Australian Open 2015 Schedule: Replay TV Coverage, Live Stream for Day 5 Draw
The 2015 Australian Open is both the best and worst thing ever for American tennis fans.
On one end, it represents the year's first Grand Slam and offers the first chance to see the world's best in action with everything on the line. On another end, most of the action takes place between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the East coast.
The insane time difference between the States and Down Under can leave tennis followers who can't stay up all night short on options, but alas, technology has come through to make life a bit easier for those very people as replay action can be found shortly after play concludes.
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That's the case again for Day 5, so let's look at how you can view all of Friday's action on replay below.
Day 3 Replay, Live Stream Info
Replay Coverage: Day 3 match replays are available on demand at WatchESPN (various replays will air on ESPN2 on Jan. 21 between 3-6 p.m. ET)
Live Stream: WatchESPN and AusOpen.com have streams available between 6 p.m.-7 a.m. ET.
Top Day 5 Matches
No. 3 Rafael Nadal vs. Dudi Sela
This year's Australian Open had the feel of a tournament that could give No. 3 Rafael Nadal trouble from the get-go, and after a brief reprieve in Round 1, said trouble found its way to the Spaniard.
He was pushed to the brink in a second-round affair with Tim Smyczek, falling into a 2-1 hole in terms of sets and looking to be falling apart both physically and mentally. Then, right when a comeback looked impossible, he rallied to win the final two sets and advance.
The tests don't get any easier as he heads into Round 3 against Dudi Sela of Israel.
Sela is no stranger to the tough battle Nadal had in Round 2, having come back from the same deficit to win his first-round battle. After that, he throttled No. 28 Lukas Rosol en route to a four-set victory.
He doesn't tend to back down to dangerous situations, but facing Nadal is a completely different proposition as told by the Australian Open:
Having never faced Nadal in a competitive match, Sela will have his hands full dealing with the Spaniard's overall power and speed. But that's only if Nadal plays at his best, which has been far from a given over the last few years when he steps on the court in a Slam.
It's hard to say Nadal's issues in Round 2 won't crop up again with only one day off, but it's even harder to suggest that Sela will be as up for the challenge as Smyczek was. When it comes down to it, Nadal proved to himself he can overcome adversity in the second round, and that will be a valued confidence-booster when he faces Sela.
No. 2 Maria Sharapova vs. No. 31 Zarina Diyas
From one player who nearly suffered a catastrophic early-round exit to another.
Like Nadal, women's No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova was given all she could handle and then some in Round 2—her test coming against Alexandra Panova. But unlike the Spaniard, Sharapova was actually one point away from defeat on two separate occasions before pulling out the third set and winning.
But even after staring defeat in the face, Sharapova felt fortunate to be able to move on despite not channeling her best form, per Sports Illustrated tennis:
Matches like this so early in the tournament can prove to a contender that they're not ready, or give them the confidence boost they need to show they can overcome even the most impressive of opponents. That will be invaluable when Sharapova laces up to face her first seeded opponent in No. 31 Zarina Diyas.
Sharapova should be able to use her Round 2 scare to her advantage in terms of getting herself up to play, but it won't do anything to keep Diyas from coming at her full force. The Russian was undoubtedly shaky the last time out, and Diyas will be aggressive from the opening game to try and set the tone.
As told by early exits from No. 5 Ana Ivanovic and No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki, nobody is safe on the women's side. And now that the top seeds are finally going up against fellow seeded players, don't be surprised if the upsets continue in Sharapova's third-round affair.
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