Australian Open: Osaka wins back-to-back Grand Slams, Djokovic wins record seventh title

21-year-old Naomi Osaka followed her maiden Grand Slam title with victory at the next, the first to do so since 2001, while Djokovic has now won 13 of his past 16 meetings with Nadal.

Photo from foxsports.com

(4) Naomi Osaka 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-4 (8) Petra Kvitova
The Japanese was in tears after her Czech opponent saved 3 match points in the second set.
This victory means she will become world number one on Monday, ending Simona Halep's 48-week stint at the top spot.
She is also the first Asian to be atop the world rankings and the youngest since Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, then aged 20, took the ranking in 2010.
The fourth seed broke for 2-1 in the decider, then served out the win.
Kvitova was bidding for her first Grand Slam title since suffering a knife attack in December 2016.
The two-time Wimbledon champion showed resilience to take the match into a third set as momentum swung from side to side.
Victory seemed to be inevitable for Osaka before Kvitova broke back for 5-5 in the second, then going on to win 12 points in a row to lead for the first time since the start of that set.
She missed a fourth championship point with a long return, but took the fifth when Kvitova hit a forehand wide.

It was great to see Osaka smiling as she won the title, compared to her emotional victory over Serena Williams at the US Open.
At just 21-years-old, her best years are all still ahead of her.
It's not an exaggeration to say that she could go on to break the record for Grand Slam titles, and given the records she's breaking for an Asian player, she could inspire a generation to follow her lead.

Women's Singles Draw

(1) S Halep (ROM) 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-2 K Kanepi (EST)
S Kenin (USA) 6-3 3-6 7-5 V Kudermetova (RUS)
A Cornet (FRA) 6-2 6-2 L Arruabarrena (SPN)
V Williams (USA) 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 (25) M Buzarnescu (ROM)
(23) C Suarez Navarro (SPN) 7-5 6-2 C Burel (FRA)
S Stosur (AUS) 5-7 2-6 D Yastremska (UKR)
E Bouchard (CAN) 6-2 6-1 S Peng (CHN)
T Maria (GER) 0-6 2-6 (16) S Williams (USA)

(10) D Kasatkina (RUS) 3-6 0-6 T Bacsinszky (SWI)
N Vikhlyantseva (RUS) 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 6-4 V Lepchenko (USA)
J Konta (UK) 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 7-6 (10-7) A Tomljanovic (AUS)
S Zheng (CHN) 2-6 3-6 (18) G Muguruza (SPN)
(27) C Giorgi (ITA) 6-3 6-0 D Jakupovic (SLO)

I Swiatek (POL) 6-3 3-6 6-4 A Bogdan (ROM)
M Brengle (USA) 6-4 6-0 M Doi (JPN)
K Muchova (CZE) 3-6 2-6 (7) Ka Pliskova (CZE)

(4) N Osaka (JPN) 6-4 6-2 M Linette (POL)
T Zidansek (SLO) 7-5 6-3 D Gavrilova (AUS)
L Siegemund (GER) 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2 V Azarenka (BLR)
S Voegele (SWI) 2-6 1-6 (28) S Hsieh (TAI)
(21) Q Wang (CHN) 6-4 6-3 F Ferro (FRA)

Z Diyas (KAZ) 6-3 5-7 1-6 A Krunic (SRB)
B Andreescu (CAN) 7-6 (7-1) 6-7 (0-7) 6-3 W Osuigwe (USA)
M Barthel (GER) 3-6 1-6 (13) A Sevastova (LTV)

(12) E Mertens (BEL) 6-2 7-5 A Schmiedlova (SVK)
L Zhu (CHN) 6-4 2-6 2-6 M Gasparyan (RUS)
P Parmentier (FRA) 4-6 6-7 (5-7) A Potapova (RUS)
D Aiava (AUS) 2-6 2-6 (17) M Keys (USA)
(26) D Cibulkova (SVK) 2-6 6-4 2-6 S Zhang (CHN) 

Kr Pliskova (CZE) 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 6-2 A Blinkova (RUS)
V Kuzmova (SVK) 4-6 6-4 6-2 K Kozlova (UKR)
V Golubic (SWI) 1-6 2-6 (6) E Svitolina (UKR)

(8) P Kvitova (CZE) 6-3 6-2 M Rybarikova (SVK)
I Begu (ROM) 6-7 (3-7) 4-3 A Petkovic (GER) ret
B Bencic (SWI) 6-4 2-6 6-3 K Siniakova (CZE)
Y Putintseva (KAZ) 6-4 7-6 (7-1) (32) B Strycova (CZE)
(24) L Tsurenko (UKR) 6-4 7-6 (7-4) E Alexandrova (RUS)

M Niculescu (ROM) 6-7 (3-7) 4-6 A Anisimova (USA)
K Boulter (UK) 6-0 4-6 7-6 (10-6) E Makarova (RUS)
A Kalinskaya (RUS) 1-6 4-6 (11) A Sabalenka (BLR)

(15) A Barty (AUS) 6-2 6-2 L Kumkhum (THA)
E Perez (AUS) 4-6 0-6 Y Wang (CHN)
A Sharma (AUS) 7-5 4-6 6-1 P Hon (AUS)
M Sakkari (GRE) 6-1 3-6 6-2 (22) J Ostapenko (LTV)
(30) M Sharapova (RUS) 6-0 6-0 H Dart (UK)

