Monday, January 31, 2022

Australian Open 2022: Rafael Nadal further raises his own incredible standards to make history

Rafael Nadal was 30-0 up, serving for the championship at 5-4, when Daniil Medvedev found the extra strength to charge back and win the game. In that moment, as Nadal failed to close out the match, memories from the 2012 and 2017 finals came rushing back.

Memories of the turnaround when Novak Djokovic in 2012 and Roger Federer in 2017 went past Nadal despite the Spaniard being a break up in the deciding sets. Nadal feared an encore in the summit clash of the 2022 edition that took place at the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.

"After that, I said 'f***, one more time I'm going to lose like in 2012 and 2017'... But I just kept fighting. I can lose, he can beat me, but I can't give up," Nadal said to Eurosport after the match.

Nadal was determined not to "give up". He broke back immediately before a service game to love completed a 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win. This was just one of the many comebacks that the Spaniard scripted in the final and tournament to get to the record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title, which now puts him at the top in men's tennis, ahead of his greatest rivals Federer and Djokovic.

And one of the most crucial of the comebacks in that enthralling contest came in the third set!

The highest seed, Medvedev, started the match on the front foot, taking control of the contest early on. He was quick from the back and forced Nadal into making multiple unforced errors in the first set. The Russian's tenacity had Nadal rattled as he struggled with his groundstrokes and conceded five games in a row to lose the first set 2-6.

In the second set, Nadal rushed into an early lead at 4-1 but Medvedev, who denied Djokovic from number 21 in the US Open final last year, scripted his own comeback to recover to 3-5 and then saved a set point to force a tie-breaker. Medvedev's shots had more depth. Nadal's forehands were weak. The result of the tie-break: 7-5 in the Russian's favour.

By taking a two-set lead, Medvedev had put Nadal against history. No player in the Open Era had won the Australian Open after losing the first two sets in the final. The last person to do so was Roy Emerson, 57 years ago. The last time Nadal won a best-of-five match from two sets down was at Wimbledon 2007.

At 35, against an opponent 10 years younger, even the usual best would not have been enough for Nadal, And here he was operating well short of his usual best. The slice-shot strategy wasn't working. The backhand wasn't fluent. The forehands lacked punch. And Medvedev covered everything thrown at him.

To make matter worse, Medvedev made it 3-2 in the third set and had three break points on Nadal's serve. The Spaniard was put on the ropes, but for Nadal, it's never over till it's over. He saved the first break point as well as the second and then the third. He won a 19-shot rally and then a 21-shot rally to hold his serve. The tide had turned. He eventually broke and then fired three winners to hold to love to win the set 6-4.

Nadal was back!

The game that seemed like a three-set affair at one stage instead ended up going the full stretch. Nadal brought all his experience into the game in the fourth set, forcing Medvedev into baseline battles. Along with tactics and skills, it also became a fight between the fitness levels of the two players. And the Russian wasn't enjoying it, as Nadal made him run from side to side. The slice shots gave way for the drop shots, forcing Medvedev to reach for the net more than before.

To Medvedev's credit, he refused to go away, even though his movement was compromised. Medvedev responded strongly to an early break, but Nadal had another break with a crosscourt backhand. He then served out the set to force the match into the decider.

With time, Nadal grew stronger in his game but more importantly his superior fitness and higher tempo of tennis is what ultimately made the difference. Both were perhaps a product of his indomitable spirit.

Just last month he was struck down by COVID-19. His season came to an end in August 2021 due to a foot injury that made him think that he would never play again. He played just two matches in the second half of 2021.

"I was not ready physically for these kind of battles, honestly. I didn't practice enough to be ready for it," Nadal said after the match.

So from where did he find that fitness level, and from where did that tempo come? It's almost impossible to explain, but then again, so is Nadal.

Medvedev fought hard in the final set as both players missed break-point opportunities. With a forehand winner down the line, Nadal broke for a 3-2 lead. Medvedev hit back from 4-5, 0/30 behind to level. This was the last of Medvedev's fights on the night. Nadal broke back immediately and then served out to clinch a memorable victory after a brutal five hours and 24 minutes on the court.

“Tactically nothing changed. I feel like I was playing right, but Rafa stepped up,” Medvedev said in his post-match press conference explaining Nadal's comeback.

It was Nadal's second Australian Open title win, 13 years after his first in 2009. In these 13 years, he endured multiple heartbreaks in the finals at the first Slam of the year. In 2012 and 2017 he lost agonisingly despite being a break up in final sets. In 2014 final, he lost to Stanislas Wawrinka in four sets while struggling with a back injury. In 2019 final, he was swept aside by a far superior Djokovic in three sets.

Nadal has been putting his body on the line for over 20 years, but even by his own standards, among the many acts of defiance, the Australian Open 2022 success should stand the tallest.

“If we put everything together, the scenario, the momentum, what it means. Yeah, without a doubt probably have been the biggest comeback of my tennis career,” said Nadal in the post-match press conference.

Tallest because just when we thought we have seen everything from Rafa, Nadal went beyond the standards he has set, surprising not just the fans, but surely somewhere himself as well.

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Australian Open 2022: Rafael Nadal's historic triumph sparks off meme-fest on vaccines

At the Australian Open final on Sunday, 30 January, Rafael Nadal created history. He achieved the unthinkable after winning his 21st Grand Slam, moving ahead of top players Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the list.

During the match, tennis fans were shocked to see the 35-year-old Spaniard outplaying his opponent Daniil Medvedev for more than two sets and two hours. In the mightiest of his comebacks, Nadal ended the lengthy contest with scores 2-6, 6-7 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 at the iconic Rod Laver Arena.

After Nadal emerged the winner, congratulatory messages from all over the world flooded social media. Among the many wishes, there were vaccine memes and jokes that made headlines and spoke on the importance of vaccination.

The focus was on Djokovic, who was stopped from playing the tournament because of Australia’s new strict immunisation policy. Despite taking the Australian government to court, Djokovic could not be part of the much-awaited tournament.

There were a few social media users who poked fun at Djokovic for missing out on a great opportunity, while others congratulated Nadal.

One fan posted saying vaccination helps with Nadal topping the chart.

Pune Police used an epic moment of the two stars and further urged others to get jabbed soon.

Australian politician and member of the Labor Party, Cameron Dick also wished Nadal for his win.

Here are few more memes that you can check out:  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

With this big win, Nadal has become the fourth sportsperson to win each of the four grand slams twice, as well as the third on the list to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era. He currently stands behind Federer and Australian tennis player Ken Rosewall.

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Jay Shewakramani hints at another collaboration with Saif Ali Khan as Jawaani Jaaneman clocks 2

Over the years, Jay Shewakramani has earned a repute for making entertaining and deeply-engaging dramas. One such film that became a massive hit among the audience was Jawaani Jaaneman. Two years ago, released today, the movie won hearts with light humour and a new take on human relationships.

Backed by Saif Ali Khan and Jay Shewakramani Jawaani Jaaneman starred the actor and Tabu and launched Alaya F. On the film clocking two years, the celebrated producer hinted towards another collaboration with Saif Ali Khan.

