The sophomores in the men’s singles team compiled a 13-0 overall record at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Including the women, the seeded players went 23-1 (Emma Raducanu’s loss to Anastasia Potapova was the only exception).
That doesn’t mean it was completely normal for the favorites. No. 14 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina endured a major scare, but managed to hold off Reilly Opelka 6-3, 7-6(3), 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 after three hours and 47 minutes. That was the only five sets of the day, although the seven-man seed needed four sets.
One of them was crowd favorite Alex de Minaur, who started slowly but ended up crushing Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. De Minaur’s prize is a third round match against Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Francisco Comesana 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
“We played a ton,” Tiafoe said of De Minaur during his court interview. “You got me in Toronto last summer at tight-setter. (I’m) excited to play against the Aussie fans. We get to play in a big house (Rod Laver Arena), so I’m excited. See you on Friday. Let’s go; let’s go!”
Five highlights from day 4:
Australian Open Day 4 scores
Carlos Alcaraz d. Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2
Alex de Minaur d. Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1
Daniel Medvedev d. Quentin Halys 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina d. Reilly Opelka 6-3, 7-6(3), 5-7, 4-6, 6-4
Tommy Paul d. Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
Cameron Norrie d. Emilo Nava 6-1, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5)
Corentin Moutet d. Michael Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 2-0, ret.
Thomas Martin Etcheverry d. Arthur Ferry 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-3
Alexander Zverev d. Alexandre Muller 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Alexander Bublik d. Marton Fucsovics 7-5, 6-4, 7-5
Andrey Rublev d. Jaime Faria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Francisco Cerundolo d. Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
Student Tien d. Alexander Shevchenko 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, 6-0
Frances Tiafoe d. Francisco Comesana 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Nuno Borges d. Jordan Thompson 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
Fabian Marozsan d. Kamil Majchrzak 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(5)
