Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas kept up his unbeaten streak this year on Friday as he made another jump at the Australian Open to open up a round of 16 clash with dangerous Italian Jannik Sinner. The 24-year-old, who is yet to drop a set, clinched her seventh straight win of 2023 with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 win over Toulon Griekspoor of Holland at the Rod Laver Arena. Fourth round. With defending champion Rafael Nadal and world number three Casper Ruud both out, Tsitsipas, who won all four games at the United Cup Grand Slam, is the top seed on the men’s side.
His next task for a place in the last eight is against 15th seed Sinner of Italy, who defeated Hungary’s Marton Fukovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
It will be a rematch of their Melbourne Park quarterfinal last year, which Tsitsipas won in straight sets.
Tsitsipas said, “It was good to mix it up today, my piece, opening court. I think my placement on the serve was exceptional.”
“I didn’t have many rallies on my serve today, which helped, and I just kept things clean. I enjoyed finding my way through today, it wasn’t easy at times.”
Like Tsitsipas, the 63rd-ranked Grikspour went on a six-match match unbeaten streak after claiming his maiden Tour-level title in Pune, India.
But he was no match for the three-time semi-finalist at Melbourne Park, who is chasing a maiden Grand Slam title.
The 24-year-old was in charge in the first set, breaking twice, dominating from the baseline and finding her way to the net in just 28 minutes.
But the Dutchman put up stiff resistance in the second, earning a set point at 6-5, which Tsitsipas saved to take it to the tiebreak, where he held his composure to win.
Grikspur’s resolve melted and Tsitsipas raced to a 3-1 lead in the third set before the home race.
Sinner, a six-time champion on the ATP Tour, kept his hopes alive with a sensational comeback against Fuksovic, who lost all confidence as the match progressed.
“The first two sets were very tough for me,” said Sinner, who won her opening two matches in straight sets.
“Obviously, I had to make some changes in my game. I was feeling the ball well but the final shots were lacking. I worked physically in the off-season and today I was physically good in the final sets. Was.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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