Daniil Medvedev does not miss out on the apparently simple path that his status as number two in the world at the Australian Open gives him. The Russian, who has only lost a set in three games, against his rival of greater substance, Nick Kyrgios, won this Saturday in three to Botic Van de Zandschulp (6-4, 6-4 and 6-2 in 1h55), 26-year-old Dutchman and 56th in the ranking, who put up some resistance a few months ago en route to the US Open title, in the quarterfinals.
Meddy marches on ➡️@daniilmedwed moves into Week 2 by defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4 6-4 6-2.#AusOpen · #AO2022
🎥 : @wwos · @espn · @eurosport · @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/MoYB6Sb4SP— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2022
Medvedev, with little wear in tow, will face Monday in the round of 16, a round that he reaches for the fourth consecutive time in Melbourne, to the American Maxime Cressy, one of the revelations of the tournament, a finalist a few days ago at the ATP 250 in the capital of the state of Victoria, where Rafa Nadal beat him, and later a quarterfinalist in Sydney. The 24-year-old tennis player and 70th beat the Australian guest Christopher O’Connell 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3 and 6-2 in 2h41. He placed nothing more and nothing less than 28 aces for a total of 71 winning shots.
Auger-Aliassime rises and Cilic kicks out Rublev
On the other hand, Felix Auger-Aliassime, executioner of Alejandro Davidovich in the second round, had a snack British Daniel Evans with fewer difficulties than expected (6-4, 6-1 and 6-1 in 1h53). The 21-year-old Canadian, seeded ninth, returns to the round of 16, a height he already reached in 2021. He is already the second player from his country who has gone so far the most times in majors (five), behind Milos Raonic (19). ). He will face Marin Clic, who kicked out the other remaining Russian in the men’s draw, fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev. The Croatian, who has risen from the ashes since the second half of last year, won 7-5, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3 in 2h36. Supported by a large crowd from her country, with fans dressed as water polo players, the 2014 US Open champion and finalist in Melbourne in 2018, celebrated the triumph practically as if she had won the title. He played very aggressively, which allowed him to add 55 winners, 24 of them direct serve.
Australian Open Men’s Draw.