S Cirstea (ROM) 4-6 1-6 R Peterson (SWE)

V Lapko (BLR) ret 6-7 (5-7) 0-3 J Larsson (SWE)
A Van Uytvanck (BEL) 3-6 4-6 (3) C Wozniacki (DEN)

(5) S Stephens (USA) 6-4 6-2 T Townsend (USA)
O Jabeur (TUN) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (3-7) T Babos (HUN)
M Vondrousova (CZE) 6-3 6-2 E Rodina (RUS)
H Watson (UK) 1-6 2-6 (31) P Martic (CRO)

(20) A Kontaveit (EST) 6-3 6-2 S Sorribes Tormo (SPN)

K Flipkens (BEL) 1-6 1-6 A Sasnovich (BLR)
M Puig (PUE) 4-6 3-6 A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
A Riske (USA) 3-6 3-6 (9) K Bertens (NED)

(14) J Goerges (GER) 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 4-6 D Collins (USA)
Y Bonaventure (BEL) 6-2 4-6 4-6 S Vickery (USA)
B Mattek-Sands (USA) 1-6 2-6 Z Hives (AUS)
J Ponchet (FRA) 2-6 3-6 (19) C Garcia (FRA) 
(29) D Vekic (CRO) 6-2 6-4 K Mladenovic (FRA)
P Badosa (SPN) 4-6 2-6 K Birrell (AUS)
B Haddad Maia (BRZ) 6-3 5-7 6-4 B Pera (AUS)
P Hercog (SLO) 2-6 2-6 (2) A Kerber (GER)
=

(1) S Halep (ROM) 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 S Kenin (USA)
A Cornet (FRA) 3-6 6-4 0-6 V Williams (USA)
(23) C Suarez Navarro (SPN) 3-6 6-3 1-6 D Yastremska (UKR)
E Bouchard (CAN) 2-6 2-6 (16) S Williams (USA)

T Bacsinszky (SWI) 6-2 7-5 N Vikhlyantseva (RUS)
J Konta (UK) 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 (18) G Muguruza (SPN)
(27) C Giorgi (ITA) 6-2 6-0 I Swiatek (POL) 

M Brengle (USA) 6-4 1-6 0-6 (7) Ka Pliskova (CZE)

(4) N Osaka (JPN) 6-2 6-4 T Zidansek (SLO)
L Siegemund (GER) 3-6 4-6 (28) S Hsieh (TAI)
(21) Q Wang (CHN) 6-2 6-3 A Krunic (SRB)

B Andreescu (CAN) 3-6 6-3 2-6 (13) A Sevastova (LTV)

(12) E Mertens (BEL) 6-1 7-5 M Gasparyan (RUS)
A Potapova (RUS) 3-6 4-6 (17) M Keys (USA)
S Zhang (CHN) 6-3 7-5 Kr Pliskova (CZE)

V Kuzmova (SVK) 4-6 1-6 (6) E Svitolina (UKR)

(8) P Kvitova (CZE) 6-1 6-3 I Begu (ROM)
B Bencic (SWI) 7-5 4-6 6-2 Y Putintseva (KAZ)
(24) L Tsurenko (UKR) 0-6 2-6 A Anisimova (USA)

K Boulter (UK) 3-6 4-6 (11) A Sabalenka (BLR)

(15) A Barty (AUS) 6-2 6-3 Y Wang (CHN)
A Sharma (AUS) 1-6 4-6 M Sakkari (GRE)
(30) M Sharapova (RUS) 6-1 6-1 R Peterson (SWE)

J Larsson (SWE) 1-6 3-6 (3) C Wozniacki (DEN)

(5) S Stephens (USA) 6-3 6-1 T Babos (HUN)
M Vondrousova (CZE) 4-6 5-7 (31) P Martic (CRO)

(20) A Kontaveit (EST) 3-6 3-6 A Sasnovich (BLR)

A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 3-6 6-3 6-3 (9) K Bertens (NED)

D Collins (USA) 6-3 7-5 S Vickery (USA)
Z Hives (AUS) 3-6 3-6 (19) C Garcia (FRA) 
(29) D Vekic (CRO) 4-6 6-4 1-6 K Birrell (AUS)
B Haddad Maia (BRZ) 2-6 3-6 (2) A Kerber (GER)
=

(1) S Halep (ROM) 6-2 6-3 V Williams (USA)
D Yastremska (UKR) 2-6 1-6 (16) S Williams (USA)

T Bacsinszky (SWI) 6-7 (5-7) 2-6 (18) G Muguruza (SPN)
(27) C Giorgi (ITA) 4-6 6-3 2-6 (7) Ka Pliskova (CZE)

(4) N Osaka (JPN) 5-7 6-4 6-1 (28) S Hsieh (TAI)
(21) Q Wang (CHN) 3-6 3-6 (13) A Sevastova (LTV)

(12) E Mertens (BEL) 3-6 2-6 (17) M Keys (USA)
S Zhang (CHN) 6-4 4-6 5-7 (6) E Svitolina (UKR)

