Stefanos Tsitsipas once again showed that he likes epic matches. The Greek had to pull claw and get his best tennis to overcome the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in five sets 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (5) and 6-4 after four and a half hours of play.
The game was very difficult for the Greek, who gave up the first set in the tie-break against a Kokkinakis spurred on by the stands and by his great friend Nick Kyrgios among others. However, Tsitsipas wanted to quell the rebellion of the 'Aussie' winning the second set 6-4 and showing intractable in the third, where he won 6-1.
However, Kokkinakis showed again that he can give war to anyone if the injuries respect him. The Australian took the tie-break in the fourth to force the fifth set and make Tsitsipas suffer even more, who achieved a valuable break in the fifth game of the decisive set and then did not fail with his serve and close the game. In the third round Tsitsipas will now meet with Mikael Ymer, who defeated the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz.
Berrettini and Khachanov meet in Australia
Matteo Berrettini is already in the third round of the Australian Open after beating Tomas Machac. The Italian, ninth seed for the title, struggled to beat the Czech 6-3, 6-2, 4-6 and 6-3 after two hours and 39 minutes. Berrettini, who hit 19 aces, had the match on track after winning the first two sets, but the Czech converted his only break in the third set to force a fourth set where the Italian was again superior.
Berrettini will be seen in the third round with the Russian Karen Khachanov, nineteenth favorite, who beat Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-2, 6-4 and 6-4 without too much trouble after almost two hours of the game. The Russian was very strong and gave few opportunities to a Berankis who was hampered by his 54 unforced errors.
Rublev and the dominance of the Russian 'Navy'
Like Khachanov, he also went to the third round Andrey Rublev, seventh seed for the title, who beat Brazilian Thiago Monteiro in three sets 6-4, 6-4 and 7-6 (8) in two hours and eight minutes. Rublev showed off his high serve effectiveness against a Monteiro who was weighed down by the only two breaks he conceded in the first and second sets. In the third round Rublev will face the Spanish Feliciano López, who came back against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
Fognini passes with anger
Many more troubles happened Fabio Fognini to seal his pass to the next round of the tournament. The Italian was in tow of his compatriot Salvatore Caruso during much of the match and had to wait for the super tie-break to win the match by 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 and 7-6 (12) after 3 hours and 56 minutes.
However, the image of the match took place at the end of the meeting, when Fognini faced Caruso by the luck of the latter with several blows during the game, a discussion that fortunately did not go to major. Now Fognini will face Australian Alex de Miñaur in the third round, who beat Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas in three sets (6-3, 6-3 and 7-5).
Schedule and results.