Australian Open 2022 day five: Barty v Giorgi, Osaka v Anisimova – live!

Zverev speaks: “I had my struggles on the court today, I didn’t feel perfect, but who is perfect? Luckily enough I won, and I’m happy about that.”

Regarding his next assignment, in the fourth round, against the big-hitting 14th seed Denis Shapovalov: “He’s playing well, today’s match was a high level from him. We’re both going to be happy that we’re in the second week. Hopefully I can win. But it’s going to be a great match as well.”

How is he going to prepare for the match against Shapovalov in a couple of days?“I’ll probably get drunk at some time tonight. That’s very popular here in Australia, so why not try it out? [Laughs] … No, I won’t do much. You won’t see me out on the streets.”

The German steamrollered Millman in the previous round, and that was less straightforward against the Romanian who is ranked 124, but it’s still a comfortable win.

Anisimova 3-4 Osaka* (*Denotes next server)

The American is hitting it nicely now and holds for 4-3.

On John Cain Arena, Zverev has a third match point against Albot now for a straight-sets win …

Anisimova* 2-4 Osaka (*Denotes next server)

After a nervous start, Anisimova is growing into this, and forces a first break point. There’s then a slice of luck for the two-times Australian Open champion as a groundstroke flicks off the top of the net and she wins the point. Eventually she closes out the game, but this isn’t going to be easy.

Over on Margaret Court Arena, Naomi Osaka leads Amanda Anisimova 3-2 in the first set, a break up.

Albot and Zverev, meanwhile, are 4-4 in the third, with the German third seed two sets to the good, 6-3, 6-4.

Berrettini speaks and is first asked about his opponent, Carlos Alcaraz: “He’s unbelievable … he’s impressive and he’ll only improve playing matches like this, he showed everyone his potential. Luckily I won but congrats to him.

“I was feeling confident, and in the third, there were a couple of games I was love-30 and I felt the momentum on my side, but I got broken, and that’s tennis … I feel like every match something has to happen [injury wise – he had an ankle problem] but this is my body.”

A stunning effort from the 18-year-old Spaniard, Alcaraz, to fight back from two sets down. But Berrettini eventually had a little too much in the first-to-10 tiebreak. Alcaraz crushes that forehand of his with astonishing power and accuracy, and has a very exciting career ahead of him.

Alcaraz v Berrettini: 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-6, 5-8 tiebreak

Berettini makes it 7-5. Alcaraz, impressive under pressure again, hits a decent backhand drop shot and although Berrettini gets there, he can’t get it back … it’s 8-5 Berrettini but it’s a first to 10 tiebreak so he still has work to do.

Osaka’s match against the unseeded Anisimova has begun, with the 2019 and 2021 champion breaking straight away, Anisimova starting nervously and serving up two double faults.

Tiebreak! Alcararaz v Berrettini: 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-6, 3-3 tiebreak

The match moves into a fifth hour with Alcaraz taking a mini-break on the first point after a thrilling rally. Berrettini wins that straight back on the next point before edging ahead 3-2 after another rally of incredible intensity and power with both players hitting it sweetly … next up, Alcaraz winds up a power-packed forehand that Berrettini can’t get back. 3-3

Tiebreak! Alcararaz v Berrettini: 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-6 (*denotes next server)

Berettini takes it to 30-30. Alcaraz mixes it up in the next rally with a drop shot. Berrettini shows impressive mobility to chase that down, then run down the resulting lob … Alcaraz has a volley on the forehand side which he should put away, but puts it long! Match point for Berrettini! But, impressively, Alcaraz hangs tough on match point, Berrettini produces the error by finding the net from the baseline, with Alcaraz tucking away a better volley for advantage Alcaraz and game point. The next rally is a work of art from Alcaraz as he works Berrettini around the court with some punishing groundstrokes … and we have a tiebreaker to decide it!

Alcararaz* v Berrettini: 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-6 (*denotes next server)

The Italian tonks down a few massive serves and easily holds to move, again, within one game of victory. He then smokes a wonderful crosscourt forehand winner, which kisses the line, for 0-15 in this potentially decisive Alcaraz service game.

Alcararaz v Berrettini* – 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-5 (*denotes next server)

Alcaraz, who is seeded 31 and is only 18 years old, holds to love for 5-5 in the fifth and shakes his fist in celebration, looking to his team in the stands. He battled back into this from two sets down!

Hello everyone. What’s occurring at the Australian Open today? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Right now, Carlos Alcaraz and Matteo Berrettini are duking it out in a fifth set, with Berrettini (seeded seventh) having just served to make lead 5-4 in the final set. Plenty more to come, too, with Alexander Zverev currently two sets up on Radu Albot, and Naomi Osaka due to be up against unseeded Amanda Anisimova any second now.