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Daniel Medvedev
Photo: DAVE HUNT / imago images/AAP
Daniil Medvedev provided the next proof of his class in the third round at the Australian Open.
In the round of 16 (6:4, 6:4, 6:2) against Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands, he played out of pressure situations and did not have to accept a break.
In the next round he meets the unseeded American Maxime Cressy.
"Let's put it this way: It's easier to play a guy from the Netherlands in Australia than an Australian," Medvedev said to the audience. In the second round, the Russian defeated Australian crowd favorite Nick Kyrgios. Because the audience cheered too loudly for his taste between his first and second serve, Medvedev later accused some in the audience of "probably a low IQ".
In the game against Zandschulp, however, he drew the crowd to his side.
“Every good relationship has to have its ups and downs.
I hope there will be more good times than bad, otherwise it won't work," Medvedev joked after the game.
As last year's finalist, Medvedev is the highest-ranked professional in Melbourne in the absence of world number one Novak Djoković and is one of the title candidates with Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal.
Tsitsipas needs four sentences
World number four Stefanos Tsitsipas prevailed against French Benoît Paire 6: 3, 7: 5, 6: 7 (2), 6: 4.
After a game that was balanced over long stretches with mistakes on both sides, Tsitsipas was able to pick up the pace again in the fourth set and, with the score at 5: 4, increased the pressure on server Paire at just the right moment.
He made the success perfect with a break.
Taylor Fritz is now waiting in the round of 16, after beating Roberto Bautista Agut in five sets after being 2-1 down.
Felix Auger-Aliassime dominated his game against Briton Daniel Evans.
With 6: 4, 6: 1, 6: 1, the Canadian also made it into the round of 16.
Simona Halep with a confident appearance
For the women, Kaia Kanepi is in the round of 16 of the Australian Open for the first time.
The 36-year-old Estonian, who knocked out Angelique Kerber in the first round of the tournament, won her third round duel against Australian Maddison Inglis 2: 6, 6: 2, 6: 0 and now meets world number two Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, who 4: 6, 6: 3, 6: 1 against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep has also reached the round of 16.
The former world number one from Romania easily beat Danka Kovinic from Montenegro 6:2, 6:1.
Halep, who was in the 2018 Melbourne final and a quarter-finalist last year, now meets France's Alize Cornet.
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