MELBOURNE, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Highlights of Saturday’s sixth day of the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the year (times in GMT):
0450 EVERT, AUSTIN HAIL HALEP-DAVIS EPIC
Former American greats Chris Evert and Tracy Austin took to twitter to praise Simona Halep and Lauren Davis for producing a three-set thriller on Rod Laver Arena.
“SO impressed with the great effort from @LaurenDavis93 and @Simona_Halep Both deserved to win that match,” said Evert, who won the Australian Open in 1982 and 1984.
Austin, two-time U.S. Open winner, tweeted: “@Simona_Halep and @LaurenDavis93 are incredible warriors! Both ladies should be so proud-kept digging deeper when it looked like there was nothing left in the tank!”
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Halep edges Davis in marathon thriller to reach fourth round
Drama-free Keys flies under radar into fourth round
Pliskova serves past Safarova into round four
Wozniacki battles past Bertens after tantrum
Ostapenko sunk by Kontaveit in Baltic battle
Kyrgios takes down Tsonga to reach fourth round
Dimitrov learning to manage the off days
Ruthless Nadal storms past Dzumhur
Order of play on Saturday
0400 HALEP COMES THROUGH ROLLER-COASTER
World number one Simon Halep completed her comeback from a set down with a 4-6 6-4 15-13 victory over American Lauren Davis in a pulsating third round encounter.
The Romanian saved three match points in the final set, which lasted over two hours, before serving out the match on her fourth attempt.
“I’m almost dead, but it was nice that we could show good tennis,” Halep said.
0350 GARCIA SURVIVES SASNOVICH SCARE
World number eight Caroline Garcia rediscovered her touch in the decider to oust Brisbane finalist Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3 5-7 6-2 in the third round and advances to a last 16 encounter against American Madison Keys.
0320 PLISKOVA POWERS PAST SAFAROVA
Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova recorded 31 winners, including 11 aces, to beat fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 7-6(6) 7-5 in the third round.
0124 KEYS OPENS DOOR TO ROUND FOUR
American 17th seed Madison Keys swots aside unseeded Romanian Ana Bogdan 6-3 6-4 at Margaret Court Arena. The U.S. Open finalist will meet eighth seed Caroline Garcia for a place in the quarter-finals.
0015 PLAY GETS UNDERWAY AT MELBOURNE PARK
Play got underway on a mostly sunny morning at Melbourne Park, with top seed Simona Halep battling Lauren Davis at Rod Laver Arena for a place in the last 16. The temperature was 23 degrees Celsius (73F) and forecast to reach a top of 26. Read our preview of the day’s action here: (Compiled by Ian Ransom and Hardik Vyas; Editing by Greg Stutchbury/John O’Brien)
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