MELBOURNE: Sebastian Korda had the lines covered against last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev, the 22-year-old American pushed the No. 7 seed further and further away from the baseline and then used the net to catch the Russian napping in the third round of the Australian Open.
Korda, ranked 31, started strong, and did well to hold out in a tight tie-break, to score a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3, 7-6 (4) win a match of small margins.
Some 25 years ago, the Ameri -can’s father Petr won the title here, Korda has some way to go before that. Next up for the athletic pro is Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who punc -tured a mid-match fightback by Ca -nadian Denis Shapovalov to advance with a 7-6 (3), 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 score.
Third-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsit -sipas moved past Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-3 to set up a rematch of last year’s Melbourne Park showdown against Italian Jan -nik Sinner. The 21-year-old rallied from two sets down against Marton Fucsovics for a 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 win.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek powered into the round-of-sixteen dropping just one game to Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa. She will play Wimble -don champion Elena Rybakina, who beat last year’s runner-up, American Danielle Collins, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
Start a Conversation
Post comment