Because the Serbian Melbourne record winner Novak Djokovic does not take part in the first major of the year after his expulsion from Australia, Medvedev is the highest-ranked participant in the men’s competition. He now meets Maxime Cressy, who surprisingly made it into the round of 16. The American slipped into the main draw of the first major of the year at the end of December after Dominic Thiem’s cancellation. The 24-year-old native of Paris knocked out compatriot John Isner in round one and defeated Australian Chris O’Connell in four sets on Saturday.
Medvedev has already won ten Grand Slam matches in a row. “Of course I don’t want to stop in the fourth round,” said last year’s finalist, underlining his ambitions in the winner’s interview on the pitch. In September, Medvedev blew Djokovic’s historic chance at the US Open to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in one year and celebrated his first major triumph himself. Now he has the chance to follow the first with the second big title – and replace Djokovic as number one.
Van de Zandschulp didn’t win a set this time
In New York, Medvedev had lost only one set in the entire tournament – in the quarterfinals against van de Zandschulp. The Dutchman then had a surprising winning streak as a qualifier. This time Medvedev allowed the world number 57. no set win. “Even if it doesn’t show the result, I have the feeling that it was a closer match,” said the Russian afterwards.
In Melbourne he defeated the Swiss Henri Laaksonen at the start, in the second round he prevailed against local hero Nick Kyrgios in four sets and also defied the atmosphere. “It’s easier to play against a guy from the Netherlands in Australia than against an Australian,” said Medvedev with a smile and joked to the audience: “Every good relationship has to have its ups and downs.”
Rublev fails at Cilic
In the last game of the day, 33-year-old Marin Cilic caused an upset. The Croatian, who won the US Open in 2014, threw the number five seeded Russian Andrei Rublev out of the competition after 2:36 hours with 7:5 7:6 (7/3) 3:6 6:3. It could have gone even faster if Cilic had used an opportunity in the third set to take a 4-1 lead and not let Rublev back into the game.
“I tried to play aggressively the whole time and that paid off,” said the Croatian, who is in the round of 16 in Australia for the eighth time. He now meets Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, seeded number 9, who had previously eliminated Briton Daniel Evans in three sets.
Victory and warning for Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas sweated a little more than Medwedw in his 6: 3 7: 5 6: 7 (2/7) 6: 4 win over Benoit Paire and also needed around 45 minutes longer. He also received a warning for unauthorized coaching. “I was really far away from my coach and with my back to him. I could only laugh about that, I have no idea where that came from,” said the Greek. He now has to deal with Taylor Fritz. The number 20 seeded American defeated Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP/15) in five sets 6:0 3:6 3:6 6:4 6:3. “Strong server with strong shots. He has guns,” Tsitsipas said.
Medvedev and Tsitsipas are in the same half of the tableau and could face each other in the semifinals. The German Olympic champion Alexander Zverev can also be found in this (stronger) half.
Halep keeps a clean slate
In the women’s category, two-time major winner Simona Halep underlined her good form. With an easy 6:2 6:1 against Danka Kovinic from Montenegro, the 14th seeded Romanian entered the second week. Unlike fellow favorite Aryna Sabalenka, Halep is still without losing a set in the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.
As in the first and second round, Sabalenka, second in the world rankings, gave up the first round in her third game. The 23-year-old from Belarus turned her match against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova and won 4: 6 6: 3 6: 1 – this time “only” with ten double faults after there had been 19 in the previous round.
Cornet makes himself a birthday present
Alize Cornet celebrated her 32nd birthday by reaching the round of 16, 13 years after her last in Melbourne. The French defeated Tamara Zidansek (SLO/29) after 2:43 hours 4:6 6:4 6:2. After the “Happy Birthday” serenade from the audience, she had “goosebumps”. “I can’t even begin to realize what I’ve just achieved,” said Cornet. With another win, she could even move into a major quarterfinals for the first time. And that in a year that she had already described as possibly the last on the tour. However, Halep is now waiting for her.
Ex-French Open winner Iga Swiatek stormed into the round of 16. The only 20-year-old Pole left Darja Kasatkina (RUS) only five games. And from an Austrian point of view, the Australian Open is now finally over: The only junior in the competition, Jan Kobierski, lost right at the start with 2:6 4:6 against Jakub Mensik (CZE/4).
Australian Open in Melbourne
(Australia, Grand Slam tournament, $75m, hard)
men’s singles
Ladies Singles
