Sixth seed Ruud becomes the latest casualty of the teenager’s dominance over the favorites on day four in Melbourne.
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik sent three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud crashing out of the Australian Open before warning the game’s top seeds: “New blood is coming.”
The Norwegian sixth seed had no answer to the 19-year-old’s power and intensity when he became the top male seed to fall on Wednesday.
Mensik cruised home 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 for the biggest win of his fast-growing career, and Ruud fell victim to another young, rising tennis brigade challenging the established order.
NextGen winner Joao Fonseca, 18, beat ninth-seeded Andrey Rublev on Tuesday.
It’s the first time two teenagers have beaten a top-10 player at a major since 2006, when Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray accomplished the feat at Wimbledon.
The third teenager, American learner Tien, 19, faces fifth seed Daniil Medvedev on Thursday.
“It’s great that there is always new blood. We see that tennis is moving forward,” said Mensik, ranked 48th.
“We may see different or new names in tournaments. For the fans, for tennis, for everyone, it’s really great. New blood is coming!”
However, world number two Alexander Zverev had no problems as he registered a straight set win over Spain’s Pedro Martinez to advance to the third round.
The German proved too hot to handle his fellow 27-year-old, beating him 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 in less than two hours at Rod Laver Arena.
Earlier, record 10-time champion Novak Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam singles matches played en route to the third round.
The 37-year-old faced stiff resistance from fearless Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria before winning 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena to set up a clash with the Czech 26 by Tomaš Machac.
It was Djokovic’s 430th Slam competition in which he claimed sole ownership of most singles matches played, men’s or women’s, in the Open era, ahead of Federer (429) and Serena Williams (423).
No one else played 400 or more.
“I love the sport, I love the competition,” said Djokovic, who is in the third round of Melbourne for the 17th straight year.
“I try to do my best every time. It has been more than 20 years since I competed in Grand Slam tournaments at the highest level.
“Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart outside the field. I’m blessed to be making another record.
“Grand Slam matches and Grand Slam victories are what count the most in our sport. Of course, I am very enthusiastic about it,” he added.
One of the later matches in the women’s draw saw world number three Gauff fight back from 5-3 down in the second set to beat Britain’s Jodie Burrage 6-3, 7-5.
