Medvedev downs Spaniard to breeze into third round
Fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev breezed into the third round of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over qualifier Pedro Martinez.
One of the title fancies at Melbourne Park, Medvedev overpowered the Spaniard 7-5 6-1 6-3 in two hours and nine minutes.
He banged down an impressive 19 aces for the match, had 40 winners and broke his opponent six times but wasn’t entirely happy with the performance.
‘‘Still, the first set I wasn’t always happy with my first serve,’’ the 2019 US Open finalist said. ‘‘But we are tennis players, we always want more.’’
Meanwhile, world No 2 Karolina Pliskova has joined former world No 1 Garbine Muguruza and Swiss sixth seed Belinda Bencic in the third round on a rainmarred day four.
Czech Pliskova outclassed Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3 6-3.
I’m not sure if it was nice tennis,’’ said Pliskova, who had lost her only previous encounter against Siegemund.
‘‘It was very ugly and was never going to look amazing.
‘‘I’m just happy to get through and hopefully I’m going to feel better in the next round.’’
Muguruza ousted Australian hope Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3 3-6 6-3 in a two-hour, 20-minute battle while Bencic had a straight-sets win over Jelena Ostapenko.
Muguruza, a former French Open and Wimbledon champion, is looking to scale the rankings after slumping to world No 32.
The match was halted in the third set while officials closed the Rod Laver Arena roof but 26-yearold
Muguruza held her nerve. ‘‘It was a tough battle, we both fought until the end,’’ said Muguruza, who has reunited with coach Conchita Martinez.
‘‘She is an aggressive player and I knew she was going to hit good shots and serves and not lose my patience.
‘‘It was a tricky match.’’ Muguruza’s round-three opponent will be either fifthseeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina or American Lauren Davis while Pliskova takes on the winner of the Anastasia PavlyuchenkovaTaylor Townsend match.
In other early action, Croatian
19th seed Donna Vekic enjoyed a routine 6-4 6-2 win over France’s Alize Cornet.