Cressy’s win means there are two 24-year-old Americans who will be in the fourth round of a Major for the first time.
When Daniil Medvedev was trying to re-hydrate during a changeover, an image of nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic flashed across the stadium behind him.
It was in the third set on Saturday, and it was as if the absent No. 1 was looking over the shoulder of the player who is effectively the No. 1 seed in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Medvedev, who lost to Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open last year but took revenge with a win over the Serb for the US Open title, finished 6-4, 6-4, 6 in the fourth round for the fourth straight year at Melbourne Park. – Arrived with 2 wins over Botic van de Zandschulp.
The 25-year-old Russian was a specific fan favorite at Margaret Court Arena, even two days after being tormented by a narrow crowd boon and joke at Rod Laver Arena, when she ended Mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios’ run.
He was critical of the lack of respect in that match – mostly about the noise between the first and second serves – and this time offered some relationship advice to the crowd.
“Every good relationship has its ups and downs,” he said in his on-court TV interview, explaining that he planned to return to court more often in the future.
“I hope there will be more good times than bad times, otherwise it doesn’t work out.” Medvedev later clarified that he had no problem with the Australian crowd and that he fully expected Kyrgios to be against them when he played – not exactly when he was in his serve offer.
“The other night I was playing against an Australian, very electric Australian player,” he said.
“After the match, I think yeah, it was really fun for everyone.
“That’s how I felt, and I didn’t really see a lot of negative reactions.” Medvedev avoided a showdown with Djokovic as the world’s top-ranked player’s visa was revoked and deported on the eve of the tournament for failing to meet Australia’s strict COVID-19 vaccination criteria Was.
He also avoided another match against an Australian in the fourth round when wildcard entry Chris O’Connell lost to Maxim Cressey 6–2, 6–7 (6), 6–3, 6–2.
Cressy’s win means there are two 24-year-old Americans who will be in the fourth round of a Major for the first time.
70th-ranked Cressey is in her fourth Grand Slam tournament. 20-ranked Taylor Fritz eventually made it in his 22nd attempt, with a 6–0, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 victory over number 15 Roberto Bautista Agut, saying “its Means” on.” “I mean, it’s huge. Like after that match I was close to liking a little tearing,” Fritz said. “It sounds stupid, because so many people have made it to the second week of the slam, but it’s okay, like, away from me for so long.
“I never doubted that would happen,” he said, “but I was getting sick of playing for sure, definitely, you know, top 4 players for every occasion.” Fritz will now face fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, runner-up at last year’s French Open and semifinalist in Australia, who defeated Benot Paire 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-4.
No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassim progressed to a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win over No. 24 Dan Evans, winning 14 of the last 16 matches.
In the women’s section, two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep is in Week 2 at Melbourne Park for the fifth year in a row after a 6-2, 6-1 win over Danka Kovinic.
She will be joined by second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who registered a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 31 Marka Vondrosova.
A contender for the No. 1 ranking – Sabalenka could potentially overtake Ash Barty based on the results – the 23-year-old from Belarus admitted that her serve was still a work in progress.
The match began inauspiciously, when Sabalenka had two double faults and was broken in the first game.
But unlike last year, when she made nine double-faults in her first two service games and 19 in the match, last year’s semifinalist at Wimbledon and the US Open managed to nearly halve that dazzling statistic.
“I’m really happy right now,” Sabalenka said with a laugh in her on-court TV interview.
“Mostly I’m glad I only made 10 double-faults.” She is working on it ahead of her next match against number 115 Kaya Kanepi, who has reached the quarterfinals six times in Grand Slam events – but only once since 2013 and never in Australia.
In other third round matches, 27th seed Daniel Collins of America defeated 19-year-old Clara Towson 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 after a set and break down. She will now face No. 19 Alice Mertens, who defeated Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-2. No. 7 Inga Svetek, 2020 French Open champion defeated No. 25 Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 6-3.
No other player remaining in the women’s draw has won as many Tour-level titles as Halep’s 23.
Halep’s next opponent will be Elise Cornet, who celebrated her 32nd birthday with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over number 29 Tamara Zidansek, 2021 French Open semifinalist.
Cornet reached the fourth round at the Australian Open for the first time since 2009 in a troubled chase from No. 3 Garbine Muguruza. (ap) k apa ap
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