Mirra Andreeva Gets Big Win

Mirra Andreeva is still only sixteen years; yet she plays with a ferocity and talent rarely seen at this age in this era. Currently ranked forty-seven, she has been slowly climbing up the ranks. [6] Ons Jabeur had no answer for the Russian in her Australian Open debut. Andreeva won 6-0, 6-2. Did Jabeur and her team underestimate the talent and desire of Mirra Andreeva?

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American Successes On Day Four

[4] Coco Gauff fought through strong opposition in the first set from fellow American, Caroline Dolehide. It was a rather scrappy first set for Gauff, who served to go up 5-2 and stumbled. When you are the underdog and get an opportunity to back a top ten opponent into a corner, you should really try to capitalize. Unfortunately for Dolehide, nerves got the best of her, and she could not serve out the first set, which was the turning point of the match. Gauff settled down after winning the tiebreaker convincingly and won the match 7-6(2), 6-2.

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It looks like Alycia Parks is ready to play tennis again. She upended [32] Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 6-4. Playing Fernandez is never easy and to defeat her in straight sets says something about Park’s mental strength. I am so thrilled to see Amanda Anisimova playing well. She made quick work of Nadia Podoroska, defeating her 6-2, 6-3.

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[12] Taylor Fritz played much better in his second round match. He easily dispatched Hugo Gaston 6-0, 6-3, 6-1. That should help his body recover a little more. [16] Ben Shelton lost his focus in the third set, and struggled to cross the finish line; however, he prevailed against Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5). [29] Sebastian Korda also played much better today. He defeated Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. There was no major lapse in concentration for the American.

Fallen Seeds On Day Four

Elina Avanesyan also managed to upset a top ten seed. She defeated [8] Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-4. [16] Caroline Garcia could not keep her winning streak going. Magdalena Frech upended Garcia 6-4, 7-6(2). The erratic performance from American [17] Frances Tiafoe continues. He got bounced by Tomas Machac. Machac won 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5). [22] Francisco Cerundolo lost to Fabian Marozsan 6-7(5), 4-6, 2-6. [25] Elise Mertens lost to Marta Kostyuk, which was not really a surprise. Kostyuk won 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(10-6). [25] Lorenzo Musetti lost to Luca Van Assche. I am not really surprised, Van Assche is a difficult opponent to play if you are not fully committed. Van Assche won 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-0.

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One To Watch Down Under

Flavio Cobolli is making waves down under. In his Australian Open debut, he has managed to get to the second round, which is further than he has ever gone at a major. This twenty-one-year-old turned professional in 2020. He played in his first major at the French Open in 2023 and lost in the first round.

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