Alexander Zverev is with them Australian Open went into the round of 16 with a comfortable win against Alex Michelsen. Carlos Alcaraz is also there. For world number one Iga Swiatek, however, the tournament in Melbourne is already over.
Zverev defeated the American Michelsen in the 3rd round on Saturday (January 20, 2024) in three sets (6:2, 7:6, 6:2). This means the Hamburg resident has reached the round of 16 of the Australian Open for the eighth time. Chasing his first Grand Slamtitle, the first real test awaits Zverev with Briton Cameron Norrie, who is ranked 19th.
Zverev improved significantly
The German was significantly improved compared to his first appearances in Melbourne. Against the inexperienced 19-year-old Michelsen, number 91 in the world, Zverev showed himself to be attentive and strong from the start, after just 36 minutes he grabbed the first set with an ace. The Olympic champion also appeared more relaxed afterwards, in the tiebreak of the second He kept his nerve throughout the sentence. After 1:59 hours of play, he used his first match point to win.
Zverev fought his way into the third round in Melbourne with difficulty; in his second round match against Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein, he only averted an early exit in the tiebreak of the fifth set. As number six in the world, Zverev counts in the first major-Tournament of the year to the extended circle of favorites.
Alcaraz benefits from his opponent’s injury
The Spanish world number two Alcaraz had previously benefited from the injury-related retirement of his Chinese opponent Shang Juncheng, who, from Alcaraz’s point of view, could no longer continue playing when the score was 6:1, 6:1, 1:0.
The Spaniard is now in the round of 16 in Australia for the first time. He had the first one last year Grand Slam-Missed tennis season tournament due to injury. Now the world number two is one of the hottest title contenders alongside Grand Slam record winner Novak Djokovic (Serbia).
Alcaraz now against Kecmanovic
“Of course that’s not the way you want to get ahead,” said Alcaraz after the one-sided game. “But I’m happy with the way I’m playing. I’m happy to be here for the first time in the second week”said Alcaraz (20) after the game against the 18-year-old Chinese. It was the first time on the professional tour that Alcaraz had to compete against a player younger than him.
The Spaniard now has to deal with the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, who prevailed in five sets against last year’s semi-finalist Tommy Paul from the USA and fended off two match points in the fourth set. Kecmanovic had previously won against Jan-Lennard Struff in five sets after defending two match points.
Also Medvedev in the next round
The two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev also showed no weakness and confidently reached the round of 16. The Russian world number three defeated the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6:3, 6:4, 6:3 and will now face the Portuguese Nuno Borges. “I’m happy to play a good level”Medvedev said: “I hope I can keep it up.”
The Pole Hubert Hurkacz is also in the round of 16. The world number nine beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 3:6, 6:1, 7:6 (7:4), 6:3 and reached the fourth round in Melbourne for the second time in a row.
Sportschau, January 19, 2024 10:58 a.m
Alexander Zverev will face the American Alex Michelsen in his third round game this Saturday in the second game of the night session (in the live ticker at Sportschau).
Australia is not a good place for Swiatek
The women’s tournament is over for Iga Swiatek. The 22-year-old Pole lost to the young Czech Linda Noskova in the Rod Laver Arena despite leading the set 6:4, 3:6, 4:6 and has to wait for her first triumph in Melbourne. Australia has not been a good place for the four-time Grand Slam winner so far Yarra River Reaching the semi-finals in 2022 is their best result so far. For Swiatek it is the first exit before the round of 16 since her first appearance in Melbourne in 2019. For Noskova, who is only 19 years old, it is the biggest victory of her career, the world number 50 used her first match point after 2:20 hours of play. “I’m speechless, I’m just happy”said Noskova.
Previously, the two-time tournament winner Wiktoria Asarenka had confidently reached the round of 16; the Belarusian won 6:1, 7:5 against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko.
Four doubles with German participation in the round of 16
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz easily reached the round of 16 in the men’s doubles. The German Davis Cup doubles team won their second round match against the Austrian Sebastian Ofner and the French Alexandre Müller 6:2, 6:2. Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer are also in the round of 16. The two German tennis professionals surprisingly beat defending champions Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler from Australia 6:4, 4:6, 6:3.
Laura Siegemund also impressed with her new partner Barbora Krejcikova and reached the round of 16. Siegemund and her Czech partner defeated the Chinese doubles Wang Yafan/Yuan Yue 6:2, 6:4. Siegemund had it in Cancun, Mexico in November WTA finals won together with Vera Swonarewa, but the Russian wanted to slow down afterwards. Siegemund’s new partner Krejcikova has already won seven Grand Slam doubles tournaments.
Tamara Korpatsch and her partner Elixane Lechemia (France) benefited from the withdrawal of their opponents Marta Kostjuk/Katarzyna Kawa (Ukraine/Poland) and moved into the round of 16 without a fight.