Fabio Fognini's winning scream, the overwhelming joy of fifteen year old American Cori 'Coco' Gauff after the victory over Naomi Osaka (title holder), the farewell tears of Caroline Wozniacki - at the last professional match - and those of goodbye to Serena Williams , 38, eliminated by the Chinese Qiang Wang . And still the ferocious tenacity of Roger Federer , on the field four hours to get the hammer on John Millman and land in the round of 16.
These are the shots of the fifth day at the Australian Open, full of emotions. Fognini overtook Argentinian Guido Pella (# 22 in the world) in three sets, with a score of 7-6 (7) 6-2 6-3 after two hours and 9 minutes of play. The Ligurian champion thus landed for the third time in the round of 16 of the southern tournament with a practically perfect match and on Sunday he will face the American Tennys Sandgren, number 100 Atp, against whom he is 2-1 ahead in the previous balance. This time he avoided throwing away energy, as against Opelka and Thompson , who had forced him to play five sets, and having removed the somewhat awkward start in the first fraction, he dominated the opponent.
The cover, however, is up to Coco Gauff for the peremptory 6-3 6-4 inflicted on the Japanese Osaka, number 4 in the ranking. The youngest player in Melbourne in the previous round had already beaten compatriot Venus Williams. For a place in the quarterfinals he will face the Chinese Zhang Shuai or the other American Sofia Kenin. Gauff is first in the main draw in Australia. But she had already made herself known in Wimbledon last year, even then at the expense of the older Williams sister. "Two years ago I lost in the first round of the junior tournament and today I am here, it's crazy!" commented. "I've never met Rod Laver, but we should organize an appointment, I need a selfie with him for Instagram," he added. The 81-year-old champion replied in a Tweet that he would be "happy to meet her."
From the exuberance of the 15 year old to the tears of Caroline Wozniacki, which have infected the public. The 29-year-old Dane was beaten in three sets (7-5, 3-6, 7-5) by the Tunisian Ons Jabeur. "I cry, but I'm happy," she said to the people who cheered her on her feet. Happy because this last game was in his style: a battle. "I fought like my life was gone, like I have done my whole career", started at 15. "As a child I had a dream, to win a Grand Slam tournament, I wanted to become the number 1 in the world. It seemed madness, for me who came from a small country. But I did it. I am very proud of what I have achieved" added Wozniacki at the press conference, who had to wait almost the end to make his dream come true, winning the Australian Open in 2018.
Applause on the open scene also for Federer. At 38, the 'King' showed that having won everything isn't enough for him yet. Against an excellent Millman, tenacious and galvanized from the home air, the Swiss fought and won his 100th game in Australia in the 5th set. A battle that can be summed up in the super tie-break, when he managed to recover from a disadvantage of 4-8, winning 10-8.
