Sinner in season
Jannik Sinner beat Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0
Jannik Sinner did not really have good memories against Marton Fucsovics, against whom he had lost twice in the Grand Slam, in Melbourne (already) in 2020 and at Wimbledon in 2021. He thought he was a third time this Friday: for two sets, the young Italian, not very inspired, served as a punching bag for the body-built Hungarian, who pushed him into the ropes until he almost knocked out.
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But at 21, Sinner already has quite a bottle. He cashed, cashed… until his opponent calmed down a bit, when he chose to counter him suddenly and then, in turn, plant an avalanche of blows.
The 16th player in the world had to overcome another hot moment at the start of the 4th set when he found himself trailing 2-0. He then aligned … the last 12 games of the match, flying over the end of the debates by drastically reducing his rate of unforced errors. This is the first time in his career that he has managed to come back from a two-set deficit.
An additional experience for the one who climbs into the second week of a Grand Slam for the sixth consecutive time, with a glass ceiling hitherto established in the quarter-finals, the stage at which he lost last year in Melbourne against Stefanos Tsitsipas, whom he will precisely find again on his way in the next round.
Tsitsipas en patron
Stefanos Tsitsipas bats Tallon Greek track 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-3
A few minutes after Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas in turn validated his ticket for the round of 16 by dominating the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor on the Rod Laver Arena, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Tsitsipas in 8th without dropping a set: The highlights of his victory over Griekspoor
In this potentially dangerous duel against a player who, like him, had not yet lost a match in 2023, in the wake of the first title of his career won two weeks ago in Pune. But the Greek, seeded N.3 and now the highest ranked player still in contention after the defeats of Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud (combined with the absence of Carlos Alcaraz), took him head on to impose without leaving energy.
A somewhat hot moment to negotiate, however, for Tsitsipas who, while he had so far flown over all his service games, had to save a 2nd set ball at 6-5 on his commitment. Once this was done and a (more or less) well-negotiated tie-break, the highway to victory opened up before him.
It is the fourth time in his career that Stefanos Tsitsipas has reached the second week in Melbourne, after the 2019, 2021 and 2022 editions. Each time, he pushed to the semi-finals. It is also the first time that he has reached the second week of a Grand Slam without losing a set.
Auger-Aliassime warms up the machine
Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Félix Auger-Aliassime did not have fun in this first week, but he is still there. And it even seems to be gradually picking up its stride. After playing with fire in the previous round, the Canadian delivered a much more convincing performance on Friday against Francisco Cerundolo (29th in the world), winning in four sets (6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6- 4) and 2h35 of play on the John Cain Arena to compost his ticket for the round of 16.
Everything has not yet been perfect for “F2A” who still experienced a moment of absence during the second set. In this round, a breakdown of first serves (46%) caused him to concede his service twice in a row, allowing his opponent to equalize at one set everywhere and regain hope. But the world number 7 stifled the Argentinian revolt from the start of the third act to fully regain control of the game.
With 38 winning strokes and above all a great success at the net (17 points won out of 21 climbs, or 81% success), Auger-Aliassime totally dominated the three sets he won. Diesel like a Stan Wawrinka of the great era, he is clearly gaining power. That’s good, the serious things will really start with a round of 16 against Jiri Lehecka, who scored Cameron Norrie after a big match in five sets (6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 ).
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