The Serbian has again conceded a set, Aryna Sabalenka, double title holder, continues her journey, Carlos Alcaraz impresses and Qinwen Zheng, reigning finalist, is already leaving the tournament. Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi will see the 3rd round.
The blue corner
Bonzi leaping in Australia. Winner of his first title on the big circuit in Metz at the end of 2024, the Gardois is continuing his momentum at the start of the year. He took full advantage of a favorable draw by logically dominating the Italian lucky loser Francesco Passaro in the 2nd round (6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4). By reaching the third round, the 28-year-old equals his best Grand Slam performance already achieved in Melbourne two years ago (and at the US Open again in 2023). The 64th player in the world will face Jiri Lehecka, recently titled in Brisbane. The 29th in the world took advantage of the abandonment of Hugo Gaston, trailing (6-3, 3-1) before throwing in the towel 57 minutes into the game.
The record
With 10 coronations in the Antipodes, Novak Djokovic has one of his many records. The insatiable champion, almost 38 years old, is still hungry for titles. But his start to the tournament is a little chaotic. After losing a set in the first round, the Serb experienced the same misadventure this Wednesday in the 2nd round against the surprising Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria. Annoyed by the resistance of his young opponent who gleaned the second act in the decisive game, Djoko gradually took the measure of the Portuguese, before rolling down once the roof of the Rod Laver Arena was deployed, due to the rain. In passing, Djokovic gleans a new record by becoming the player who has played the most Grand Slam singles matches.
The feeling
Finalist last year in Melbourne and Olympic champion in Paris, world number 5, Qinwen Zheng fell hard last night, knocked out in the 2nd round by world number 97, Laura Siegemund. The 36-year-old German, oldest in the women’s draw, surprised the 22-year-old Chinese in two tight sets (7-6, 6-3) and 2h16. Zheng Qinwen regretted not taking the “good decisions” on the “important points”to have multiplied the unforced errors and thus failed to break his opponent during the first set.
The performance
Seeing the Japanese Naomi Osaka reach the 3rd round of the Australian Open is not a surprise in itself. The double champion in Melbourne, who returned from maternity leave last year, is gradually returning to her best level. Finalist in Auckland and defeater of Caroline Garcia in the first round, the Japanese got the better of Karolina Muchova, seeded 20, on Wednesday (1-6, 6-1, 6-3). After a sluggish start, she got the better of the Czech who had beaten her at the US Open a year ago. This is the first time since her return to action just a year ago that Osaka has reached the third round of a Grand Slam and she will challenge the Swiss Belinda Bencic to confirm her rise to power.
The double title holder
Aryna Sabalenka continues on her way. Not without difficulty. The double title holder and world number 1 dominated the Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 54th, in two contested sets (6-3, 7-5) and 1h34 of play. The Spaniard even served at 5-3 to equalize to a set everywhere, before waking up by gleaning the last four games.. In the 3rd round, the owner of the place will face the young Dane Clara Tauson, just titled at Auckland.
The number 5
Quickly done, very well done.Carlos Alcaraza swept away the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka, 65th in the ATP, (6-0, 6-1, 6-4) on the Margaret Court Arena, leaving him with only 5 games. Poor Nishioka had to wait until the 10th game to win his first game. A demonstration in 1h21 with impeccable stats (36 winning shots for only 16 unforced errors). The world number 3 is in great shape. The competition is warned.
L’outsider
Finalist of the last US Open, Jessica Pegula, seeded 7, quietly passed the Elise Mertens test, 34th in the world. A clear and flawless victory in two sets (6-4, 6-2). The American will meet the Serbian Olga Danilovic in the 3rd round.
The rain
She appeared on the Melbourne courts for the first time at 4:12 p.m. and led to the interruption of matches on the side courts, including the 100 tricolor duel between Quentin Halys and Arthur Fils. The two men are in a set everywhere. The roof of Rod Laver Arena, was deployed in the duel Novak Djokovic and Jaime Faria.
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