(8) P Kvitova (CZE) 6-1 6-4 B Bencic (SWI)
A Anisimova (USA) 6-3 6-2 (11) A Sabalenka (BLR)

(15) A Barty (AUS) 7-5 6-1 M Sakkari (GRE)
(30) M Sharapova (RUS) 6-4 4-6 6-3 (3) C Wozniacki (DEN)

(5) S Stephens (USA) 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) (31) P Martic (CRO)

A Sasnovich (BLR) 0-6 3-6 A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)

D Collins (USA) 6-3 6-2 (19) C Garcia (FRA)
K Birrell (AUS) 1-6 0-6 (2) A Kerber (GER)
=

(1) S Halep (ROM) 1-6 6-4 4-6 (16) S Williams (USA)

(18) G Muguruza (SPN) 3-6 1-6 (7) Ka Pliskova (CZE)

(4) N Osaka (JPN) 4-6 6-3 6-4 (13) A Sevastova (LTV)

(17) M Keys (USA) 2-6 6-1 1-6 (6) E Svitolina (UKR)

(8) P Kvitova (CZE) 6-2 6-1 A Anisimova (USA)

(15) A Barty (AUS) 4-6 6-1 6-4 (30) M Sharapova (RUS)

(5) S Stephens (USA) 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 3-6 A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)

D Collins (USA) 6-0 6-2 (2) A Kerber (GER)
=

(16) S Williams (USA) 4-6 6-4 5-7 (7) Ka Pliskova (CZE)

(4) N Osaka (JPN) 6-4 6-1 (6) E Svitolina (UKR)

(8) P Kvitova (CZE) 6-1 6-4 (15) A Barty (AUS)

A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-2 5-7 1-6 D Collins (USA)
=
(7) Ka Pliskova (CZE) 2-6 6-4 4-6 (4) N Osaka (JPN)

(8) P Kvitova (CZE) 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 D Collins (USA)
=
(4) N Osaka (JPN) 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-4 (8) P Kvitova (CZE)

Photo from ABC

(1) Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-3 (2) Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic won a third successive Grand Slam as he swept aside Rafael Nadal in Melbourne.
He was rarely troubled on his serve, winning his biggest victory in a major final over his rival.
Spanish second seed Nadal made 28 unforced errors.
Djokovic, 31, won in two hours and four minutes to move clear of six-time men's winners Roy Emerson and Roger Federer.
The reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion claimed his 15th Grand Slam title, moving him outright third ahead of American Pete Sampras in the all-time list, closing in on Switzerland's Federer (20) and Nadal (17).
He leads 28-25 in their record 53 meetings between two male players.
Djokovic continued his fine record of going on to win the tournament every time he has reached the semi-finals, while Nadal lost for a fourth time in the Melbourne showpiece.
The result meant the 2009 winner was unable to become the first man in the Open era to win all the Grand Slams at least twice and was the first time he had lost a major final in straight sets.

After coming back from elbow surgery, the Serb was outside the world's top 20, but he's won the last three grand slams, going back to the top of the tree in November.
He'll head to Roland Garros in June with an aim to hold all four Slams at once for the second time.
He was the first man to achieve this since Rod Laver in 1969 with his victory over Andy Murray in the 2016 French Open.
Australian great Laver, watching in the arena which bears his name, said before the final he felt Djokovic would eventually overtake both Federer and Nadal in terms of Grand Slam titles.
Given his dominance in this tournament and the final, I'm sure many people would agree with that opinion.

