Live Sim Thread

[SirBloody Idiot]

Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 4-3 Jojo Mustard
Just as we thought Mustard was starting to hit his straps here, he finds himself in dire trouble at 0-30 after he puts an attempted lob from Delev straight into the net. I dare say he'll be kicking himself for missing that. Delev continues to play his power game from the baseline, and Mustard refuses to do anything but engage him in long rallies. That costs him as he miscues a backhand slice completely and watches it drop on his side of the court. Two break points for Delev, but he needs just one as Mustard is wrongfooted and the forehand from his feet sails over the baseline. Big break for Delev who must hold to secure the ascendancy in this set!

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 5-3* Jojo Mustard
Cruel stuff for Jojo Mustard who had the opportunity to go to 0-30 but his backhand took the tape and dropped on the wrong side of the net. That's twice in as many games. Delev pulls free to 40-15 with a successful challenge on a backhand that just clipped the back line, and Mustard is not happy that the point isn't be replayed. Probably a fair call by Jojo, too, as he might have got there if not for the overzealous lineswoman. Delev consolodates his break and forces Mustard to serve to stay in the set. Needless to say, the 29th seed is in some trouble.

Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 5-4 Jojo Mustard
He's good under pressure this Mustard, and he fights very well to go to 40-15 in what looks like being an easy service game. But Delev gets a run on with two big forehands and an unforced error from Mustard and suddenly he has a set point with the advantage. Mustard doesn't let him return his first serve, though, and gets a chance to force Delev to serve out the set. He can't clinch his serve, though, as Delev continues to bang from the baseline with some searing forehands. An errant forehand gives Delev a second set point, but he can't convert as he tries a slice and puts it half way up the net. Massive game in the context of the match this, one feels. Mustard brings up game point with a crisp backhand to the open court after a beautifully created point, and then somehow stays alive by chasing down a lob and throwing it straight at Delev who can't get his hands up in time! Great show from Mustard who is really making Delev earn this set, and you can't help but thinking he might live to rue it.

[Johnners]

Gah, lift!

[Samuel_Vimes]

Cracking stuff. Mustard to get break points and then choke.

[SirBloody Idiot]

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 6-4* Jojo Mustard
Delev looking very nervous having to serve out this set, and starts immediately with a double fault. That second serve missed by an absolute mile, mind you. Delev slows his serving right down, and he notices very quickly that serving just to get it in is going to cost you dearly against a player capable of such clean hitting. Mustard is such a player, and brings up three break points. But after shouting to himself near the ball boys, Delev regathers and somehow saves all three with some sharp serves and a fantastic reaching forehand down the line at 152 km/h! Mustard is looking rattled and takes some real time between points, but that's not helping him as he sends a backhand long to bring up set point again for Delev. Challenged unsuccessfully, too, and he's having a right royal struggle with Mr. Hawkeye. Mustard can't return the serve out wide, and Delev gives a huge fist pump after a massive Houdini in that game. If the 19th seed wants to stay in this tournament, he needs to win in five!

Cracking stuff. Mustard to get break points and then choke.

Honest to God, I simmed this set before this was posted.

[Johnners]

YESS!!!

"Khaĭde!!"

[David]

"What a display from Delev, truly a great attribute to us all. The CWDR salutes you."

Decided to get in with some propaganda drivel

[SirBloody Idiot]

From Graham, Melbourne, via text: "Sitting here in the crowd watching Mustard really throw this away. He's just trying to keep the ball in play against Delev, and is getting eaten alive." Shown best in that game, Graham, as he hit some very tame returns against Delev's serve. Needs a quick start here or else he's in real trouble.

Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 6-4 1-0 Jojo Mustard
That's better from Mustard to start the set with some quality serving getting him to 40-15. He's had a change of shirt again between sets. Man sweats like something else. Delev still looking striking in his singlet, and with some trademark ground strokes forces the error out of Mustard to draw back to deuce. Mustard misses an easy forehand to close out the game, and then hands Delev a break point with a double fault. That's just cruel. Delev takes the break straight up as he crunches forehands to either side of the court. Horrible start for Mustard.

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 6-4 2-0* Jojo Mustard
Mustard's not done with yet as he cracks a couple of winners to give himself a look at 15-30. Needs to be assertive here against Delev, but it doesn't matter as he's handed two break points as Delev sends a serve margainly wide, and Hawkeye confirms it. Mustard gave Delev a break point last game, but he's just not hitting it as crisply as Delev and is paying for it. Delev manages to draw back to deuce, and for the second service game in a row takes five points on the trot to edge further ahead.

From Chris, Nixonstown, via text: "Delev's in complete control at the moment and is hitting winners at will. I don't want to sound unpatriotic, but it is obvious that Mustard has to try to slice more if he wants to hurt Delev. That's what has done him in in the past." That may be true, Chris, but I suspect his near calls with the net last set have turned him off the slice. He's just hitting short forehands and is being punished for it.

Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 6-4 2-1 Jojo Mustard
For those asking (god knows why), Mustard changed into a rather suave red shirt between sets. I swear this guy is like a crayon box or something. He finds out the merits of getting your first serves in as he bounces back from another double fault to take the game to fifteen. Three first serves in for four points; that's where he needs to be if he's to stay in this.

