Success for Medvedev and Rublev. Sabalenka and Gauff advance. Emma Raducanu already eliminated
World number one Carlos Alcaraz flies into the third round of the Australian Open, but the Spaniard did not dazzle at Rod Laver Arena. The six-time Slam winner defeated Germany’s Yannik Hanfmann, ranked 102nd in the world, in three sets (7-6 (4) 6-3 6-2 in 2 hours and 44 minutes ), but he struggled more than expected, especially in the first set, which lasted a whopping 78 minutes. He risked losing it several times and had an inconsistent serve, despite his new “Djokovic-style” adjustments. Alcaraz will face France’s Corentin Moutet in the third round, who defeated Zheng (who retired in the fourth set, down 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 2-0). After the match, Alcaraz wrote a dedication to Spain, which was struck by a terrible train accident in Andalusia, on the camera.
In the first set, Hanfmann played at a fast pace, exploiting all of Alcaraz’s uncertainties on serve. The German had his first break point in the second game, with the Spaniard saving it, but he could do nothing in the third game, when the world number 102 flew to 3-1. Alcaraz responded and immediately broke back, but the match resembled more of a brawl. It was uneven, nervous, with bursts from both players, but all in all enjoyable. The world number one couldn’t find his rhythm on serve (despite a good 69% first serve percentage with two aces), but it was he who had two more break points at 5-5 that he failed to convert. In the tiebreak, the German took a 4-3 lead and served, but at that point Alcaraz woke up and, after 78 minutes and four consecutive points, took the first set. Hanfmann’s match basically ends here, both because of physical problems (abdominal pain, with a medical timeout at the start of the third set) and because it is impossible for him to keep up with his opponent’s pace and maintain the level he had shown up to that point. In the second set, Alcaraz needed only one break in the third game, without conceding any break points, to close out the second set 6-3. There was a final thrill in the third set when, at 5-2 and serving, he had to recover from 0-40 to close out the match 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2.
Sabalenka does well— No problem for world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who disposed of Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3 6-1 in just over an hour and will face fellow Russian Potapova (now naturalized Austrian) in the third round. Svitolina (7-5, 6-1 against Klimovicova) and Canadian Mboko are also through, while Raducanu has already been eliminated, losing to Potavova 7-6 (3), 6-2. Later on, we await the only Italian left in the women’s draw, Jasmine Paolini, who will face Poland’s French.
Medvedev also advances— In the men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev enjoyed a fine victory, perhaps his best on hard court since the final here in Australia in 2024 (which he lost to Jannik Sinner). The Russian came from behind to beat France’s Quentin Halys in four sets (6-7 (11) 6-3 6-4 6-2). Andrey Rublev also advanced (beating Faria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5), as did Etcheverry (7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-3 over Fery) and Tommy Paul (6-3, 6-4, 6-2 over Tirante). In the Italian morning, also in the men’s competition, world number three Alexander Zverev (against Muller) will be on court, as well as De Minaur and Tiafoe.
