Medvedev shockingly dropped out at the Australian Open; Sinner, Swiatek progress | Tennis news
Defending champion Jannik Sinner advanced to the third round, while last year’s runner-up, Daniil Medvedev, lost to a qualifier in the second round.
World number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner returned to the third round of the Australian Open as Iga Swiatek prepared for a showdown with Emma Raducana.
Sinner dropped a set for the first time in 14 matches when he lost the first set to Australian Tristan Schoolkate, but regained control after a slow start to come through 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 against the world No.173 at the cool and breezy Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.
It was Sinner’s 16th straight win in an ominous sign for next opponent Marcos Giron.
“It’s always difficult to play against someone I don’t know well. He played a lot better than me in the beginning,” said the Italian, 23, who also won the US Open last year.
In the night session, last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev was knocked out of the tournament by 19-year-old American qualifier Learner Tien in a major shock in Melbourne.
Tien, ranked 121, surprised the world number five 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (8/10), 1-6, 7-6 (10/7) in a nail-biter and in the next in the round, he faces the debutant at the Australian Open, the Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
In the women’s draw, Swiatek overcame world number 49 Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-2, while Great Britain’s Raducanu reached the third round for the first time at Melbourne Park, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-5.
“Well, it’s definitely going to be tough,” said world number two Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner but never Melbourne champion, as she assessed Raducanu.
Elena Rybakina, the sixth seed and former Wimbledon champion, beat American wildcard Iva Jović in two sets.
Emma Navarro, the eighth seed from the United States, will meet Ons Jabeur after battling through three sets to beat 108th-ranked Wang Xiyu of China.
Fourth seed Jasmine Paolini faces Renato Zarazua of Mexico in late action.
Djokovic, Alcaraz and number one in the women’s competition and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka play on Friday in a big hit.
So are Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, who are on a collision course to meet in the next round if both win.
