AO2018: Quick hits day 5

Australian Open 2018 is becoming a time of opportunity for many new names.

Elina Svitolina, at No.4, is the only seed remaining in her section of the draw, having ended the run of 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk. She faces another qualifier in Denisa Allertova for a place in a first quarterfinal in Melbourne; Petra Martic and Elise Mertens will battle on the other side.

Kyle Edmund capitalised on the openings in his section of the draw, also progressed to Melbourne’s final 16 in a career first. Grigor Dimitrov, Andreas Seppi and were among others to progress.

Attention turns now to some marquee matches to complete the third round. Angelique Kerber and Maria Sharapova will battle in a clash of former champions and world No.1s. Roger Federer and Novaak Djokovic also return to the court.

Win of the day:

A fair-haired young man from Britain could be excused for wilting as temperatures soared to over 40 degrees on the hottest day of the Australian Open. But Kyle Edmund mustered every ounce of his strength and determination to outlast Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6(0) 3-6 4-6 6-0 7-5 to claim one of the most important wins of his career. It replicates the result the 23-year-old also achieved with a fourth round at the US Open. Meeting Andreas Seppi waiting, world No. 49 Edmund has a first Grand Slam quarterfinal in sight.

Physical test passed.. Mental strength passed..I reckon that's biggest win of @kyle8edmund career! Well done kedders ???????????????????? @AustralianOpen

— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) January 19, 2018

It will be a long way home for:

A month out from his 39^th birthday, Ivo Karlovic, the oldest man in the men’s draw must have fancied his chance of replicating his fourth round run of 2010. But the energy required for his 12-10 fifth set win over Yuichi Sugita left little for his third round clash with Andreas Seppi, a winner in five sets.

Quote of the day:

“It’s very, very special for me.  I have never gone further than the third round … It was sad I was playing a Ukrainian girl. It’s tough to play someone form the same country. She has a bright future, we’re going to hear about her much more,” – Elina Svitolina understandably sorry – but not sorry – that exciting young countrywoman Marta Kostyuk was in her path to the Australian Open fourth round.

Many more to come for this lil champ @marta_kostyuk! Let’s keep it rolling. #last16 @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/kflzlEnrgp

— Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) January 19, 2018

Stat of the day:

90 – rankings places Elise Mertens has jumped in a year, when her win as a qualifier at Hobart, meant she couldn’t enter AO2017 qualifying. With her win over Alize Cornet, the likely Belgian faces Petra Martic for the chance to reach an AO quarterfinal on debut.

We’re looking forward to:

Angelique Kerber and Maria Sharapova are the only former champions remaining in the women’s draw – hard to believe that they meet in the third round. You’d have to expect a huge fight from two superbly-talented 30-year-olds rebuilding form and ranking with the professionalism and authority you’d expect from former world No.1s.