SNAPSHOT FROM DAY SIX AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN:
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Lauren Davis – despite losing a toenail in an epic two-hour, 22-minute deciding set, the world No.73 conjured three match points against top seed Simona Halep before succumbing 4-6 6-4 15-13 in a three-and-a-quarter-hour third-round epic on Rod Laver Arena.
STAT OF THE DAY: The 48 games in the Halep-Davis classic is the equal-most for a women’s match in Open history, matching Chanda Rubin’s 6-4 2-6 16-14 win over Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1996.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I feel really happy but I’m also kind of sorry because I know you guys wanted her to win,” humble Japanese youngster Naomi Osaka after eliminating Ashleigh Barty with a 6-4 6-2 third-round win.
TURNING POINT: Who knows if Barty would have thrived on Rod Laver Arena if the big home hope’s scheduled centre-court clash wasn’t moved to Margaret Court Arena due to a backlog?
TOURNAMENT SUMMARY: Nick Kyrgios is the last local hope in the singles after Barty’s exit, while Osaka has a huge opportunity to go even further against the weary and wounded Halep.