While sharing his excitement, Jay Shewakramani said, "Jawaani Jaaneman is close to my heart. The day I read the story, I knew I had to make it. We had a great time shooting the film."

"Saif and I love London. We had always wanted to collaborate on a film based in the city. Jawaani Jaaneman came as a perfect opportunity to do the same. In fact, we are also in the talks of another film that will be set against the London backdrop as well. We will announce the same soon," he further added.

Well, we are super soaked to watch Jay Shewakramani and Saif Ali Khan come together for a project! Meanwhile, the producer is gearing up for the much-awaited film Freddy, starring Kartik Aaryan and Alaya F. Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, the film is a romantic thriller.



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West Indies vs England: Jason Holder takes 4-in-4, becomes first Windies male player to collect T20I hat-trick

Jason Holder became the first West Indies male cricketer to take a hat-trick in T20I cricket on Monday. The all-rounder led his team to a dramatic 17-run victory over England in the final T20I of the five-match series, which the West Indies ended up winning 3-2.

The former captain picked up four wickets in four balls in the last over of the match to complete a double hat-trick.

England needed 20 to win off the final over of the series decider at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, having been set 180 to win.

Holder started off with a no-ball but dismissed Chris Jordan off his second delivery. Sam Billings was the next one to depart getting caught at deep mid-wicket by substitute fielder Hayden Walsh Jr in the third delivery.

Adil Rashid was dismissed off the fourth ball at deep square-leg and Holder, giving the senior all-rounder his hat-trick.

The right-arm speedster further bowled Saqib Mehmood, taking his fourth consecutive wicket in a single over. With this final over burst, Holder bowled out England for 162, sealing a 17-run win for the hosts.

Holder finished with career-best figures of 5 for 27 in 2.5 overs. He has now become the fourth player to have picked up four wickets in as many balls in the history of T20s. The list includes former Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga, Ireland's Curtis Campher and Afghanistan star Rashid Khan.

The former West Indies captain said that he was proud of his performance and was pleased with how he came back after a no ball. He also added that playing in Kensington Oval was always a pumped up feeling.

Holder took a total of 15 wickets in the five-match-series, and was declared both Player of the Match as well as Player of the Series.

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Pandit Birju Maharaj's ability to express 'feminine' threw light on the queer possibilities of Kathak

Queer Gaze is a monthly column where Prathyush Parasuraman examines traces of queerness in cinema and streaming — intended or unintended, studied or unstudied, reckless or exciting.

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The singer Girija Devi would often say about the late Birju Maharaj, “I can’t think of any woman dancer who can be a better Radha.”

The scholar Yatindra Mishra echoes this sentiment, “Mard hoke, nayika bhava ke saath, streeyon ke roothna, manana, chidh jaana, sharmana, aankh neeche karna, sankoch mein padh jaana, hairat dikhana — jo ek typical heroine-oriented feeling hai — woh sab Kathak ke bhaav mein dikhana… Birju Maharaj ka kamaal tha.” That his excellence lay in his capacity to express the “feminine” — in coyness, reluctance, annoyance, shame, indulgence, and shock. 

Kathak, a dance form that came to a boil during the Vaishnavite Bhakti movement in the 15th-16th century, bolstered by the Mughal courts where it was both patronised and performed, trickled into the 20th and 21st centuries with an uneasy contradiction that was best expressed in Vishwaroopam. In the 2013 film, Kamal Haasan is introduced as a Kathak guru, with the song ‘Unnai Kaanadhu Naan’ choreographed by Birju Maharaj  [for which he won the National Award]. Haasan’s gait, reflective of Birju Maharaj, is expressly effeminate, his wrist amply limp, easily able to inhabit moments in the song that require the feminine lasya or grace — he calls out to Krishna, performing anger, frustration, and affection as his Radha, removing bangles and necklaces in lovelorn sickness, and then holding the hand to the heart in joy at being united. Andrea Jeremiah, who plays one of his students, becomes the Krishna to his Radha, surprising him by grasping him from the back.

We find out later that Haasan’s character is a R&AW agent who is using this effeminate gait as a mask that calls attention to his unthreatening weakness. When this reveal happens in an action sequence where he turns the enemy to pulp, the shock is both of the characters around him and us. Grace and bravery are now seen as two ends of an uneasy binary that maps itself neatly onto the gender divide.  

Kamal Haasan in Vishwaroopam

Birju Maharaj’s name — Brijmohan — was given to him as a gesture. He was the only boy born in the hospital on a wintry day in 1937. One of the men commented that he is like ‘Brij ke Mohan’ (Krishna), surrounded by his gopis. The name and the mythical allure of it stuck. He would, over the years, spin this gesture on its head, using the liminal space between the mythical lovers, Radha and Krishna, as his camping ground. [It also must be noted that disturbing allegations regarding Birju’s Maharaj’s alleged sexual abuse have been made.]

Part of this ease with the performer’s shape-shifting across genders belongs to the tradition itself. Like Bharatnatyam and Odissi, Kathak too is performed with ekaharya abhinaya — where Kathak performer and scholar Purnima Shah in her paper Transcending Gender in the Performance of Kathak notes, “[A] single Kathak performer portrays all the characters within a selected episode, enacting one, impersonating another, effortlessly switching gender portrayals as the roles appear in the narrative without any extraneous use of costume, makeup, props or technical effects.” She ties this to the philosophical idea of non-dualism or Advaita. Indeed, many Vaishnavite strains believe that Radha is not separate from Krishna but is actually the rapturous, blissful part of him, which he cleaves off, creating a separate person to romantically joust with. 

At the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, there is an 18th century Kangra painting, where Krishna and Radha are walking by the Jumna [Yamuna], lit gray in the creamy moonlight, after having exchanged clothes — what we might call today "cross dressing." A Call Me By Your Name gesture of love — take what is mine and make it yours. Male members of the Sakhi Bhava sect of Vaishnavism even dress as women as an act of devotion. Vrindavana Sthala Purana is abound with stories of Shiva — the rugged masculine ideal — dressing up as a woman in Mathura to be regaled in Krishna’s Raas-Leela.

Swerve to the present moment, and think of how pop-culture markers of cross-dressing from ‘Kajra Mohabbat Wala’ to Jackie Shroff in Radhe are often a gesture of humour. We laugh. Or we are shocked. But what are we laughing at, shocked by? 

An ease with fluidity is often perplexed by rigid binaries. Dance becomes a battleground for this. For example, in Levan Akin’s burning, buoyant, queer Georgian film And Then We Danced (2019), the craft and tradition of dance is at the center of both the character’s sexual identity, and also the country’s masculine ideal. Tbilisi’s National Georgian Ensemble in the film was trying to revive the Georgian ballet as the idealised heterosexual space, though completely cleaved off eros [“There is no sex in Georgian dance”], alongside the Georgian identity which was crumbling in the aftermath of the 20th century. This is the kind of ballet that has folded within it centuries worth of folk dance. Masculinity needs to be palpable. Chemistry needs to be minimal.

