The zebra continues to roam the grounds of Melbourne Park. After the elimination of the Norwegian Casper Ruud , seed 2 of this Australian Open, it was the turn of the North American Taylor Fritz and the German Alexander Zverev to increase the number of surprises this Thursday.
Experiencing different moments on the circuit, Fritz was coming off a good season in 2022 and an interesting start to the year in the United Cup, while Zverev is still trying to find his best tennis. The American even came out in front of the lucky-loser of the house Alexei Popyrin, but took the turn in five tough sets, with a final score of 6/7 (4-7), 7/6 (7-2), 6/4, 6/7 (6-8) and 6/2.
Fritz’s defeat was the second for an American in the round, joining compatriot Denis Kudla, who was beaten by Frenchman Ugo Humbert, 3 sets to 1, with partials of 6/2, 6/7 (5-7) , 6/2 and 6/4. Before them, the other four US tennis players who entered the court in this Wednesday’s journey had advanced .
JCA stands to salute @AlexeiPopyrin99! Scenes! Limbs!
The Aussie was brilliant to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-7(4) 7-6(2) 6-4 6-7(6) 6-2@wwos • @espn • @Eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/PqifVZCaO7
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2023
But the good day for the Americans didn’t stop there, since Zverev’s tormentor was the lucky-loser Michael Mmoh, who showed a very consistent tennis against an irregular opponent. The German managed to win the first set in the tiebreak, but then he didn’t hold back and took the turnaround with partials of 6/7 (1-7), 6/4, 6/3 and 6/2.
With Mmoh’s victory, there are already eight North Americans in the third round of the Australian Open, a number that could increase until the end of the day if Maxime Cressy and Brandon Holt surprise their rivals, respectively the Danish Holger Rune and the Spaniard Roberto Bautista.
In the next round, Mmoh will face precisely one of the winning compatriots of the day, the current 67 in the world JJ Wolf, who got the better of him in the two previous duels, both in North American challengers, one in 2021 and another in 2019. Popyrin will have another tennis player from the USA ahead, taking on Ben Shelton in the next round.
How much does it mean, @MichaelMmoh?!
You're off to the third round!@wwos • @espn • @Eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/lcovcJ567u
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2023
