
Taylor Fritz and Alex De Minaur, like Iga Swiatek and Jelena Rybakina, are through to the 3rd round without any problems. These are the facts of the fifth tournament day at the Australian Open.
Taylor Fritz (ATP 4) and Alex De Minaur (ATP 8) completed their second round matches on Thursday at breakneck speed. The American needed less than an hour and a half to beat Chile's Cristian Garin (ATP 150) 6:2, 6:1, 6:0. The Australian was on court for just over two hours in his 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 win over the American Tristan Boyer (ATP 136). Both players are still without a set loss in Melbourne, but are likely to face more resistance in the third round. Fritz will be up against former champion Gaël Monfils (ATP 41), while De Minaur will face the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (ATP 31).
Swiatek and Rybakina unchallenged
Iga Swiatek (WTA 2) and Jelena Rybakina (WTA 7) are making their way through the women's tableau. The world no. 2 from Poland beat Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova (WTA 49) 6:0, 6:2 after 61 minutes. In the third round, they will meet Emma Raducanu. The Brit won the US Open in 2021, but never made it past the 2nd round in Melbourne until this year. Like Swiatek, Rybakina is through to the 3rd round after beating Iva Jovic 6:0, 6:3 without dropping a set. There, the Kazakh will face the Ukrainian Dajana Jastremska (WTA 33).
Navarro again over three sets
Emma Navarro had to fight hard again. After her marathon match in the first round against compatriot Peyton Stearns (WTA 46), the world number 8 from the USA also needed a lot of stamina against China's Wang Xiyu (WTA 108). While she was on court for 3 hours and 22 minutes on Tuesday, she "only" needed 2 hours and 13 minutes for the 6:3, 3:6, 6:4 on Thursday. The task in the 3rd round will not be any easier. With Ons Jabeur (WTA 39), the American faces a three-time Grand Slam finalist.