So when the male dancer, then, is associated with lasya — grace — it becomes a gendered, sexualised idea of grace that makes it easy, even unconsciously so, to consider them queer. It is in this context that Birju Maharaj and Odissi exponent Kelucharan Mohapatra’s enticing, shape-shifting grace becomes all the more pronounced. For these were men, married, with family, who also had the audacity of grace. The charm to move into and out of genders under the soft spotlight.  

Scholars have noted that the gender binary was never so rigid. Madhavi Menon, in her book Infinite Variety: A History Of Desire In India, notes that in ancient Indian texts, “Both men and women … used to walk around with red lips, eyes darkened with kohl, hammered hands and feet, and a red mark on their foreheads.” Variants of the word “beautiful” were, in fact, used for both men and women. 

In a world where we use markers to assert gender — the length of hair on the head, facial hair on the face, the existence of breasts, make-up — how do we interpret gender when the same body is producing both the masculine and the feminine? Usually in Kathak, there is a palta, or a circular movement to signal transition between characters, where the male stance is usually erect and broad, while the female stance is relaxed and drawn inwards. But what happens in that transitional moment? Who is the dancer then? 

If we move back a few more centuries to Chalukya sculptures in Aihole, we see the most fiercely masculine gods — Veerabhadra, Bhairava — standing in Tribhanga, where the body bends at the knees, hips, and neck, a pose of grace, a gait that is considered feminine today. Their hands are on their hips. It is a cruel joke, really, for I remember I used to stand like that as a child, a habit that I would hack at, over time, because what came easily to my body was not what was easily understood by those around me. I remember conversations with friends where we would zoom into each of my gestures and try to refashion it in the stifling shade of the time. These were the years before metrosexuality. The broad chest was preferred. The clenched fist. It is easy to wonder, looking at these sculptural marvels, these ancient texts, these paintings tinted saffron and green, when did things change so rapidly, so rabidly? 

Prathyush Parasuraman is a critic and journalist, who writes a weekly newsletter on culture, literature, and cinema at prathyush.substack.com.



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India vs West Indies: Yuzvendra Chahal's chance to find his mojo back as he closes in on 100 wickets milestone in ODIs

Yuzvendra Chahal is on the verge of achieving a most deserving milestone in the one day international (ODI) format.

The right hand tweaker is one scalp away from a century of wickets in the short form of the game that was for the first time played 51 years ago between Australia and England in Melbourne after the first three days of an Ashes Test was rained off.

The Haryana legspinner, 31, and who has a background as a national level chess player, is one among the few plying the unorthodox and difficult trade in international cricket these days. He has so far played 59 matches and taken 99 wickets at a very thrifty 27.88 and with a strike-rate of 32.19. He has taken two five wicket hauls in his five-year-old career in ODI in which he made his debut against Zimbabwe at Harare in June 2016.

The calendar years from 2017 to 2019 saw him strike it rich, taking 21 wickets in 2017 and 29 apiece in 2018 and 2019. His best is a 6/42 against Australia at Melbourne in January 2019. The pandemic has not given him the leeway to improve his skills and numbers, but without doubt he has been in the frontline of India’s spin attack with the left arm tweaker Kuldeep Yadav.

Yuzvendra Chahal's exclusion from the T20 World Cups squad has come as a surprise for many. AP

Chahal has featured in 40 matches that India won from 2016 to 2021 when a team led by Shikhar Dhawan played a three match series against Sri Lanka in Colombo. He has played against 11 countries in the format and has a double-digit (between 16 to 22) against Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

He was one among India’s key bowlers in the 2019 ICC World Cup in England. Chahal took 12 wickets at 36.83, sending down 74 overs. Once the team disbanded the Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja pair after the ICC Champions Trophy final of 2017, the wrist spin duo of Chahal and Yadav have played in 35 matches and have taken 71 wickets, the third best Indian pair after Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar (131 wickets in 167 innings), and Ashwin and Jadeja (128 wickets in 84 innings).

For a steady and reasonable successful spinner, Chahal has missed 44 matches after making his debut.

He has also been part of India’s Twenty20 scheme of things, but he was dropped for last year’s ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup in the UAE. The selectors chose Rahul Chahar.

Former Mumbai offspinner Kiran Mokashi — he took 147 wickets in ten years of Ranji Trophy — has the following observation to make on Chahal. A keen student of the game and who bowled aplenty to Sachin Tendulkar in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy net sessions, Mokashi said: “The Indian selectors’ thinking about the kind of legspinners required for the UAE type of pitches for the Twenty20 World Cup did not click. Their judgment, that you will require leg spinners bowling at a brisk pace on slow flat pitches and smaller grounds did not come true."

“First, Varun Chakravarty’s pace was ideal to cart him around as the ball did not grip; moreover the batters judged him to play more of as an offspinner. Leggie Rahul Chahar also could not bowl at an ideal pace to spin the ball. Here is where Chahal, who was part of Twenty20 scheme till mid-2021, would have been an ideal attacking bowler. But he was dropped.”

He continued, “Chahal is more of a conventional leg spinner who has the skill to impart a lot of spin on the ball, as a result of which the ball dips and drifts. His control over different lines, his judgement of bowling at the right pace and flight to different batters is proven. His IPL record is excellent with two five-fors and a six-for in the restricted overs that he bowls.

“He has the heart and brain for an attacking legspinner, all that he needs is the backing of the captain and the team management. Moreover, he doesn’t need abrasive pitches all the time, as his ability to impart rotations and his control over flight and drift makes him an attacking wicket taker needed in white ball competitions. Remember, a wicket-taker more than a restrictive bowler, wins you matches."

Leg spin and googly variety - discovered by former Middlesex and England bowler with a tennis ball, Bernard James Tindal Bosanquet, in the late 19th or very early 20th century - is a difficult art. The legspinners have so far taken 7,787 wickets in Test cricket, but Chahal has not played even one Test.

Seventeen legspinners have taken over 100 Test wickets, with Shane Warne leading the list with 708 victims. Chahal will be the 14th legspinner to touch the three figure milestone in ODIs. Among the Indian wrist spinners, Kumble has 337 and Kuldeep 107. He will have the luxury of bowling with Kuldeep in the ODI series against the West Indies in Ahmedabad where the surface at the Narendra Modi Stadium will assist the spinners.

He has clean bowled 11 batters, trapped 23 leg before, had 10 batters stumped, had caught 55 caught (43 in the outfield and five by the wicket keeper and seven caught of his own bowling). And will be keen and eager to give a good account of himself leading to the white ball World Cups in Australia in 2022 and India in 2023.

With rookie Ravi Bishnoi being groomed, Chahal has his task cut out. But the immediate matter of interest is which West Indian batter becomes his 100th victim in ODIs. This memorable event for Chahal can happen on 6 February in the first ODI in Ahmedabad. Should he be fielded, which skipper Rohit Sharma is likely to do, it will be Chahal’s 15th match at home. He has taken 22 wickets at home and 77 abroad!

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Mahaan teaser: Vikram, Karthik Subbaraj's action thriller is an intense tale of friendship, rivalry and fate

Ahead of the premiere of Vikram’s 60th movie – Mahaan, on 10 February, Prime Video has released the teaser of this highly anticipated action thriller.

