end given the injury struggles Novak Djokovic and the absence of Roger Federer.

Standing in his way is Cameron Norrie, with the Briton through after beating British number one Dan Evans in his first round match, and while he has plenty of experience, one would expect Nadal to qualify for the last 16 with relative ease.

The match-up won't start until 8am UK time so there's a chance for audiences at home to enjoy it on Saturday morning, in the UK and Spain.

Order of play, singles - Saturday 13 February

Rod Laver Arena

Day session - midnight UK time

Karolina Muchova (CZE) [25] v Karolina Pliskova (CZE) [6]

Filip Krajinovic (SRB) [28] v Daniil Medvedev (RUS) [4]

Belinda Bencic (SUI) [11] v Elise Mertens (BEL) [18]

---

Night session - 8am UK time

Anett Kontaveit (EST) [21] v Shelby Rogers (USA)

Cameron Norrie (GBR) v Rafa Nadal (ESP) [2]

Margaret Court Arena

Day session - midnight UK time

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) [26] v Elina Svitolina (UKR) [5]

Kaia Kanepi (EST) v Donna Vekic (CRO) [28]

Andrey Rublev (RUS) [7] v Feliciano Lopez (ESP)

---

Night session - 8am UK time

Ash Barty (Australia) [1] v Ekaterina Alexandrova (Russia) [29]

Fabio Fognini (Italy) [16] v Alex de Minaur (Australia) [21]

John Cain Arena

Day session - 1am UK time

Jessica Pegula (USA) v Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

Jennifer Brady (USA) [22]v Kaja Juvan (SLV)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [5] v Mikael Ymer (SWE)

Not before 6am UK time

Karen Khachanov (RUS) [19] v Matteo Berrettini (ITA) [9]

For the full order of play including the outside courts, check out the official Australian Open website.

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