Varvara Gracheva surprises at the Australian Open
The afternoon session matches were played on the third day of the Australian Open held in Melbourne. The Russian Varvara Gracheva, ranked 98th in the world in the women’s singles, easily defeated her compatriot Daria Kasatkina (8) 2-0 (6-1, 6-1) in the first round match and signed the surprise of the day.
3rd seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who played in the semifinals 3 times in the tournament, defeated Australian Rinky Hijikata, who was ranked 169th in the world, 3-0 with sets ending 6-3 6-0 6 – 2.
The finalist of the past two years, seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, won 3-0 against Australia’s John Millman, ranked 148th in the world, with sets ending 7-5 6-2 6-2.
Medvedev’s opponent was Sebastian Korda of the USA in the third round, when Tsitsipas faced Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
In men, the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (10), the Italian Lorenzo Sonego 3-2 (3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3), the American Frances Tiafoe (16 seeds), the Chinese Juncheng Shang 3 -0 (6-4, 6-4, 6-1), Russia’s Karen Khachanov (18), Australia’s Jason Kubler 3-1 (6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6) -2), Canadian Denis Shapovalov (20) defeated Japanese Taro Daniel 3-0 (6-3, 7-6, 7-5) to reach the 3rd round.
GAUFF ROUTE 3
In the second round of the women’s singles, 18-year-old Coco Gauff (7), who played in the final of the French Open last year, faced 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. American tennis player Gauff beat his 20-year-old rival from Great Britain, who is ranked 75th in the standings, 2-0, with complete sets of 6-3 and 7-6. Gauff was matched up with compatriot Bernarda Pera in the third round.
In women, the American Madison Keys (10), the Chinese Xinyu Wang 2-0 (6-3, 6-2), the American Danielle Collins (13), the Czech Karolina Muchova 2-1 (6-7), 6 -2, 7 -6) Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (17), Hungarian Anna Bondar 2-1 (7-6, 5-7, 6-0), Czech Barbora Krejcikova (20), French Clara Burel 2 – 0 (6-4, 6-1), Kazakh Elena Rybakina (22), Slovenian Kaja Juvan 2-0 (6-2, 6-1) and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (24), Argentine Nadia Podoroska 2- 0 (6-1, 6-0) for advancing to the 3rd round. (AA)