Men's Singles Draw

(1) N Djokovic (SRB) 6-3 6-2 6-2 M Krueger (USA)
J Tsonga (FRA) 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-5) M Klizan (SVK)
T Daniel (JPN) 5-7 4-2 T Kokkinakis (AUS) ret
P Andujar (SPN) 2-6 3-6 6-7 (3-7) (25) D Shapovalov (CAN)
(21) D Goffin (BEL) 6-0 6-2 6-2 C Garin (CHL)
M Granollers (SPN) 3-6 4-6 4-6 M Copil (ROM)
J Vesely (CZE) 0-6 5-7 3-6 R Harrison (SA)
L Harris (SA) 1-6 2-6 1-6 (15) D Medvedev (RUS)
(12) F Fognini (ITA) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (9-7) 3-1 J Munar (SPN) ret
N Jarry (CHL) 6-7 (4-7) 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 3-6 L Mayer (ARG)
I Ivashka (BLR) 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 4-0 M Jaziri (TUN) ret
L Vanni (ITA) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 3-6 5-7 4-6 (23) P Carreno Busta (SPN)
(32) P Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-2 6-2 6-4 Z Li (CHN)
G Pella (ARG) 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 2-6 J Sousa (POR)
I Karlovic (CRO) 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) H Hurkacz (POL)
K Majchrzak (POL) ret 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 0-6 2-6 0-3 (8) K Nishikori (JPN)
(4) A Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-1 6-4 A Bedene (SLO)
J Chardy (FRA) 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (10-6) U Humbert (FRA)
A Bolt (AUS) 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 J Sock (USA)
B Fratangelo (USA) 6-7 (2-7) 4-6 2-6 (29) G Simon (FRA)
(24) H Chung (KOR) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 6-4 B Klahn (USA)
S Querrey (USA) 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 1-6 P Herbert (FRA)
S Wawrinka (SWI) 3-6 3-1 E Gulbis (LTV) ret
N Kyrgios (AUS) 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 4-6 (16) M Raonic (CAN)
(11) B Coric (CRO) 6-1 6-4 6-4 S Darcis (BEL)
A Ramos-Vinolas (SPN) 3-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 M Fucsovics (HUN)
L Djere (SRB) 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 1-6 6-7 (5-7) E Donskoy (RUS)
F Krajinovic (SRB) 4-6 0-6 6-1 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 (17) M Cecchinato (ITA)
(28) L Pouille (FRA) 6-1 7-5 6-4 M Kukushkin (KAZ)
M Marterer (GER) 6-1 6-1 6-3 G Sakharov (FRA)
A Popyrin (AUS) 7-5 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 M Zverev (GER)
B Paire (FRA) 4-6 3-6 7-5 6-1 3-6 (7) D Thiem (AUT)
(6) M Cilic (CRO) 6-2 6-4 7-6 (7-3) B Tomic (AUS)
A Rublev (RUS) 4-6 4-6 6-2 4-6 M McDonald (USA)
M Mmoh (USA) 6-3 3-6 4-6 2-6 R Albot (MOL)
M Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-7 (5-7) 3-6 3-6 (26) F Verdasco (SPN)
(22) R Bautista Agut (SPN) 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 A Murray (UK)
F Delbonis (ARG) 3-6 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 2-6 J Millman (AUS)
Y Nishioka (JPN) 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4 T Sandgren (USA)
P Gojowczyk (GER) 6-3 3-6 4-6 3-6 (10) K Khachanov (RUS)
(14) S Tsitsipas (GRE) 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-3 7-6 (7-4) M Berrettini (ITA)
V Troicki (SRB) 6-1 1-6 2-6 6-1 6-4 R Carballes Baena (SPN)
S Travaglia (ITA) 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 6-2 G Andreozzi (ARG)
C Eubanks (USA) 4-6 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 (19) N Basilashvili (GEO)
(30) G Monfils (FRA) 6-0 6-4 6-4 D Dzumhur (BOS)
C Norrie (UK) 3-6 6-7 (6-8) 2-6 T Fritz (USA)
T Ito (JPN) 5-7 1-6 6-7 (8-10) D Evans (UK)
D Istomin (UZB) 3-6 4-6 4-6 (3) R Federer (SWI)
(5) K Anderson (SA) 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-1 A Mannarino (FRA)
F Tiafoe (USA) 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-3 P Gunneswaran (IND)
F Lopez (SPN) 1-6 6-7 (0-7) 3-6 J Thompson (AUS)
A Seppi (ITA) 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 (31) S Johnson (USA)
(20) G Dimitrov (BUL) 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-4 J Tipsarevic (SRB)
P Cuevas (URU) 6-4 7-5 6-1 D Lajovic (SRB)
J Kubler (AUS) 4-6 6-7 (1-7) 6-2 3-6 T Fabbiano (ITA)
R Opelka (USA) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5) (9) J Isner (USA)

(13) K Edmund (UK) 3-6 0-6 5-7 T Berdych (CZE)
G Garcia-Lopez (SPN) 5-7 4-6 5-7 R Haase (NED)
M Polmans (AUS) 7-5 6-1 2-6 3-6 2-6 D Kudla (USA)
R Molleker (GER) 1-6 3-6 6-4 0-6 (18) D Schwartzman (ARG)
(27) A de Minaur (AUS) 6-4 7-5 6-4 P Sousa (POR)
M Basic (BOS) 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 3-6 H Laaksonen (SWI)
M Ebden (AUS) 1-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 J Struff (GER)
J Duckworth (AUS) 4-6 3-6 5-7 (2) R Nadal (SPN)
=