From Martti, East Robbham, via e-mail: "What a display from Delev, truly a great attribute to us all. The CWDR salutes you."

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 6-4 2-2* Jojo Mustard
I've given him the kiss of death a number of times already, but Mustard isn't actually looking that bad. He's still seeing the ball well, but has been far too happy to get into long rallies and is paying for his hesitancy to shoot for a winner. He gets another look at 30-30 in this game, and brings up break point with a forehand winner deep in the corner off a first serve from Delev! That's more like it, and Mustard lets the crowd know about it! Delev's forehand takes the net and bounces wide, and finally a bit of luck for Mustard as he secures that ellusive break back. Game on!

[Samuel_Vimes]

Haha. Is the sim based on 200 randomly chosen matches involving players whose names happen to end in ova?

[SirBloody Idiot]

Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 6-4 2-3 Jojo Mustard
For the record, the spectators ejected earlier were East CWLand fans who were accused of starting a fight with some locals. Nasty stuff. Mustard's built up a nice head of steam here and ends points quickly to go to 40-0. Delev manages to pull it back to 40-30, but Mustard goes the S&V route again to close it out and take a 3-2 lead. Six first serves in that game, and Mustard is really starting to roll.

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-3* Jojo Mustard
Quality stuff from Delev to start with as he gets his first ace in God knows how long. Swing out wide, "an absolute beauty" says Richard Ryan on commentary. Mustard, however, manages to get another look in on the Delev serve with an ultra-aggressive running volley to go to 30-30. That's the type of risk he needs to take more often if he's to 'impose his will' on this match. Delev holds his nerve, though, and holds serve but the pressure is starting to build in this match.

Heath Davis on Twitter: "Bad end to that second set, but El Mustardo looking good here. Might be a bit tired for the dubs tmoro haha."

Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 6-4 4-3 Jojo Mustard
Remember, winner of this match plays Illya Altman who picked up a confident 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over eighteenth seed Zoltan Varga earlier today. Mustard starts the game off with an ace easily as good as Delev's last game, and quickly moves to 30-15. He's moving a little slowly, though, and Delev continues to attack that second serve to draw level. Long rally at 30-30, and it is Delev who prevails as Mustard tries to go down the line and only sets himself up for the cross court winner from Delev who earns another break point. Man, this is going to hurt if he gets it. Mustard's serve is lacking, and Delev powers a backhand deep in the court and comes up to the net for one of his first successful volleys to again take the break. Unbelievable stuff!

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 6-4 5-3* Jojo Mustard
Nothing is certain in this game because both guys are tightening up considerably on serve. Trouble brewing early for Delev as Mustard take advantage of a lacking second serve to be 15-30, but the Easterner is quick to serve wide and push a backhand down the line to make it 30-30. Mustard challenges that, but much to his chagrin it has just clipped the line (we're talking millimeters here). Delev's serve is working overtime, and he busts out two big aces at the most important time to hold and force Mustard to serve to stay in this match.

[SirBloody Idiot]

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 Jojo Mustard
What a way to do it! Mustard looks completely deflated out there, and a couple of ordinary second serves allow Delev 15-40 and two match points. He needs both after he sends a forehand just long (he challenges any way), before Mustard finally puts a regulation backhand into the net to end a twenty shot rally where neither man went for the lines. The vocal Eastern contingent give him a huge ovation, and Delev is understandably ecstatic as he's through to his first Grand Slam fourth round.

1601: SPAS DELEV THROUGH TO THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN FOURTH ROUND

Spas Delev: "It wasn't the prettiest match out there, but we both did our best and can be happy with our effort. He didn't seem to want it so much at the end, so I was happy to keep going for as long as it took."

Delev on East/West relations: "This is very important for us because we are going through a not so good time. I don't like bringing politics into sport, but today felt really good. It was hot."

Delev on making the fourth round: "It is an amazing feeling. I played so bad at the end of last year and there was never any end in sight to my run, but I got a good draw and good results here so I hope to keep going."

Delev on playing Altman: "He's a great player. I didn't see his match today, but he must have been good to beat Zoltan. Tomorrow I'll look at his match and play doubles, but today I just want to soak in the win."

1615: So that's me done from the Multi-Purpose Venue after an impressive victory from Spas Delev this afternoon. Mustard started strongly, but was broken far too often and did not take enough risks. Delev now faces his first seeded player in the round of 16, and is closing in on the top 50 with this result.

[Samuel_Vimes]

Delev played best, clearly. Should be interesting to see him vs Altman, somewhat contrasting styles.

Good fun to read the report, but must be seriously tiring to write

[HeathDavisSpeed]

This result should help the East CWLanders come to terms with their poverty. Disappointed to see El Mustardo go out, but its good to see such altruism from one of the game's greatest gents.

[Johnners]

YESS!!!

"Khaĭde!!"

Bring on the 4th round

[David]

Quality work SBI. (y)

Good to see the hard working Delev pick up a win for the people.

[Mister Wright]

Great sim. A big shame for Mustard, should really have won after taking the first set, allowed Delev back in and paid for it.