The Spaniard was a little hung up. The world No. 1 and the Russian have quietly booked their ticket for the 3rde tour to Melbourne.
At the state: 22/23
Aryna Sabalenka quietly qualified for the third round of the Australian Open by dominating the Chinese Zhuoxuan Bai (world 702, from qualifying) 6-3, 6-1. Only brief moment of trouble for the world No. 1, after leading 4-0 in 11′, then 5-0 in the 1is set, she saw her rival return to 5-3, before regaining total domination of the game. The Belarusian has won 22 of her last 23 matches played in Melbourne. Only the American Madison Keys, in 2025, in the final, was able to have the last word. Already focused on her next match, Aryna Sabalenka, a few minutes after her victory, returned to the training court to work again and again. Particularly in the service. At 3e In turn, the Belarusian will face the Austrian of Russian origin Anastasia Potapova (55th in the world) who eliminated the Briton Emma Raducanu (29th) 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.
The emotion
The victory of the Turkish Zeynep Sonmez. The 112e world (23 years old), from the qualifications, won 6-2, 6-4 against the Hungarian Anna Bondar (74e). During his 1is round against the Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, the young Turk Zeynep Sonmez came to the aid of a ball girl who was suffering from serious illness. Sonmez continues to make headlines. Melbourne loves it. She was wildly encouraged this Wednesday by many Turkish supporters. At Wimbledon in 2025, she became the first Turkish player to reach the third round of a Grand Slam singles tournament in the Open era. At 3e In turn, she will be opposed to the Kazakh Yulia Putintseva who eliminated the Frenchwoman Ingrid Jacquemod 6-1, 6-2.
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In the blue corner
After a powerful first set, Quentin Halys was ruled by Daniil Medvedev (14 aces, 46 winning shots). The Frenchman lost 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. At 3e round, the Russian will face the Hungarian Fabian Marozsan After his performance of 1is round against the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (10/7) in 3h31, Elsa Jacquemot, overwhelmed, was not able to upset the Kazakh Yulia Putintseva (94e World Cup), which won 6-1, 6-2. At 7 a.m., Corentin Moutet, after losing the first set 6-1 against the American Michael Zheng, led 5-1 in the second set. Alexandre Müller will challenge Alexander Zverev at the end of the program.
The (little) cold sweat
Carlos Alcaraz had to multiply to snatch the 1is set in the tie-break (7-4 in 1h08) against the German Yannick Hanfmann (102e global). After an intense standoff, the Spaniard gradually took the measure of his rival 7-6, 6-3, 6-2. At 3e In turn, the world No. 1 will face the American Michael Zheng or the Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
The photo
The son of Lleyton Hewitt and the daughters of Roger Federer attended Jannik Sinner’s qualification on Tuesday (taking advantage of Hugo Gaston’s withdrawal). Comment from Set tennis: “We are old. »
The post
Signed Marat Safin, happy to find Roger Federer. “That’s the guy.”assures the Russian, all smiles. The Russian and the Swiss have often shared the bill. Federer won 10 times in 12 matches (between 2001 and 2009).
In Melbourne, Federer won the final in 2004 and the 2e round in 2009, Safin having won in the semi-finals in 2005. Andrey Rublev (seeded n°13), the protégé of Marat Safin qualified for the 3e round of the Australian Open by dominating the Portuguese Jaime Faria (from qualifying) 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. The Russian reaches 3e Australian Open round of 13 of the last 14 major hard-court tournaments. Only hitch, in Melbourne in 2025. He will meet the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (seeded n°18) for a place in the round of 16.
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The series: Paul express
Tommy Paul advances discreetly. The American (seeded No. 19) dominated Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. He, who is playing the 26th major tournament of his career, pocketed the first six sets in a Grand Slam tournament for only the third time in his career (after Wimbledon 2022 and Roland Garros 2024). At 3e In turn he will be opposed to his compatriot Reilly Opelka or the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Confirmation
Canadian Vicky Mboko (seeded n°17) advances with ease. She dominated the American Cathy McNally 6-4, 6-3, giving off an impression of power (1 ace, 16 winning points) and serenity (led 0-3 in the 2e set, she pocketed 6 consecutive games). She has won 14 of her last 16 matches. At 3e tower (stage reached for the 2e time in her career, after Roland-Garros 2025), she will face the Danish Clara Tauson (seeded n°14).
The chase
The Russian Diana Schnaider (seeded n°3) saved 3 match points to overthrow 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 the Australian Talia Gibson (guest) who, after coming close to victory, completed the game stunned, with 49 unforced errors. At 3e In turn, Schnaider will face the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina who eliminated the Polish Linda Klimovicova 7-5, 6-1 (from qualifying).
The end of the dream
The young Franco-English Arthur Fery (23 years old; 186e worldly; from qualifying) had been one of the sensations of 1is round after taking out the Italian Flavio Cobolli (seeded n°20). This Wednesday, he lost 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-3 against the Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry.
To be continued
From 9h, Rod Word Arrena: Alex De Minaur (AUS, 6); Iva Jovic (USA, No.29) – Prince of Hon (AUS). Maria Skkari (RUS, 8); Francis Freedom (USA, 29) – Franciscan (ARG). John Cain Arena, from 10h30 (ALL, 3) – Alexandre Muller.