A detail of ball as Emma Raducanu of Great Britain prepares to serve during her round 1 match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia during the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Photo: LUKAS COCH
Three-times Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev allowed his frustrations to boil over in a Melbourne Park meltdown before advancing to the second round on day three of the year's first grand slam.
Medvedev, runner-up last year, smashed his racquet and a net camera after dropping serve in the third set but rallied for a 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-2 win against Thai wildcard Kasidit Samrej.
The frustrated fifth seed's behaviour earned him a code violation for racquet abuse as play was held up before the fourth set as staff swept up debris from the court but he cut a happy figure after the match.
"At the end of last year, this match I probably would have lost," Medvedev said. "Now it's a new year and new energy ... So I'm happy to win this match."
Elsewhere, Taylor Fritz made a strong start in his bid to end a 22-year Grand Slam drought for American men.
The fourth seed stayed cool throughout his match against compatriot Jenson Brooksby, the US Open finalist easing to a 6-2 6-0 6-3 win that showed why he is now considered best placed to end America's 22-year wait for a major men's prize.
The third day of action concluded with Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca more than living up to the hype around him as the qualifier crushed Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev in a stunning Grand Slam main draw debut.
The 18-year-old Fonseca dazzled under the lights in a 7-6(1) 6-3 7-6(5) victory to become just the second teenager since 1973 to beat a top-10 ATP player on his Grand Slam debut.
Others to move through to the second round in mens action included Danish 13th seed Holger Rune and local hope Alex de Minaur, and ASB Classic winner Gael Monfils who just edged past French compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(7) 6-3 6-7(6) 7-6(5) 6-4.
In the women's draw, it was plain sailing for former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina as she blitzed Australian wildcard Emerson Jones 6-1 6-1 with new coach Goran Ivanisevic watching on impressed.
2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu also won, reaching the second round for the fourth year in a row but her 7-6(4) 7-6(2) win over 26th seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova was not all smooth sailing.
Emma Raducanu of Great Britain reacts after winning her round 1 match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia during the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Photo: LUKAS COCH
The 22-year-old, playing her first match in months, racked up 15 double faults over the contest, including one as she blew a 30-0 lead when serving for the match.
"I'm not sure what I changed in my serve today. I think it had a mind of its own," Raducanu said.
But she rallied with some brilliant tennis in the subsequent tiebreak to set up a second-round clash with American Amanda Anisimova, who beat Argentine Maria Lourdes Carle 6-2 6-3.
Others to move through included eighth seed Emma Navarro, ninth seed Daria Kasatkina.
- Reuters
