Korda eliminates Medvedev
Tsitsipas, Swiatek and Pegula advance
Sebastian Korda stunned two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open yesterday, adding the Russian to a growing list of top seeds crashing out early.
The 31st-ranked American, son of 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda, blasted past the seventh seed 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Rod Laver Arena to race into the last 16.
Earlier, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Poland’s Iga Swiatek dazzled in bright sunshine to make short work of their third-round opponents.
Third seed Tsitsipas, the top surviving seed in the men’s draw, checked his phone after a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 win over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor and reflected on the beautiful day after hours of tennis were lost this week to the heat and stop-start rain.
“Fair crack of the whip mate, I mean, it was great,” Tsitsipas said, slipping into the local vernacular.
“I think my placement on the serve was exceptional today, I didn’t have a lot of rallies on my serve, which helped a lot.
“Kind of kept things clean and I enjoyed the weather today, what a lovely day for tennis it is today, isn’t it?”
Tsitsipas has still not dropped a set in the tournament as he chases his maiden Grand Slam title, with his chances boosted by the exits of holder Rafa Nadal and second seed Casper Ruud and an injury cloud hanging over favourite Novak Djokovic.
But the 2021 French Open runnerup came close, saving a set point in the second set before doubling his advantage following a tie-break to pave the way for a comfortable win to delight his supporters on Rod Laver Arena.
Roared on by Greek fans, many of them from Melbourne, which has the largest population of Greek speakers outside Greece and Cyprus, Tsitsipas will next take on Italian Jannik Sinner in what could be a tricky test.
Nadal’s conqueror Mackenzie McDonald could not continue his run, however, as the unseeded American fell to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka who won 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2.
Top seed and women’s favourite Swiatek was equally dominant in her 6-0, 6-1 victory over Cristina Bucsa as she bids to add to her two French Open wins and US Open crown.
“A couple of years ago when I was in the fourth round I was really exhausted, and right now I feel this is the right place to be,” Swiatek said.
“Hopefully I’m going to continue to playing solid and hopefully I’m going to play more matches here.
“I feel like I’ve done so much work to feel more confident, more relaxed on court. I’m pretty happy that I did it because it’s just a little bit easier. When you actually played those matches, you can feel the rhythm a little bit more.”
Up next for Swiatek is Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina who battled past last year’s Melbourne Park runner-up Danielle Collins 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
Jessica Pegula was also in a hurry to wrap up her match, as the thirdseeded American swatted aside Marta Kostyuk 6-0, 6-2 to make it seven straight victories in 2023 after a loss to Petra Kvitova in the United Cup.
Pegula is oozing confidence at the Australian Open with the belief that she can beat anybody but she said being a perfectionist meant she would still pick holes in her game after yesterday’s thumping win.
She dismantled Swiatek and left the Pole in a flood of tears during the United Cup which the Americans won.
“I definitely played very well against Iga,” Pegula told reporters. “I’ve also played a lot of great matches this week, as well. I’ve backed up my level. I think I can beat anybody.”
Seventh seed Coco Gauff faltered on two match points and then doublefaulted before dismissing left-hander Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-2 in a battle between Americans.
RESULTS Third round Men’s singles
Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN x31) bt Mackenzie McDonald (USA) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2; Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x3) bt Tallon Griekspoor (NED) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3; Jannik Sinner (ITA x15) bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0; Jiri Lehecka (CZE) bt Cameron Norrie (GBR x11) 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; Felix AugerAliassime (CAN x6) bt Francisco Cerundolo (ARG x28) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; Hubert Hurkacz (POL x10) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x20) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3; Karen Khachanov (RUS x18) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x16) 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11/9); Sebastian Korda (USA) bt Daniil Medvedev (RUS x7)
Women’s singles
Iga Swiatek (POL x1) bt Cristina Bucsa (ESP) 6-0, 6-1; Elena Rybakina (KAZ x22) bt Danielle Collins (USA x13) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2; Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x17) bt Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) 6-3, 6-0; Coco Gauff (USA x7) bt Bernarda Pera (USA) 6-3, 6-2; Jessica Pegula (USA x3) bt Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-0, 6-2; Barbora Krejcíkova (CZE x20) bt Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 6-2, 6-3; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Madison Keys (USA x10) 1-6, 6-2, 6-1