What's the teaser about?

The intense teaser gives a glimpse into the action-packed universe of Mahaan that promises to entertain its viewers with its gripping storyline. From the teaser one can expect an intense narrative spinning out of friendship, rivalry and play of fate.

Watch teaser here:


Plot:

The film, directed by Karthik Subbaraj and produced by Lalit Kumar, revolves around a series of events that transform the whole life of an ordinary man as well as all the people around him. Mahaan features real-life father-son duo Vikram and Dhruv Vikram together for the very first time, along with Bobby Simha and Simran in pivotal roles.

Release date:

The movie will premiere worldwide exclusively on 10 February and will also be available in Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. In Kannada, the film will be titled Maha Purusha.

 



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Sunday, January 30, 2022

On Chandan Roy Sanyal’s birthday, let’s look at his unconventional journey

Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal has completed 16 years in the Hindi film industry and has successfully created a niche for himself. From Mikhail in Kaminey to role in Rang De Basanti to Bhopa Swami in Aashram, he has marked his presence across platforms. Here's a list of roles that the actor played, stuck with the viewers, and captured his versatility

Kaminey

kaminey

Chandan Roy Sanyal's portrayal of Mikhail in Kaminey got him recognition among celebrated filmmakers. His impeccable acting chops in Kaminey not only brought outstanding roles to him but also earned him a nomination at Stardust Awards for breakthrough performance of the year. Vishal Bhardwaj’s directorial had been a game-changer for the actor.

Aashram

aashram

This is one series that raked in millions of streams in a matter of days. Chandan played Bhopa Swami in the show, the scheming and manipulative right hand of Baba Nirala played by Bobby Deol was one of the highlights. The actor not only received love for the character from the critics but also the viewers.

Urojahaj

Urojahaj

Late Buddhadeb Dasgupta's masterpiece Urojahaj is a special film spearheaded by Chandan Roy Sanyal. The actor is seen in the role of Bachchu Mondal, a truly unforgettable character from his filmography. Only a remarkable actor of Chandan's range can pull off an out-of-the-box plot directed by a maverick.

Ray

Ray

Ray hit the digital screen with Chandan Roy Sanyal shining in the role of Robi, an assistant to an actor in a Vasan Bala directorial. The actor amassed glowing reviews for his portrayal of a comic and street smart assistant to a star who envies a local godwoman hogging his share of the limelight. It is the role that fortified his position in the OTT scene and proved that no matter what the role is, he dives all in to give viewers a show they deserve

Sanak: Hope Under Siege

sanak

Chandan Roy Sanyal garnered an outpour of positive reviews for his terror-evoking performance in Sanak directed by Kanishk Varma. Establishing his command on his craft, the actor has positioned himself as a credible performer with his portrayal as Saju, a merciless and diabolical hostage-taker who masterminds a siege over a hospital. The way he dug into the villain's mental space was highly appreciated by the critics.



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Bigg Boss 15: When and where to watch finale? All details here

The wait is finally over and you will be getting Bigg Boss 15 winner today. The show is hosted by Bollywood star Salman Khan. Like Season 14, BB 15 also received an extension, but by just a week. Out of the many contestants that entered in a bid to win the trophy, only a few are remaining - the top five, to be exact. The competition is now between Shamita Shetty, Nishant Bhat, Pratik Sehajpal, Karan Kundrra, Tejasswi Prakash and the ball is in the audiences' court.

Ahead of the finale, we tell you exactly when and where to watch the final episode of Season 15, who are the finalists, the guests, and more.

When is the Bigg Boss 15 finale?

The finale has been divided into two parts, the first part aired on Colors TV on Saturday (29 January) and the second one will air on Sunday (30 January).

Where to watch Bigg Boss 15 finale?

Viewers can watch the finale on Colors TV at 8:00 pm or tune into the Voot website or app and stream it at the same time.

Who are the top 5 contestants?

The top 5 contestants are - Pratik Sehajpal, Nishant Bhat, Shamita Shetty, Karan Kundrra, Tejasswi Prakash. Rakhi Sawant and Rashami Desai who were very close to the finale were evicted from the house.

Who are the special guests?

The grand finale of Bigg Boss 15 is set to be a star-studded affair as Deepika Padukone will be gracing the stage to promote her upcoming film Gehraiyaan.

Shehnaaz Gill will also appear on the show to pay tribute to the late actor Sidharth Shukla. Apart from them, Gauahar Khan, Shweta Tiwari, Rajiv Adatia and Donal Bisht may also make an appearance as they were recently spotted on the sets of the show.

 



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Australian Open Live Score, Men's final: Nadal vs Medvedev underway

14:38 (IST)

WHAT A SHOT!

14:38 (IST)

Nadal 2-1 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev taking the ball early and upping the ante. He is staying up on the baseline and smacks a backhand down the line winner to bring the game to 0-30. Once again he finds the corner of the court and should have closed the point out on the short ball. He sends it down the middle, Rafa sticks the racket out and gets it back for a winner. 15-30. Once again! Breathtaking skills by Nadal to get two very tough volleys back. Medvedev making Nadal play so many balls. An errant backhand brings up break point. Nadal saves it but then shanks another forehand for Medvedev to have another chance at break. Big serve out wide and another break point goes begging. Nadal with a low slice that Medvedev sends into the net. Rafa holds with thumping groundstrokes and a winner into open court

14:27 (IST)

Nadal* 1-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Less of a nervous hold for Medvedev. He closes the game out with a 187kmph ace

14:24 (IST)

Nadal 1-0 *Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Nadal gets us underway. Early on, Rafa opening the court up with angled cross forehands and making Daniil move to the side. Back-to-back backhand unforced errors bring the game to deuce. Thrice in the 19-shot rally did it look Nadal had gone for it too much only for the ball to drop in. Medvedev finds the net on the backhand and Nadal has the chance to hold. And he does. Medvedev sends the return wide and Nadal is on the board

14:16 (IST)

Three-time Australian Open champion Rod Laver and two-time Australian Open champion Jim Courier bring the trophy out to Rod Laver Arena

14:14 (IST)

The players are on court for the Australian Open final. Rafael Nadal has won the toss and opted to serve first. Australia's John Blom is the chair umpire for this one

14:06 (IST)

Both Sony Network experts Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja backing Rafael Nadal to get the win. Fair shout. Truth be told, it could go either way. 

14:04 (IST)

WHAT A STAT!

14:03 (IST)

Celebrities in attendance today at Australian Open: 

Rod Laver AC MBE, Australian tennis legend

The Hon. Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria

Neale Fraser AO MBE, Australian tennis legend

Judy Dalton AM, Australian tennis legend

Ian Thorpe AM, Multiple Olympic Gold Medallist, Guest of Ralph Lauren

Emma McKeon AM, Multiple Olympic Gold Medallist

Eric Bana, Actor

Michael Chugg, Chugg Entertainment

Alicia Debnam Carey, Actress

Sophie Wilde, Actress

Thomas Cocquerel, Actor

Sam Corlett, Actor

David and Candice Warner

14:01 (IST)

In the women's doubles final earlier: Top-ranked Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova took another major step in a partnership which began in junior ranks when they won the Australian Open women’s doubles 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4 Sunday from unseeded Anna Danilina and Beatriz Haddad Maia.