(1) N Djokovic (SRB) 6-3 7-5 6-4 J Tsonga (FRA)
T Daniel (JPN) 3-6 6-7 (2-7) 3-6 (25) D Shapovalov (CAN)
(21) D Goffin (BEL) 5-7 7-5 6-2 6-4 M Copil (ROM)
R Harrison (SA) 3-6 3-6 3-6 (15) D Medvedev (RUS)
(12) F Fognini (ITA) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) L Mayer (ARG)
I Ivashka (BLR) 2-6 3-6 6-7 (7-9) (23) P Carreno Busta (SPN)
(32) P Kohlschreiber 5-7 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 4-6 J Sousa (POR)
I Karlovic (CRO) 3-6 6-7 (6-8) 7-5 7-5 6-7 (7-10) (8) K Nishikori (JPN)
(4) A Zverev (GER) 7-5 (7-5) 6-4 5-7 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 J Chardy (FRA)
A Bolt (AUS) 2-6 6-4 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 (29) G Simon (FRA)
(24) H Chung (KOR) 2-6 6-1 2-6 4-6 P Herbert (FRA)
S Wawrinka (SWI) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (6-8) 6-7 (11-13) 6-7 (5-7) (16) M Raonic (CAN)
(11) B Coric (CRO) 6-4 6-3 6-4 M Fucsovics (HUN)
E Donskoy (RUS) 4-6 6-7 (8-10) 6-7 (2-7) F Krajinovic (SRB)
(28) L Pouille (FRA) 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (10-8) 5-7 6-4 M Marterer (GER)
A Popyrin (AUS) 7-6 6-4 2-0 (7) D Thiem (AUT) ret
(6) M Cilic (CRO) 7-5 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 6-4 M McDonald (USA)
R Albot (MOL) 1-6 6-7 (2-7) 3-6 (26) F Verdasco (SPN)
(22) R Bautista Agut (SPN) 6-3 6-1 3-6 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 J Millman (AUS)
Y Nishioka (JPN) 3-6 3-6 3-6 (10) K Khachanov (RUS)
(14) S Tsitsipas (GRE) 6-3 2-6 6-2 7-5 V Troicki (SRB)
S Travaglia (ITA) 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 3-6 (19) N Basilashvili (GEO)
(30) G Monfils (FRA) 3-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-7 (6-8) 6-7 (5-7) T Fritz (USA)
D Evans (UK) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (3-7) 3-6 (3) R Federer (SWI)
(5) K Anderson (SA) 6-4 4-6 4-6 5-7 F Tiafoe (USA)
J Thompson (AUS) 3-6 4-6 4-6 A Seppi (ITA)
(20) G Dimitrov (BUL) 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5 P Cuevas (URU)
T Fabbiano (ITA) 6-7 (15-17) 6-2 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-5) R Opelka (USA)

T Berdych (CZE) 6-1 6-3 6-3 R Haase (NED)
D Kudla (USA) 4-6 5-7 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 (18) D Schwartzman (ARG)
(27) A de Minaur (AUS) 6-4 6-2 6-7 (7-9) 4-6 6-3 H Laaksonen (SWI)
M Ebden (AUS) 3-6 2-6 2-6 (2) R Nadal (SPN)
=

(1) N Djokovic (SRB) 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-0 (25) D Shapovalov (CAN)
(21) D Goffin (BEL) 2-6 6-7 (3-7) 3-6 (15) D Medvedev (RUS)
(12) F Fognini (ITA) 2-6 4-6 6-2 4-6 (23) P Carreno Busta (SPN)
J Sousa (POR) 6-7 (6-8) 1-6 2-6 (8) K Nishikori (JPN)
(4) A Zverev (GER) 6-3 6-3 6-2 A Bolt (AUS)
P Herbert (FRA) 4-6 4-6 6-7 (6-8) (16) M Raonic (CAN)
(11) B Coric (CRO) 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 F Krajinovic (SRB)
(28) L Pouille (FRA) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-7 (10-12) 4-6 6-3 A Popyrin (AUS)
(6) M Cilic (CRO) 4-6 3-6 6-1 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 (26) F Verdasco (SPN)
(22) R Bautista Agut (SPN) 6-4 7-5 6-4 (10) K Khachanov (RUS)
(14) S Tsitsipas (GRE) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 (19) N Basilashvili (GEO)
T Fritz (USA) 2-6 5-7 2-6 (3) R Federer (SWI)
F Tiafoe (USA) 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3 A Seppi (ITA)
(20) G Dimitrov (BUL) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-4 T Fabbiano (ITA)

T Berdych (CZE) 5-7 6-3 7-5 6-4 (18) D Schwartzman (ARG)
(27) A de Minaur (AUS) 1-6 2-6 4-6 (2) R Nadal (SPN)
=

(1) N Djokovic (SRB) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-3 (15) D Medvedev (RUS)
(23) P Carreno Busta (SPN) 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 4-6 6-7 (8-10) (8) K Nishikori (JPN)
(4) A Zverev (GER) 1-6 1-6 6-7 (5-7) (16) M Raonic (CAN)
(11) B Coric (CRO) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 5-7 6-7 (2-7) (28) L Pouille (FRA)
(6) M Cilic (CRO) 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 2-6 6-4 4-6 (22) R Bautista Agut (SPN)
(14) S Tsitsipas (GRE) 6-7 (11-13) 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-6 (7-5) (3) R Federer (SWI)
F Tiafoe (USA) 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (1-7) 7-5 (20) G Dimitrov (BUL)

T Berdych (CZE) 0-6 1-6 6-7 (4-7) (2) R Nadal (SPN)
=

(1) N Djokovic (SRB) 6-1 4-1 (8) K Nishikori (JPN) ret
(16) M Raonic (CAN) 6-7 (4-7) 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 (28) L Pouille (FRA)
 (22) R Bautista Agut (SPN) 5-7 6-4 4-6 6-7 (2-7) (14) S Tsitsipas (GRE)
F Tiafoe (USA) 3-6 4-6 2-6 (2) R Nadal (SPN)
=
(1) N Djokovic (SRB) 6-0 6-0 6-2 (28) L Pouille (FRA)
(14) S Tsitsipas (GRE) 2-6 4-6 0-6 (2) R Nadal (SPN)
=
(1) N Djokovic (SRB) 6-3 6-2 6-3 (2) R Nadal (SPN)

Other Results
Men's Doubles Final
(5) Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut (FRA/FRA) 6-4 7-6 (7-1) (12)Henri Kontinen/John Peers (FIN/AUS)

