American young gun Sebastian Korda stunned former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev 7-6(7), 6-3, 7-6(4) in a thrilling contest to evict the losing finalist of the last two years from the Australian Open in the third round on Friday.
The 29th seed, son of 1998 Australian Open champion Petr and former professional Regina Rajchrtovatook the game to the Russian seventh seed from the start on Rod Laver Arena, firing winners from both sides, mixing it up with some serve-volley and lofting a few delightful drop shots.
“Just go for it!” Korda said when asked his game plan for what was the biggest win of his career.
Swiatek sails
Top seed Iga Swiatek continued to carve her way through the Australian Open draw, dismantling Cristina Bucsa 6-0, 6-1 in bright sunshine on the Margaret Court Arena to reach the fourth round at a canter.
The 21-year-old world No.1, who is looking to add a first Melbourne Park crown to the French and US Open titles she won last year, was all business as she whipped through the first set in 23 minutes.
World No. 100 Bucsa had simply no answer to Swiatek’s all-court game and the Spaniard only managed to avoid the dreaded ‘double bagel’ scoreline by holding her last service game.
“My main goal was to keep my focus till the end because sometimes it’s hard when you feel like you control everything, your mind can wander off,” Swiatek said.
Up next for Swiatek is Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina who battled past last year’s Melbourne Park runner-up Danielle Collins 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
Barbora Krejcikova went through with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Anhelina Kalinina.
Gauff in last 16
American title favourites Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff had convincing third-round wins.
The third-seeded Pegula needed 65 minutes for a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Marta Kostyuk. Seventh-seeded Gauff beat Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-2 to reach the last 16.
Gauff had to withstand a barrage of big hitting from Pera. She next takes on Jelena Ostapenko.
Tsitsipas on track
Third seed Tsitsipas, the top surviving seed in the men’s draw, checked his phone after a 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor and reflected on the beautiful day after hours of tennis were lost this week to the heat and stopstart rain.
“Fair crack of the whip mate, I mean, it was great,” Tsitsipas said, slipping into the local vernacular.
Tsitsipas has still not dropped a set in the tournament as he chases his maiden grand slam, with his chances boosted by the exits of holder Rafael Nadal and second seed Casper Ruud and an injury cloud hanging over favourite Novak Djokovic.
Roared on by Greek fans, many of them from Melbourne, which has the largest population of Greek speakers outside Greece and Cyprus, Tsitsipas will next take on Italian Jannik Sinner in what could be a tricky test.
Sinner outlasted Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 to reach the fourth round.
Nadal’s conqueror Mackenzie McDonald could not continue his run however, as the unseeded American fell to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka who won 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-2.