The Czech pair claimed their first Australian Open title to go with one Wimbledon and two French Open titles to move a step closer to a career Grand Slam in doubles. They also are Olympic champions.

Danilina and Haddad Maia became the first pair to take a set from Krejcikova and Siniakova in Melbourne and kept the final alive for 2 hours and 42 minutes before finally succumbing.

13:55 (IST)

Minutes away from start

13:53 (IST)

Head-to-head: Nadal leads 3-1

Nadal won his first meeting against Medvedev in straightforward fashion. Rest have gone to a deciding set

13:30 (IST)

Daniil Medvedev's road to the final:

1st rd: bt Henri Laaksonen (SUI) 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)

2nd rd: bt Nick Krygios (AUS) 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 

3rd rd: bt Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2

4th rd: bt Maxime Cressy (usa) 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5

Quarter-final: bt Fleix Auger-Aliassime (CAN x9) 6-7 (4/7), 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5, 6-4 

Semi-final: bt Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x4) 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1

13:30 (IST)

🇷🇺 Daniil Medvedev

Age: 25

World ranking: 2

Prize money: $22,126,356

Career titles: 13

Grand Slam titles: 1 (US Open 2021)

Australian Open best: Final (2021, 2022)

Coach: Gilles Cervara

Making his fourth Slam final appearance and second straight Australian Open final appearance.

After falling to number two Rafael Nadal in 2019 US Open final and number one Novak Djokovic in the 2021 Australian Open final, denied Djokovic a calendar Grand Slam by beating him in the 2021 US Open final.

Defeated number one Djokovic, number two Nadal and number three Dominic Thiem at 2020 ATP Finals to become the first player to sweep top three in tournament history. 

Led ATP Tour with 63 wins and achieved career-high number two in 2021.

13:30 (IST)

Rafael Nadal's road to the final:

1st rd: bt Marcos Giron (USA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

2nd rd: bt Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 6-2, 6-3, 6-4

3rd rd: bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x28) 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1

4th rd: bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 7-6 (16/14) 6-2, 6-2

Quarter-final: bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x14) 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3

Semi-final: bt Matteo Berrettini (ITA x7) 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

13:29 (IST)

🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal

Age: 35

World ranking: 5

Prize money: $125,050,235

Career titles: 89

Grand Slam titles: 20 (French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020); Wimbledon (2008, 2010); US Open (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019) Australian Open (2009)

Australian Open best: Winner (2009) 

Coaches: Carlos Moya, Francisco Roig, Marc Lopez

Tied with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for most Grand Slam titles (20). Ranked in top 10 for record 849 consecutive weeks (2005-21), including 209 total weeks as number one following 160 straight weeks as number two.

Grand Slam match win-loss record stands at 297-41 heading into the 2022 final and Australian Open record is 75-15. 

Unbeaten so far this season at 10-0 and playing in his sixth Australian Open final and 21st in Grand Slams.

Nadal is coming off a curtailed 2021 season caused by a chronic foot injury followed by a bout of Covid-19 in December.

13:27 (IST)

A quick bio of both the finalists

12:33 (IST)

Hello! And so we have arrived on the final day of the 2022 Australian Open. Our focus today is on the men's final which features Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev. Both men chasing records of their own. Nadal is chasing a record 21st Grand Slam crown and bidding to become only the fourth man to win each of the four Grand Slams twice. Medvedev, meanwhile, will collect his second major with a win - couple of months after winning his first at the US Open. No man in the Open Era has won two straight majors to get their tally going.

Preview: It'll be a history-making day, one way or the other. Rafael Nadal is within one victory of a men’s record 21st Grand Slam singles title. He’ll have to beat second-seeded Daniil Medvedev in the final to get the mark on his own.

And Medvedev is chasing a piece of history after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals.

The US Open champion is aiming to be the first man in the Open era to win his second Grand Slam title at the next major tournament.

In the women's doubles final, the top-seeded team of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova will go for their fourth Grand Slam women’s doubles title when they face Anna Danilina and Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



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All That Breathes review: Shaunak Sen's Sundance winner defines the art of commentary and the craft of documentary

Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes — awarded the Grand Jury Documentary Prize at Sundance Film Festival this week — is the kind of film that doesn’t join the dots as much as it just underlines them. That is to say, it revolves around two middle-aged brothers who run Wildlife Rescue, a Delhi bird clinic from the basement office of their family soap-dispenser manufacturing business. Except, their tireless rescuing efforts don't form the film’s central inquiry; they only embellish it. What All That Breathes is really about is the hunt for dignity of life in modern India — an urgent examination of what it means to be a citizen of a country reeling from its own xenophobic toxicity.

The film’s title encapsulates the guiding principle in siblings Nadeem and Saud’s lives. Their late mother taught the duo to respect living creatures — “all that breathes” — instilling in them a deep sense of duty toward their ecosystem. So two decades ago, when the teenage brothers chanced upon an injured kite, they took it to the government bird hospital. What they didn’t expect was the hospital refusing to treat the bird simply because it was “non-vegetarian.”

Born in a Muslim family, Nadeem and Saud ate meat too and the bird hospital was owned by Jains, a devout vegetarian Hindu community — they didn’t know it at the time but the rejection stabbed deep. The brothers responded by operating on the raptor themselves. They had no training then and were armed only with the knowledge of wounds, tears, and fractures they had amassed from poring over copies of Flex, an American magazine dedicated to bodybuilders.

Also read: Emma Thompson on nudity and ageing in Sundance sex worker comedy: 'Found it fantastically hard to do'

For the next two decades, Nadeem and Saud kept bringing injured birds back to their modest basement setup in their Wazirabad home. They remain self-trained till date. Accompanied by Salik, an eager young assistant who ferries the injured birds in cardboard boxes, they diagnose the injured raptors — sometimes they bind wings and tend to the ones who have gone blind and at other times, they bathe the birds, grind meat for them, and house them in a cage until they’re well enough to fly.

The selfless service comes at the cost of their domestic stability. For instance, midway through the film we realize the extent of Nadeem and Saud’s financial depletion: their application for foreign funding is rejected at one point, the grinder that they use to mince meat for the birds is in need of fixing, the walls of the cramped home the brothers share with their wives and children are peeling, and the generator malfunctions on a regular basis.

Early on in All That Breathes, Sen suggests that Nadeem and Saud devoting their entire life to rescuing injured birds that fall from the noxious skies of Delhi is rooted in staunch religious belief. In Islam, feeding meat to kites is considered virtous — one of the brothers explains in the voiecover — an act that washes away one’s problems. But as the documentary progresses and the backdrop widens, it becomes clear that the brothers aren’t necessarily saviours as much as they’re driven by sheer desperation. Healing the neglected birds is their way of convincing themselves that there is more to humanity than just the survival of the fittest.

