He trembled, before finally imposing his law.
In the shock that opposed Daniil Medvedev to the Australian Nick Kyrgios this night, it was the Russian who got away with it.
The world No. 2 was not distracted by his whimsical yet talented opponent.
Medvedev only doubted in the 3rd set, before putting a final boost (7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2).
In the absence of Novak Djokovic, the horizon is clearing up a little more for the winner of the last US Open, who could soon find Stefanos Tsitsipas on his way, who also missed a round against the Argentinian Sébastian Baez (7 -6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4).
Performance: Benoît Paire
The Greek will nevertheless have to beat one of the surprises of last night.
We sometimes forget it, but Benoît Paire is still a very good tennis player… When things are going well in his head.
That is, not often for some time.
Faced with the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, semi-finalist in 2017 and in the quarterfinals last year, the most inconstant bearded man on the board showed a regularity that came out of nowhere, especially in service (6-4, 6-4, 6-7 , 7-6).
This is the 3rd time (after 2014 and 2017) that the Avignonnais, affected by Covid-19 at the start of the year, has reached the 3rd round in Melbourne.
The other French perf: Alizé Cornet
In two days, she will be the same age as Paire (32), and this is the other great satisfaction for the French people on this 4th day.
However, we did not give much from the Niçoise, who was opposed to the Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza, world No. 3.
The Frenchwoman did not have a single break point to save, unlike the winner of Roland-Garros in 2016, who was under pressure on almost each of her service games.
"Today is for fun, I just want to enjoy my victory and tomorrow I will think about the match after," smiles Alizé Cornet, who will face Slovenian Tamara Zidansek in the third round, seeded n ° 29.
"I feel amazing, I think I played a good match out there today."
A big result for @alizecornet on Day 4 ⤵️#AusOpen • #AO2022
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2022
The flop: Emma Raducanu
Since her feat at the last US Open, where she conquered her first major tournament after qualifying, the 19-year-old Briton has not been able to confirm.
For her 2nd participation in the Australian Open, the 18th in the world, who had already dropped a set against the American Sloane Stephens in the first round, was eliminated by the Montenegrin Danka Kovinic, n°98 (6-4 , 4-6, 6-3).
Just waiting for a mate ⏰@EmmaRaducanu • #AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/hXRBOUs2Ph
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2022
The wounded: Richard Gasquet and Arthur Rinderknech
We would have liked to see them accompany Benoît Paire and Alizé Cornet in the 3rd round.
The physical glitches got the better of the two Frenchmen.
The night had started badly for the second, who had to face the Briton Daniel Evans before forfeiting.
The Varois, finalist five days ago in Adelaide, suffers from a wrist injury.
Gasquet, for his part, started by winning the first set (6-4) against a Dutchman, Botic Van De Zandschulp (n° 57).
The Biterrois, who had beaten his compatriot Ugo Humbert, then won nothing for ten games before giving up, hit in the pectorals.
At 35, he was probably playing his last Australian Open.
The stroke of genius: Nick Kyrgios
The tennis we love
(🎥 @Eurosport_UK) pic.twitter.com/GlLL3xe3kp
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) January 20, 2022
The number: 52
Or the number of games played in just four rounds by the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Félix Auger-Aliassime.
The Canadian, stronger mentally than his opponent (28 aces), finally won with a score that could not be tighter: 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6.
The phrase
"In two days, it's my birthday so it's the best gift I could give myself
. "
Alizé Cornet is happy, and she says it.