Women's Doubles Final
Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN) 6-3 6-4 (2) Tímea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)

Mixed Doubles Final
(3) Barbora Krejcikova/Rajeev Ram (CZE/USA) 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 Astra Sharma/John-Patrick Smith (AUS/AUS)

Wheelchair Men's Singles Final
(2) Gustavo Fernandez (ARG) 7-5 6-3 Stefan Olsson (SWE)

Wheelchair Women's Singles Final
(1) Diede de Groot (NED) 6-0 6-2 (2) Yui Kamiji (JPN)

Wheelchair Quad Singles Final
(1) Dylan Alcott (AUS) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) (2) David Wagner (USA)

Wheelchair Men's Doubles Final
(2) Joachim Gerard/Stefan Olsson (BEL/SWE) 6-3 6-2 Stephane Houdet/Ben Weekes (FRA/AUS)

Wheelchair Women's Doubles Final
(1) Diede de Groot/Aniek van Koot (NED/NED) 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 10-8 (2) Marjolein Buis/Sabine Ellerbrock (NED/GER)

Wheelchair Quad Doubles Final
(2) Dylan Alcott/Heath Davidson (AUS/AUS) 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 12-10 (1) Andrew Lapthorne/David Wagner (UK/USA)

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West Indies vs England - Day Four, First Test, Barbados - England lose by 381 runs

England couldn't bat out the final two days at the Kensington oval to reach the improbable 628 target.

Photo from The Guardian

West Indies - 289 & 415-6 dec / 77 & 246 - England
Part-time off-spinner Roston Chase took 8-60 in what became the final day's play on the fourth day of the first Test in Barbados.
The tourists were bowled out for 246, falling from 134-1, before opener Rory Burns fell for 84 just before lunch.
The last 6 wickets fell for 34 runs, with the top order all starting well but failing to prolong the Test into a fifth day.
The humiliating defeat is England's joint seventh-heaviest in terms of runs in Tests, against a team five places below them in the International Cricket Council rankings.

SCORECARD
West Indies won the toss and decided to bat
West Indies won by 381 runs

West Indies First Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Brathwaite: c Root - b Stokes / 40 / 130 / 30.77 (3, 1)
Campbell: lbw - b Ali / 44 / 53 / 83.02 (8, 0)
Hope: c Foakes - b Anderson / 57 / 148 / 38.51 (6, 0)
Bravo: lbw - b Stokes / 2 / 5 / 40.00 (0, 0)
Chase: c Root - b Anderson / 54 / 118 / 45.76 (5, 1)
Hetmyer: c Foakes - b Stokes / 81 / 109 / 74.31 (9, 2)
Dowrich: c Buttler - b Anderson / 0 / 7 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Holder: c & b - Anderson / 5 / 8 / 62.50 (1, 0)
Roach: c Root - b Stokes / 0 / 8 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Joseph: c Buttler - b Anderson / 0 / 22 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Gabriel: not out / 0 / 2 / 0.00 (0, 0)

Extras 1nb 0w 0b 5lb 6
Total (101.3 overs) 289 all out

Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Anderson: 30.0 / 13 / 46 / 5 / 1.53
Curran: 12.0 / 3 / 54 / 0 / 4.50
Stokes: 25.3 / 2 / 59 / 4 / 2.31

Ali: 12.0 / 1 / 59 / 1 / 4.92
Rashid: 17.0 / 1 / 56 / 0 / 3.29
Root: 5.0 / 0 / 10 / 0 / 2.00

Fall of Wicket - Batsman
53-1 (18.1 ovs) - Campbell
126-2 (46.4 ovs) - Brathwaite
128-3 (48.2 ovs) - Bravo
174-4 (65.2 ovs) - Hope
240-5 (82.5 ovs) - Chase
250-6 (84.6 ovs) - Dowrich
261-7 (86.6 ovs) - Holder
264-8 (89.2 ovs) - Roach
289-9 (100.4 ovs) - Joseph
289-10 (101.3 ovs) - Hetmyer

England First Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Burns: b Roach / 2 / 26 / 7.69 (0, 0)
Jennings: c Hope - b Holder / 17 / 34 / 50.00 (3, 0)
Bairstow: b Roach / 12 / 17 / 70.59 (1, 0)
Root: lbw - b Holder / 4 / 14 / 28.57 (1, 0)
Stokes: lbw - b Roach / 0 / 17 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Buttler: c Dowrich - b Roach / 4 / 14 / 28.57 (1, 0)
Ali: c Joseph - b Roach / 0 / 1 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Foakes: c Dowrich - b Joseph / 2 / 13 / 15.38 (0, 0)
Curran: c Hope - b Gabriel / 14 / 27 / 51.85 (3, 0)
Rashid: c Holder - b Joseph / 12 / 18 / 66.67 (3, 0)
Anderson: not out / 0 / 1 / 0.00 (0, 0)

Extras 0nb 0w 4b 6lb 10
Total (30.2 overs) 77 all out

Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Roach: 11.0 / 7 / 17 / 5 / 1.55
Gabriel: 7.0 / 2 / 15 / 1 / 2.14
Holder: 8.0 / 3 / 15 / 2 / 1.88
Joseph: 4.2 / 1 / 20 / 2 / 4.62