Also read: Sundance 2022: Karen Gillan goes to war with herself in Riley Stearns’ sci-fi satire, Dual

Midway through the film, the protests against the draconian Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) flare up in the sidelines. The controversial law, meant to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh openly discriminates against Muslims. The strain of being othered frequently shows up on the faces of Nadeem, Saud, and their family members. In one scene, the family eats dinner while pondering over whether a spelling mistake might be enough of a reason for them to be driven out. In another, the camera captures a tender conversation between Nadeem and his wife. When she urges him to attend the Shaheen Bagh protest with her, he tells her that his work is as necessary as the demonstrations.

By the time the 2020 Delhi riots begin, merely two kilometers from Nadeem and Saud’s house, the family have worn their vulnerability on their sleeve. We learn how the brothers have sent most of their family to a safer place, fearing the worst. Sen doesn’t need to explicitly join the dots for us to recognize the patterns. The effects of pollution and the menace of kite-flying enthusiasts have threatened the lives of migratory birds just like the country’s rising intolerance have rendered Muslims invisible.

Nadeem Shehzad (left) and Mohammad Saud in All That Breathes (2022).

The one scene that I can’t seem to get out of my head from All That Breathes is when Sen captures Salik watching a video of a Muslim man being attacked during the 2020 Delhi riots. Salik’s usually chirpy face instantly falls, his face awash with shock. He stops playing the video, puts the phone inside his pocket, and takes a squirrel out of another pocket. The trademark smile returns. In this one scene, All That Breathes manages to condense the burden of Muslim identity in India today and the very ways it has been forced to adapt in the face of hate.

Despite its heavy thematic resonance, Sen, who has a terrific eye for detail, ensures that he never loses sight of Nadeem and Saud’s individualities. Which means that All That Breathes is also a terrific sibling movie — one that posits brotherly quarrels and sacrifices as a reluctant form of intimacy. Everytime the duo share the screen, they light it up in rewarding ways, whether it is during a cricket match betrayal or when Nadeem admits his dissatisfaction with being stuck in his own life before reminding himself how much Wildlife Rescue means to Saud.

These varied threads turn All That Breathes into a striking portrait of interconnected co-existence — of man with animal, of garbage with nature, and of hate with society. The visual imagery is a thing of wonder even when scene after scene is stacked with staggering evidence of Delhi’s corrupted land and skies. But it’s the film’s opening sequence — an unbroken three minute tracking shot of squeaking rats scurrying around for food across a garbage dump in the heart of the city — that is the price of admission alone.

Working with cinematographers Ben Berhard, Riju Das, and Saumyananda Sahi, Sen masterfully reveals the underbelly of the capital, seamlessly merging foreground and background, nature and atmosphere, and the seen and the underseen. Some of the exquisite shots turn the idea of human gaze completely on its head, drawing a link between the city and its invertebrate residents. In one shot, the roving camera zooms in to show us a turtle making its way through a garbage pile, in another a change in depth of field turns a street bonfire scenery into a masterful record of slug crawling in the foreground. Rats, pigs, owls, insects, kites, and a scene-stealing squirrel litter the edges of the city as if mimicking the chaos of rising social tensions.

Simply as a record of slow-burning ecological tragedy, Sen crafts All That Breathes like a meditative poem, one that is cut to mindful perfection by editors Charlotte Munch Bengtsen and Vedant Joshi. The structure itself is striking in its unadorned approach. There’s poetry in simplicity to be found here.

It’s not everyday that you get to see a narrative so attuned to the craft of filmmaking and the beauty of emotion that it results in a hypnotic viewing experience. Sen could have easily just captured a story of compassion and heroism made for the big screen. But the fact that he doesn;’t blindly chase it and meticulously looks at the bigger picture and the smaller battles, make All That Breathes a staggering achievement.

Poulomi Das is a film and culture writer, critic, and programmer. Follow more of her writing on Twitter.

 



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Happy Birthday Mitchell Starc: Aussie pacer's top performances against India

Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc turns 32 today, 30 January. One of the most lethal bowlers in the Australian side, Starc has some commendable performances to his name since he made his international debut over a decade ago.

Starc is one of the finest fast bowlers in the world and is currently ranked 8th in ODI and 13th in Tests. Born in New South Wales, the wicketkeeper-turned bowler is seen as a formidable opponent by many batters.

File picture of Australia pacer Mitchell Starc. AFP

He recently won the Allan Border medal, one of the top honours at Cricket Australia (CA) Awards. Starc was honoured with the prestigious award for his strong performance in all three formats of cricket. Interestingly, he is only the fifth bowler to win the prestigious award in the last 22 years.

With his passion and dedication towards the game, Starc has become a name that strikes fear in the minds of other teams.

Starc made his ODI debut against India in 2010 and Test debut against New Zealand in 2011 at The Gabba, Brisbane. In his career, Starc has played 15 Tests against India, and taken a total of 42 wickets. In ODIs, he has scalped 17 wickets in 13 games.

On his 32nd birthday, we take a look at some of his best performances against the Indian cricket team:

Melbourne (6/43) 2015:

In the Carlton Mid One-Day International Tri-Series, Australia defeated India by 4 wickets in 2015. The star of the game was Starc, who scalped 6 wickets at an economy rate of 4.30 runs.

Sydney (2/28) 2015:

Starc's crucial spell helped the Aussies reach the final of the 2015 World Cup. With James Faulkner and Mitchell Johnson by his side, Starc managed to subdue the Men in Blue and helped Australia win the game by 95 runs.

Adelaide (4/53) 2020:

In 2020, Starc scalped four wickets in the Adelaide Test between India and the Aussies. The record remains one of his best performances. Though Starc was struggling with some personal issues during the series, his match-winning spell was a glimpse that the fighter in him was capable of overcoming all obstacles to give his best.

Mumbai (3/56) 2020:

Starc's 3/56 was another example of Wankhede's love affair with left-handed bowlers. With his 3-wicket haul in the match, the bowler helped the Aussies bundle India out for 255 and achieve a 10-wicket victory.

 

Read all the Latest News, Trending News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



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Saturday, January 29, 2022

Watch — Trailer of Rudra: The Edge of Darkness sees Ajay Devgn as a no-nonsense cop

The trailer for Ajay Devgn’s digital debut series, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, has been released by Disney+ Hotstar today, 29 January.

The crime drama sees Devgn portray DCP Rudra Veer Singh, a cop on the hunter for a killer. The series is a remake of the British television drama Luther, as per news reports.

Produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness was shot in Mumbai. The show is directed by Rajesh Mapuskar of Ventilator fame.

Watch the trailer here

According to Variety, the six-episode show will see Devgn as a cop and his obsessive tendency to pursue criminals which comes at a personal cost in Rudra’s life. The series will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi and Kannada. The release date of the show is yet to be announced by the producers.

Rudra also stars Raashi Khanna, Esha Deol, Atul Kulkarni, Ashish Vidyarthi, Luke Kenny and Ashwini Kalsekar in pivotal roles. The series marks the digital debut of both Deol and Devgn.

The duo have starred together in films such as Yuva, Kaal, Main Aisa Hi Hoon and Cash. Rudra sees Devgn play a character with grey shades, an endeavour he last undertook in Omkara, Vishal Bharadwaj’s adaptation of Othello.

