Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner stumbled early Thursday, losing a set for the first time in three months, but recovered his composure to defeat Aussie wild card Tristan Schoolkate and advance to the tournament’s third round.
The world’s No. 1 player, Sinner had won 30 of his last 31 matches, not even dropping a set since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in Beijing last October.
But fan favorite Schoolkate, ranked No. 173 in the world, converted his only break point and needed just 47 minutes to take the opening set in the evening match at Rod Laver Arena.
Sinner settled down in the second set as a crosscourt winner earned him a break at 4-3 and helped propel him to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 win.
‘It’s always tough to play against a player I have never played before, he was playing really good at the start, serving really well,’ the top-seeded Italian said.
‘I have to be very pleased with my performance, never take anything for granted, and I’m really happy to be in the next round. I can improve, yes, but I’ll take it.’
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Danielle Collins enjoys playing villain
Danielle Collins gave the hostile crowd a roasting after beating local favorite Destanee Aiava in the second round Thursday, blowing kisses at the booing fans and thanking them for paying for her next five-star vacation.
The 10th-seeded American said her interaction with the local fans on Kia Arena had fired her up as she came through a tricky period in the middle of the match to see off the 195th-ranked Australian 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2.
‘I think they really wanted for her to win badly,’ Collins told reporters. ‘I think there were a lot of people that were super drunk and had a hard time controlling themselves and were really excited.
‘All I have to say is good luck trying to get under the skin of somebody that really doesn’t care,’ she added, after trading more diplomatic wording for a few profanities.
The 31-year-old, who lost the 2022 Australian Open final to local Ash Barty, said she had actually enjoyed the sometime febrile atmosphere created by the partisan crowd.
‘I loved it. I’ve been doing this my whole life. I love playing in a crowd that has energy, regardless of what side they’re on,’ she said.
Collins advances to face fellow American and former U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys in the next round. The 19th seed beat qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse 7-6(1), 2-6, 7-5 and reach the third round.
Iga Swiatek leads parade of top women to advance
Second-seed Iga Swiatek waltzed into the third round, along with fellow Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina on a bright and sunny Thursday at Melbourne Park.
A day after intermittent rain dampened the spirits, five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek shot out of the blocks on Rod Laver Arena to crush Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-2 and set up a clash with Raducanu.
‘I felt pretty confident, and I started the match well so I just kept going,’ said Swiatek. ‘It was good to play in such an efficient way and just finish it quick.’
Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina overcame a second-set wobble to beat 17-year-old American wildcard Iva Jovic 6-0, 6-3, the second teenager she has sent packing from the tournament.
Raducanu, who has struggled with a string of injuries since her 2021 U.S. Open triumph, required an off-court medical timeout for an apparent left hip issue at 0-3 in the second set against Amanda Anisimova, before seeing off the American 6-3, 7-5.
American Taylor Fritz continues to roll
On the men’s side, fourth seed Taylor Fritz romped past qualifier Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 and Ben Shelton took out Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4, making three Americans in the third round with more possibly to come.
Fritz has given up only eight games in his two matches so far and will next face 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils, who earned his spot in the third round with a 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over German Daniel Altmaier.
While Andre Agassi was the last American man to win the Melbourne Park title back in 2003, Australia’s wait for a homegrown men’s champion goes back to 1976.
Alex de Minaur, the eighth seed, is their best hope of breaking that long drought this year and he kept those hopes alive by beating American qualifier Tristan Boyer 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena.
Australian Open Day 5 results
Women’s singles
6-Elena Rybakina (KAZ) beat Iva Jovic (USA) 6-0 6-3
32-Dayana Yastremska (UKR) beat Danka Kovinic (MNE) 6-0 6-1
19-Madison Keys (USA) beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU) 7-6(1) 2-6 7-5
10-Danielle Collins (USA) beat Destanee Aiava (AUS) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-2
15-Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) beat Erika Andreeva (RUS) 6-2 6-3
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) beat 22-Katie Boulter (GBR) 7-6(3) 2-6 6-2
28-Elina Svitolina (UKR) beat Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6-1 6-4
4-Jasmine Paolini (ITA) beat Renata Zarazua (MEX) 6-2 6-3
8-Emma Navarro (USA) beat Xiyu Wang (CHN) 6-3 3-6 6-4
Ons Jabeur (TUN) beat Camila Osorio (COL) 7-5 6-3
24-Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) beat Shuai Zhang (CHN) 6-2 6-1
9-Daria Kasatkina (RUS) beat Yafan Wang (CHN) 6-2 6-0
Eva Lys (DEU) beat Varvara Gracheva (FRA) 6-2 3-6 6-4
Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) beat Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) 7-5 7-5
Emma Raducanu (GBR) beat Amanda Anisimova (USA) 6-3 7-5
2-Iga Swiatek (POL) beat Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) 6-0 6-2