Fall of Wicket - Batsman
23-1 (8.6 ovs) - Jennings
35-2 (11.5 ovs) - Burns
44-3 (13.5 ovs) - Bairstow
44-4 (16.2 ovs) - Root
48-5 (19.4 ovs) - Stokes
48-6 (19.5 ovs) - Ali
49-7 (21.1 ovs) - Buttler
61-8 (24.2 ovs) - Foakes
73-9 (29.5 ovs) - Curran
77-10 (30.2 ovs) - Rashid

West Indies Second Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Brathwaite: lbw - b Ali / 24 / 49 / 48.98 (3, 0)
Campbell: c Jennings - b Stokes / 33 / 64 / 51.56 (1, 1)
Hope: c Jennings - b Stokes / 3 / 7 / 42.86 (0, 0)
Bravo: c Stokes - b Ali / 1 / 4 / 25.00 (0, 0)
Chase: c Stokes - b Ali / 0 / 2 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Hetmyer: c Buttler - Curran / 31 / 43 / 72.09 (2, 2)
Dowrich: not out / 116 / 224 / 51.79 (11, 1)
Holder: not out / 202 / 229 / 88.21 (23, 8)

Extras 3nb 0w 1b 1lb 5
Total (103.1 overs) 415-6 dec

Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Anderson: 18.0 / 4 / 58 / 0 / 3.22
Curran: 17.0 / 1 / 69 / 1 / 4.06
Ali: 20.0 / 3 / 78 / 3 / 3.90
Stokes: 25.0 / 3 / 81 / 2 / 3.24
Rashid: 9.0 / 0 / 61 / 0 / 6.78
Root: 10.0 / 0 / 37 / 0 / 3.70
Jennings: 4.1 / 0 / 29 / 0 / 6.95

Fall of Wicket - Batsman
52-1 (16.5 ovs) - Brathwaite
60-2 (19.2 ovs) - Campbell
61-3 (20.2 ovs) - Bravo
61-4 (20.4 ovs) - Chase
61-5 (21.2 ovs) - Hope
120-6 (35.1 ovs) - Hetmyer

England Second Innings
Batsman: How Out - Bowler / Runs / Balls / SR (4s, 6s)
Burns: b Chase / 84 / 133 / 63.16 (15, 0)
Jennings: c Holder - b Joseph / 14 / 84 / 16.67 (0, 0)
Bairstow: c Hope - b Gabriel / 30 / 53 / 56.60 (6, 0)
Root: c Bravo - b Chase / 22 / 39 / 56.41 (3, 0)
Stokes: lbw - b Chase / 34 / 82 / 41.46 (3, 1)
Buttler: c Campbell - b Chase / 26 / 32 / 81.25 (4, 0)
Ali: c Holder - b Chase / 0 / 8 / 0.00 (0, 0)
Foakes: c Hetmyer - b Chase / 5 / 8 / 62.50 (1, 0)
Curran: st Hope - b Chase / 17 / 25 / 68.00 (3, 0)
Rashid: c Brathwaite - b Chase / 1 / 6 / 16.67 (0, 0)
Anderson: not out / 4 / 16 / 25.00 (1, 0)

Extras 2nb 3w 4b 0lb 9
Total (80.4 overs) 246 all out

Bowler: Overs / Maidens / Runs / Wickets / Econ
Roach: 14.0 / 3 / / 58 / 0 / 4.14
Gabriel: 16.5 / 2 / 55 / 1 / 3.27
Holder: 12.0 / 6 / 24 / 0 / 2.00
Chase: 21.4 / 2 / 60 / 8 / 2.77
Joseph: 12.0 / 4 / 35 1/ / 2.92
Campbell: 4.1 / 0 / 10 / 0 / 2.40

Fall of Wicket - Batsman
85-1 (28.5 ovs) - Jennings
134-2 (43.5 ovs) - Burns
143-3 (46.5 ovs) - Bairstow
167-4 (57.3 ovs) - Root
215-5 (68.5 ovs) - Stokes
217-6 (70.5 ovs) - Ali
218-7 (72.1 ovs) - Buttler
228-8 (74.2 ovs) - Foakes
234-9 (76.1 ovs) - Rashid
246-10 (80.4 ovs) - Curran

West Indies vs England Test Fixtures and Results
23-27 January 
First Test, Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs (West Indies 1-0 England)

31 January - 4 February 
Second Test, Antigua

9-13 February
Third Test, St Lucia

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West Indies vs England - Day Three, First Test, Barbados - Holder and Dowrich set 628 target for England

Captain Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich hit a 295 partnership to take firm control in the first Test.

Photo from BBC Sport

West Indies - 289 & 415-6 dec / 77 & 56-0 - England
After a day which saw 18 wickets, England couldn't take a single one today.
Holder and Dowrich were not out for 202 and 116 respectively.
The former declared on 415-6 after surpassing 200, setting a target of 628 for the tourists to win.
Holder's double century included 23 fours and 8 sixes.
England openers Rory Burns and Keaton Jennings reached 56-0 at the close of play.
The best England can hope for is a draw from this first Test, but even this is wishful thinking, despite the Kensington Oval pitch having flattened out.
Instead, the West Indies need 10 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

West Indies vs England Test Fixtures
23-27 January 
First Test, Barbados

31 January - 4 February 
Second Test, Antigua

9-13 February
Third Test, St Lucia

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West Indies vs England - Day Two, First Test, Barbados - England collapse on 77 all out

West Indies regained control of the first Test, with 18 wickets falling on day two at the Kensington Oval.