The British TV series Luther featured Idris Elba as the titular detective. The show ran for five seasons and was immensely popular with audiences worldwide.

Devgn was last seen in a guest appearance in Rohit Shetty’s cop drama Sooryavanshi, where he reprised the role of ACP Bajirao Singham. His last releases include Tanhaji and Bhuj.



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Australian Open Highlights, Women's Final: Ashleigh Barty beats Danielle Collins for third major title

16:23 (IST)

That concludes our live blog from the women's final of the Australian Open. Barty ends Australi's 44-year wait in dramatic fashion. Tomorrow the focus moves to the men where Rafael Nadal chases a 21st Grand Slam against 'disruptor' Daniil Medvedev. Until tomorrow, goodbye!

16:16 (IST)

Ash Barty continues in the speech

"To my team, wow! I have said numerous times I am so lucky to have so many people here who love and support me.

"Mum, dad and my sisters, I am an incredibly fortunate and lucky girl to have so much love in my corner.

"No one has changed in our team, we are the best in the business and I can't thank you for all the time you put into me.

"As an Aussie the most important part of this is being able to share it and you guys have been nothing short of exceptional. This crowd is one of the most fun I have ever played in front of - you relaxed me and forced me to play my best tennis! Against a champion like Danielle I had to bring that today."

"This is a dream come true to me and I am so proud to be an Aussie, so thank you so much everyone - we will see you next time!"

16:14 (IST)

Presentation ceremony: Ashleigh Barty

"Thank you everyone so much, I have to say congratulations to Danielle, it has been an amazing fortnight for you, I know you will be fighting for many more of these in the future.

"I am a little stumped, I would love to thank everyone who does so much work behind the scenes - it takes a real big village to put on an event like this, this tournament has been one of my favourite experiences, so thank you so much for that.

"To all the umpires, ball kids, everyone who makes it so easy for us players to do what we do - you guys makes it seamless and without you we'd be lost!"

16:13 (IST)

Presentation ceremony: Danielle Collins

"First I think I owe a big congratulations to Ash on a phenomenal two weeks and phenomenal couple of years.

"I really admire you as the player you are, the variety in your game and hopefully I can implement some of that into mine.

"We wouldn't be standing here without all of the awesome people behind this tournament, it is one of my favourite events to compete at and I am so grateful, it is a childhood dream of mine - I think this is most of the players' favourite Grand Slams."

16:07 (IST)

What a beautiful moment!

16:04 (IST)

Collins: "Big congrats to Ash on a phenomenal 2 weeks here & a phenomenal couple of years. It’s been tremendous to watch her climb the rankings to #1 & live out her dream. I really admire you as the player you are & variety of your game & hopefully I can implement some of that into mine"

15:59 (IST)

Surprise! Aussie legend and Barty's mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley to present the trophies

15:54 (IST)

First person to get a hug from Barty was her first pro doubles partner Casey Dellacqua

15:53 (IST)

THE ROAR!

15:51 (IST)

ASH BARTY 'YOU ROCK! Well done!'

15:47 (IST)

ASHLEIGH BARTY IS THE CHAMPION!

Ashleigh Barty ends Australia's 44-year wait for a women's champion on home soil. She beats Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 coming from 1-5 down in the second set. And she wins the title without dropping a set!

15:43 (IST)

Tiebreak

Collins sends her forehand wide and it brings up FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS! Barty finds the deep end of the court with a forehand winner and she wins it! 

15:41 (IST)

Tiebreak

Barty with a drop shot and a couple of shots later, she closes the point out with a smash. The crowd goes MENTAL! Collins gets into the tiebreak with Barty mishit on the return. 4-1 to Barty. Collins goes for the backhand cross on the Barty serve but sends it into the net. 5-1 to Barty. Deafening noise inside the Rod Laver Arena!

15:39 (IST)

TIEBREAK!

Barty with a mini-break to start with and follows it ip with a point on serve as Collins looks to attack but overcooks it. Big serve and then Barty goes cross for a forehand winner. Huge shot once again! A 144kmph winner that. Crowd making plenty of noise.

15:36 (IST)

Barty 6-3, 6-6 Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty serving to force a tiebreak. Collins keeps the onslaught going and thrashes a second serve to bring the game to 15-30. Barty's big serve gets her out of the cage, for now. And again. This time she goes down the T and the return is into the net. Now out wide and another unreturnable serve. TIEBREAK!

15:33 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 5-6 Collins (*denotes next server)

After seeing her double break lead vanish, Collins ends the rut with a hold. Just the one point dropped in the game and she's kept her concentration intact. 

15:29 (IST)

Barty 6-3, 5-5 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty's forehand in the last game was 10kmph bigger than it had been in the rest of the match. She uses that weapon to go cross, brings the game to 40-15 and has a chance to hold. Collins with a thundering return into the feet of Barty and the short ball is thrashed to make it 40-30. A 175kmph ace out wide gets the hold!

15:25 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 4-5 Collins (*denotes next server)

Collins serves for the second set again. She starts off well. Up to 30-0 by digging in and keeping the rally going before Barty erred on the backhand. On the second serve, Barty attacks and plays a forehand winner down the line. Yet another forehand winner brings the game to 30-30. Pinging the absolute edge of the baseline there! Barty has an opportunity to break once again. She rocks on the forehand on the second serve and sends it cross court, forces Collins into a miss. Collins comes up to the chair umpire about something. The chair umpire asks the crowd not to shout during the point. BREAK! Back on serve! Collins sends her backhand into the net and this has turned right around.

15:20 (IST)

Barty 6-3, 3-5 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty races off to 40-0 with comfortable points. And then Collins thunders a huge forehand deep into the court and allows no time to react. At 40-15, much of the same and Ash nets the backhand. Barty does hold in the end as Collins sends her forehand long

15:16 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 2-5 Collins (*denotes next server)

This has flipped rather remarkably and disastrously for the local crowd. Barty making plenty of errors and Collins barely missing. She serves for the second set on the back of a double break. But Barty keeping herself in it with a forehand down the line but sends the next one long. It is 30-30. A deep slice backhand into Collins' backhand and Barty has a chance to break. Crowd gets behind her. BREAK! A deep return into the backhand and Collins nets it. The American still in command though

15:09 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 1-4 Collins (*denotes next server)

Comfortable and quick holds for both players. Collins with her trademark yells towards the box after each point. She has turned things around after dropping that first set. Not allowing Barty to get in and more importantly, being more aggressive

15:05 (IST)

Collins is PUMPED!

15:02 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 0-3 Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty has the opportunity to break right back and it goes begging. Barty has the chance to make Collins play a volley but she finds the net on the backhand. Another chance though as Collins misses. She is certainly very animated now. Serve into the body and a lengthy rally ensues. Barty does well to open the court up but misses a straightforward volley. That was there for the taking. Could be a decisive point. On deuce, Barty goes for too much on the return and Collins has the chance to hold. And she does. Ruthless backhands once again and she consolidates the break

14:57 (IST)

Barty 6-3, 0-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)

A loose service game from Barty and Collins capitalises. Two break point chances for the American. Barty saves one with an ace down the T. She goes after the second serve on second break point and all-out attack helps her to a smash put away. BREAK!

