Australian Open 2024 Day 5 Recap

The round of 64 at the 2024 Australian is complete, and it was a day of rain-affected five-set thrillers as Zverev, Ruud, Norrie, Kecmanovic, and Medvedev dug deep to progress.

First to come through was the Norwegian, who saw off home favourite Max Purcell, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(10-7).

Minutes later, Sascha Zverev claimed a 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(10-7) victory over Lukas Klein in a match that lasted four and a half hours. Cam Norrie then came from two sets down to earn a 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win against Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri.

After that, second seed Carlos Alcaraz and Grigor Dimitrov progressed in four sets, but Holger Rune crashed out to wildcard Arthur Cazeux. 

However, the five-set action didn’t stop there. Perhaps the most dramatic of the day’s matches was Daniil Medvedev recovering from two sets down to beat Emil Ruusuvuori 3-6, 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-0 in a match that finished at 3.40 am.

You can see the complete set of results below.

Day Five 2024 Australian Open Round of 64 Results

Ruud Rallies Past Purcell

Casper Ruud has made an impressive start to 2024, winning all his previous matches in straight sets, but the tricky Max Purcell had other ideas.

The Aussie home favourite took the 11th seed down to the wire before Ruud prevailed 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(10-7) in 3 hours and 50 minutes.

It was an incredible match. Honestly, it could have gone both ways. Max is such a tricky and good player. He’s taking his level or taking his tennis to a new level in the past years, and it’s been fun to watch. I grew up playing Juniors with him, so I know him very well and, um, I wish him the best of success in the year to come because if he keeps playing like this, I think he will have a good chance to do good results this year. Ruud on Purcell.

Alcaraz Aces Sonego

Carlos Alcaraz matched his best performance in Melbourne by making the third round with a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3. 7-6(3) win over Lorenzo Sonego in his 200th tour-level match.

In windy conditions, Alcaraz produced a solid performance to record victory in three hours and 25 minutes and level the H2H with the Italian he lost to in their previous meeting at the Cincinnati Masters.

Sonego is known for going on attacking blitzes during his matches, and he delivered that in the second set tiebreak, but Alcaraz weathered the storm and pulled away in the third and fourth sets as Sonego couldn’t maintain that brand of tennis for an extended period.

I’m really happy with my performance today. I think both of us played at such a great level and high intensity. Even if I lost the second set, I think I played a good game. We put on a show, both of us, making good points and some hot shots as well. It was a great match. Alcaraz on his win over Sonego.

Cazeuz Conquers Rune

Arthur Cazeux captured the biggest scalp of the Australian Open so far by taking out eight seed Holger Rune 7-6(4), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

The French wildcard put in an inspired performance, and Rune had no real answers to his imaginative game.

Cazeux also served great throughout, winning 82 per cent (61/74) of points behind his first serve, and I thought Rune looked out of ideas to the point where even the basics were beyond him.

The Dane’s record on outdoor hardcourts still leaves much to be desired, and his best result at a Grand Slam remains the quarter-final. Was he carrying a niggle? He received treatment on the left knee during the third set, but that takes nothing away from Cazeux’s win.

It was a crazy match. My voice is a bit tired now, but it was a big fight. Holger is a wonderful player. I’ve known him for a long time. I knew it was going to be a big fight, and I was ready. I’m so happy, and that was crazy. It’s a show. The tennis is a show. I gave all I have in me, and I hope you enjoyed the show. We have the best crowd in France, but the Aussie crowd is crazy. My serve has always been a big point in my game. I work hard on every point of my game. Yes, I have a good serve, but I think I can improve it a lot. Cazeux on his win over Rune.

Medvedev Makes Marvellous Comeback

Daniil Medvedev had to dig deep as he pushed himself over the line to record a 3-6, 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-0 victory against Emil Ruusuvuori.

After several lengthy matches earlier in the day, Medvedev would always finish in the early hours, and the pair didn’t shake hands until 3.40 am. So much for the three-day opening round preventing late matches, huh 😁

For much of the match, it was the Fin on top thanks to his more potent hitting from the baseline as Medvedev struggled to make much of an impression in the cool, slow conditions.

However, after recovering from the brink of defeat at 4-5 in the fourth set, the Russian took his game up a gear and capitalised on Ruusuvuori not being able to stay the course physically, especially in the fifth, where he needed treatment on his shoulder.

It was tough. I think the only two matches when I went two-sets-to-love down and won was here, on this court. So that’s a good memory for sure. This one will surely stay in my memory at 3:40 in the morning. It was not easy to start the match, and in the first set, I was missing too much. I was missing all over the place. Then I changed my racket and finally found one where I felt like I was playing better. Sometimes it is just something you create in your mind. I stayed with this racquet. I started with it at the beginning of the third set and stayed with it until the end of the match.Medvedev on his win over Ruusuvuori.

Other Matches of Note

Australian Open Day 6 Round of 32 Matches

What do you think about today’s upsets and five-setters? Is the surface too slow?