Photo from The Guardian

West Indies - 289 & 127-6 / 77 - England
James Anderson's day one heroics were undone on day two with a collapse by England, being all out for 77.
Kemar Roach was the pick of the bowlers from West Indies, taking 5-17, with Holder 2-15 and Joseph 2-20.
England were dismissed with the lowest Test total ever at the Kensington Oval.
After losing five wickets for nine runs at the close of play at 127-6, West Indies recovered and now lead by 339.
It gets worse for England, no team has chased more than 311 in the fourth innings to win a test at this ground in Barbados.
This, teamed with the increasingly unpredictable bounce seen on a wearing pitch, the hosts are overwhelming favourites to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The collapse comes less than a year after New Zealand dismissed England for 58 in Auckland.
As for tours in the Caribbean, England have twice been bowled out for less than that, 51 in Jamaica in 2009, and a dismal 46 in Trinidad in 1994.

With this Test series being the last before the Ashes start in August, England are seemingly no closer to solving their batting issues - averaging 7 runs each, England's highest run scorer was Keaton Jennings with 14.
Some would say he is England's weakest opening batsman for years, and despite some good performances in the previous Test series against India, he remains out of favour with many of the Barmy Army.

West Indies vs England Test Fixtures
23-27 January 
First Test, Barbados

31 January - 4 February 
Second Test, Antigua

9-13 February
Third Test, St Lucia

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Carabao Cup Semi-Final Second Legs: Manchester City and Chelsea progress to final

Manchester City end on double figures, while Chelsea win via penalties to reach the final.

Photo from sportinglife.com

Burton Albion 0-1 (0-10 agg) Manchester City
Manchester City claimed an easy victory on the night, completing a 10-0 aggregate victory to reach the Carabao Cup final.
League One Burton were already defeated after a 9-0 demolition in the first leg, though Guardiola still named several first team players in his weakened line-up.
Sergio Aguero scored the goal, Mahrez assisted after good play from de Bruyne, the Argentine scoring in the 26th minute.
Burton had a shot cleared off the line, Will Miller with the effort.

As I said in my post after the first legs, City did it the right way in facing a lower league team in a cup competition, but I'm sure there will be fringe players who were irked that crucial first team players got a start ahead of players who could do with a run out in a zero-pressure match.
It was a risk by the Spaniard, I think, because quite often the tactics of the lower league teams is to be physical against Premier League opposition, so it wasn't unlikely that a strong tackle could have injured a vital player for weeks.
If his intention was to show that he's taking the competition seriously then he had already done that in the first leg, with a record breaking win.

Photo from Washington Post

Chelsea 2-1 (2-2 agg) 4-2p Tottenham
Chelsea overcame Tottenham's lead from the first leg, winning in dramatic fashion at Stamford Bridge.
After a tense 90 minutes, in which at times both sides seemed to be playing for penalties, it ended 2-2 on aggregate, with David Luiz scoring the winning spot kick.
Kepa Arrizabalaga saved well from Lucas Moura's penalty, and Eric Dier seemingly used up all of his goof fortune in penalty shootouts in the World Cup, because despite scoring the winner against Colombia, he skied his attempt against Chelsea.
Blues boss Maurizio Sarri, who said that his players are "extremely difficult to motivate", celebrated with his team at the end.
N'Golo Kante took the lead for Chelsea on the night, with a shot from outside of the box after a corner, going through a sea of bodies to find the net, reminiscent of Marchisio's goal against England at the 2014 World Cup.
After Sarri had said of Hazard that he "has to do more", he answered by giving his team a 2-1 aggregate lead, with an accurate finish after Cesar Azpilicueta picked him out in the build up.
Tottenham's injury list grew further with Ben Davies hobbling off in the second half, Spurs were still without injured duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli as well as Son Heung-min, who is away with South Korea at the Asian Cup.
Danny Rose replaced Ben Davies and set up Fernando Llorente to take it to penalties, after Spurs didn't have a shot on target in the first half.

Despite leading going into the second leg, part of me knew that Spurs would always throw it away. 
Their statistics in cup competitions makes for bad reading - seven consecutive losses in FA Cup semi-finals, and their only trophies in 28 years are two League Cups.
Granted, injuries to key players can be seen as the reason for a poor performance tonight, but I think it goes deeper than that.
While Spurs have one of the best squads in the Premier League, and have improved massively under Pochettino, I still think they need to take another step up before being considered as title challengers.

However, we find ourselves at a time when results seem insignificant to the football community.
It was announced today that authorities are abandoning the search for Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, who were on a flight that went missing over the English Channel on Monday.
Argentine striker Sala was aboard the Piper Malibu plane, coming from France to join the Bluebirds, after a record transfer fee was agreed.
At this difficult time, all of my thoughts and best wishes go out to the friends and families of the two men, as well as fans of FC Nantes and Cardiff City, and anyone else who has been affected.