14:53 (IST)

Set 1 in numbers

14:52 (IST)

First set: Ashleigh Barty 6-3

Ashleigh Barty closes the first set out with an ace and 15 of the last 22 points. She is yet to drop a set this fortnight and Collins would need something special to stage another comeback

14:48 (IST)

Barty 6-3 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Collins stops the run with a hold and now Barty serves for the opening set. Starts with a big serve, follows it up with a forehand winner and then another big out wide. Set points! And she gets the job done with an ace down the T. SET!

14:47 (IST)

Celebrities on Rod Laver Arena

14:41 (IST)

Barty 5-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty drops a point and consolidates the break of serve. Crowd erupts every time she wins a point and for good reason

14:40 (IST)

Thundering backhands from Collins earlier

14:39 (IST)

Barty* 4-2 Collins (*denotes next server)

Now Collins has the serve under pressure. Barty not playing her typical best and Collins has plenty to do with that. On 30-30, she moves up and smacks a forehand winner to bring up break point. Double fault! BREAK!

14:33 (IST)

Barty 3-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Like Barty's backhand slice, Collins' backhand is her weapon and it is off to a thundering start. She whips it cross court and brings the game to 40-30. On the next point, Barty sends her forehand into the net. Deuce. Barty does exceptionally with deep backhand slices, goes cross on the forehand and then mishits the forehand to bring up break point. Saves it with an off forehand winner. Collins looks to attack the first serve on deuce but she misses, that wasn't far away. A 177kmph ace out wide gets the hold

14:28 (IST)

Barty* 2-2 Collins (*denotes next server)

Fortunate close to that service game for Collins. Hits the top of the net and the ball trickles over. She quickly has her hand up in apology. Another straightforward hold

14:25 (IST)

Team Collins with unique T-shirts

14:23 (IST)

Barty 2-1 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty with back-to-back aces and she's off to a brilliant start on serve. Gets the angled serve on 40-15 and the mishit return doesn't come back. Good hold

14:21 (IST)

Barty* 1-1 Collins (*denotes next server)

Collins drops just the solitary point on serve and she is off to a confident start in her first Slam final. Showing no signs of early nerves that one can except from a debut finalist

14:18 (IST)

Barty 1-0 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty races off to 40-0 before Collins roars back to make it 40-30. The American doing to Barty what she did to Swiatek - thumping the second serve with disdain. Barty does close the game out by getting the first serve in and seeing Collins return into the net

14:15 (IST)

Ready, set, go!

Ashleigh Barty has won the toss and will serve first. Marijana Veljovic from Serbia is the chair umpire for the final

14:11 (IST)

Chris O'Neil, the last Australian woman to be crowned champion here, brings the trophy on to Rod Laver Arena

14:08 (IST)

Head-to-head: Barty leads 3-1

14:05 (IST)

A quick bio of both the finalists

14:04 (IST)

What the two women are vying for

13:59 (IST)

Danielle Collins' road to the final:

1st rd: bt Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6-1, 6-3

2nd rd: bt Ana Konjuh (CRO) 6-4, 6-3

3rd rd: bt Clara Tauson (DEN) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

4th rd: bt Elise Mertens (BEL x19) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

Quarter-final: bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 7-5, 6-1

Semi-final: bt Iga Swiatek (POL x7) 6-4, 6-1

13:40 (IST)

🇺🇸 Danielle Collins

Age: 28

World ranking: 30

Prize money: $3,750,895

Career titles: 2

Grand Slam titles: 0

Australian Open best: Final (2022)

Coach: No full-time coach

Making her maiden Grand Slam final appearance with previous best a run to the Australian Open last four in 2019. Before that she had never won a match at a major in five previous Slams. Also made the last eight at Roland Garros in 2020.

Withdrew from Charleston last year to have surgery for endometriosis. On her return she won her first ever WTA titles at San Jose and Palermo. 

Hardcourts are the favourite surface for a player who only turned professional aged 22 after an illustrious college career.

13:35 (IST)

Ashleigh Barty's road to the final:

1st rd: bt Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 6-0, 6-1

2nd rd: bt Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) 6-1, 6-1

3rd rd: bt Camila Giorgi (ITA x30) 6-2, 6-3

4th rd: bt Amanda Anisimova (USA) 6-4, 6-3

Quarter-final: bt Jessica Pegula (USA x21) 6-2, 6-0

Semi-final: bt Madison Keys (USA) 6-1, 6-3

13:30 (IST)

🇦🇺 Ashleigh Barty

Age: 25

World ranking: 1

Prize money: $21,665,851

Career titles: 14

Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2019, Wimbledon 2021)

Australian Open best: Final (2022)  

Coach: Craig Tyzzer

Making her third Slam final appearance, winning both times previously. Is aiming to become the first Australian woman to win on home soil since Chris O'Neill in 1978.

Heads into the clash on a 10-match win streak after taking the title at Adelaide this month -- her 14th career crown starting in 2017 at Wuhan and Birmingham. Three of them, including Wimbledon, came in 2021.

Has been world number one for 112 consecutive weeks. Made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2012.

13:28 (IST)

Aussies go for the records

Barty is hoping to become the first home Australian Open women's champion since Chris O'Neill in 1978, thus ending a 44-year wait

Whichever team wins in the doubles final, they will become the first All-Australian team to win the Australian Open men’s doubles title since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1997

13:18 (IST)

Hello! On the penultimate day of the 2022 Australian Open, our focus, and that of plenty of Australians, will be on the women's final featuring local hope Ashleigh Barty and American Danielle Collins. It will be followed by an all-Aussie men's doubles final that will put Max Purcell/Matt Ebden up against wildcards Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios.

Preview: World number one Ashleigh Barty will look to become the first Australian woman for 44 years to win her home Grand Slam Saturday, but to do it she needs to get past a rejuvenated Danielle Collins in the form of her life.

American Collins faces a daunting task in the women's singles final on Rod Laver Arena in front of Barty's fiercely partisan Australian Open crowd. But the resurgent American is ready to tackle the top seed, and clear favourite.

Collins was in "the zone" and almost flawless as she pummelled Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek into submission in the semi-final.

Now the 28-year-old knows if she can find the same sweet spot on Saturday that she has a huge chance.

The big-hitting Collins will need to bring more than just raw power to counter the tactical nous of Barty, who has been rampant so far, winning 20 of 21 sets this year.

Collins has pushed Barty hard in their previous four matches, winning their last encounter in Adelaide 12 months ago in straight sets.

As well as feeling the weight of Collins' fearsome groundstrokes, Barty could also buckle under the expectation at her home Slam.

She is the first Australian woman into the decider in Melbourne since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the first winner since Chris O'Neil in 1978.

The two-time Grand Slam champion -- at the 2019 French Open and Wimbledon in 2021 -- appears relaxed and ready to accept the extra pressure.



from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://bit.ly/3uaOkjy
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