IMAGES from Day 4 of the matches played at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
Alcaraz passes Hanfmann test to advance to third round
Carlos Alcaraz overcame an early stutter at the Australian Open to defeat German Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday and move into the third round as he continues his bid for a career Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
After a breezy win in the first round against Adam Walton, the 22-year-old Alcaraz was given more of a workout by Hanfmann on a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena but he rose to the challenge and booked a clash with either Michael Zheng or Corentin Moutet.
Alcaraz moved up a gear to draw level after trailing 1-3, but squandered several opportunities to break Hanfmann's huge serve again before pouncing in the tiebreak to wrap up a physically draining opening set in 78 minutes.
The six-times major winner did not let the second set become another arm-wrestle, relying on his pace and precision to surge ahead and double his advantage in the match.
Hanfmann looked deflated at the start of the third set after receiving medical treatment during the break and a more free-flowing Alcaraz showed no mercy as he sealed a double break and then closed out the contest on serve.
Sabalenka wobbles before cruising into Rnd 3
World number one Aryna Sabalenka came through a rough patch in the opening set to defeat China's Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena and advance to the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Sabalenka, Melbourne Park champion in 2023 and 2024, powered to a 5-0 lead only to falter, with Bai holding serve and then breaking the Belarusian.
The Chinese world number 702 began to frustrate her opponent, picking up a third game in a row as Sabalenka grew increasingly agitated before eventually closing out the set.
'Tricky opponent'
However, the 27-year-old steadied herself at the start of the second set and showed the gulf in class between the pair to win another four straight games before eventually confirming her progress to the next round.
"Tricky opponent, she really stepped in on the first set and for a moment I felt: what shall I do? She's crashing it," said Sabalenka.
"Super happy I was able to close that set, I think it gave me a little more confidence that I'm there, that my game is there. Focus step by step.
"There's always a little gap to improve but I'm happy that in that game I didn't lose it and I was focused and I was trying to tell myself, one at a time, it's going to come back," added Sabalenka.
"You're ok, just keep fighting, keep trying and I'm glad I did it well."
Zverev overcomes Muller to make third round
Last year's finalist Alexander Zverev reached the Australian Open third round by defeating Alexandre Muller 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 6-4, negotiating a plucky opponent, a rain delay and an injury scare to continue his bid for a first Grand Slam.
After cruising through the opening set and surrendering the next, Zverev gained a foothold in the see-sawing third set when he grabbed a 4-2 lead but a sudden spell of rain halted play on John Cain Arena and threatened to disrupt the German's rhythm.
With the roof closed and the court towelled dry during a near 40-minute break, the third seed got back to work and barely skipped a beat on serve as he comfortably closed out the set to regain control of the contest.
"Credit to him. Two days ago he played 7-6(4) in the fifth against an Australian, Alexei Popyrin, and the way he came out, he played amazing tennis," Zverev said, hailing Muller's battling qualities.
"I thought it was a very high-level match. I didn't know what his energy levels would be like but he's one of the fittest guys on Tour and I'm extremely happy with this match."
Zverev broke Muller for a sixth time early in the next set but the three-times Grand Slam runner-up paused at 2-1 and sat down in his chair with what appeared to be a left leg problem before the 28-year-old soldiered on after medical treatment.
"I took a painkiller and it was fine after that," he said.
"I was a bit scared because it was too close to the Achilles tendon. I just wanted the medic to check it out."
Some big winners followed from Zverev's racket as he looked to shorten his time on court, and he squandered two match points before delivering the knockout blow in the form of a big ace to book a meeting with British 26th seed Cameron Norrie.
Ruthless Gauff cruises past Danilovic to advance
Third seed Coco Gauff beat Serbian Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 to move into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Danilovic had knocked out Venus Williams in the first round but her chances of beating another American Grand Slam champion looked slim after just 22 minutes when she found herself 5-0 down before a double fault on set point gave Gauff the lead.
There was no respite in the second set either as Gauff consolidated another early break to go 3-0 up, with Danilovic having no answer to her court coverage and precise groundstrokes.
Gauff then converted a break point to seal the match and book a third-round encounter with compatriot Hailey Baptiste.
Medvedev survives early scare to reach third round
Daniil Medvedev survived an early scare against Frenchman Quentin Halys in the second round of the Australian Open on Wednesday but dug deep to record a 6-7(9) 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory.
A three-times finalist at Melbourne Park, Medvedev battled for over an hour in the first set, only to lose after an intense tiebreak.
The Russian was also broken early in the second set by the world number 83 but regained his composure to level the match.
The 11th seed controlled the baseline exchanges in the third set to convert an early break point and followed it up with an aggressive service game.
Medvedev then exploited Halys's weak returns with fierce groundstrokes to secure the win and advance to the third round.
FIERY DAVIDOVICH FOKINA WINS FIVE-SET THRILLER
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina battled for nearly four hours against American Reilly Opelka to seal a 6-3, 7-6(3), 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 victory before erupting in a roar of celebration.
The 14th seed looked frustrated during the match and received a code violation for smashing his racquet.
American Michael Zheng retired in the fourth set against 32nd seed Corentin Moutet, who advanced 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 2-0 to a third-round match-up against world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
TEEN SENSATION MBOKO ADVANCES
Canadian teen Victoria Mboko defeated American Caty McNally 6-4, 6-3 to advance.
Trailing 3-0 in the second set, 19-year-old Mboko won six games in a row to complete the comeback.
RUBLEV BEATS FARIA
Russian 13th seed Andrey Rublev overcame issues with his serve to defeat Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 to advance to the next round.
While Russian flags are banned at Melbourne Park as part of measures imposed by Tennis Australia following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, there were plenty of Turkish flags waving in the stands as Sonmez continued her dream run Down Under.
The 23-year-old, who has quickly become a crowd favourite after helping a ball kid who fainted on the opening day, beat Hungarian Anna Bondar 6-2, 6-4 to progress to the third round, matching her feat from last year's Wimbledon.
In the men's draw, 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina beat Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.
SVITOLINA WINS IN STRAIGHT SETS
Emma Raducanu's day ended in disappointment, the 2021 US Open winner beaten by Austrian Anastasia Potapova 7-6(3), 6-2, while Elina Svitolina advanced in easier morning conditions, beating Linda Klimovicova 7-5, 6-1.
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