Alex de Minaur advanced on what was a disastrous day for the Aussies at the Australian Open, while a fifth grand slam champion lost before the third round and a sixth player had to retire hurt. De Minaur overcame a first-set blip and a 30-minute rain delay to beat Serbian player Hamad Medjedovic 6-7 (7-5) 6-2 6-2 6-1.
After dropping the first set in a tiebreak it was fairly easy going for the World No.6, who will now face 29th seed Frances Tiafoe in the third round. “I weathered the storm,” de Minaur said afterwards.
Alex de Minaur (L) was the only Aussie to advance, while Michael Zheng retired hurt (centre) and Emma Raducanu crashed out (R). Image: Getty
“He (Medjedovic) was playing some unbelievable tennis, serving great, hitting the ball from the baseline, really big and deep, and not really allowing me to do much. Ultimately, a five-set match is a long match, so there’s going to be lots of chances. I took them, and I’m super happy to battle my way through.”
But de Minaur was the only Aussie winner on day four as Jordan Thompson, Priscilla Hon, Talia Gibson and Storm Hunter all lost. Hon was swept away by American teen Iva Jovic in the final match of the night, going down 6-1 6-2 after midnight.
Michael Zheng retires hurt, set to lose $225,000
It was another day of drama and retirements at Melbourne Park as American qualifier Michael Zheng became the sixth player to call it quits mid-match. The college student won the opening set against Corentin Moutet, before a leg injury brought the Frenchman back into the match.
Zhang received medical treatment but eventually retired at 6-3 1-6 3-6 0-2. He became the sixth player to retire hurt in the opening four days of the Open, with the weather and unique Australian conditions taking a toll.
It adds injury to insult for the 21-year-old American, who is likely to have to give up his $225,000 prize money for reaching the second round. Under NCAA rules in the States, college athletes are only allowed to earn a maximum of $10,000 from tournaments in a calendar year.
Emma Raducanu becomes fifth slam winner to crash out
Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu joined the list of grand slam champions who didn’t make it past the second round, losing 6-7 (3) 2-6 to Anastasia Potapova. The former US Open winner joined Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Barbora Krejcikova and Sloane Stephens as slam champions who didn’t make it past the second round.
Emma Raducanu lost to Anastasia Potapova in straight sets.
(James D. Morgan via Getty Images)
The 28th-seeded Raducanu has struggled ever since winning the US Open in 2021 as an 18-year-old. “I think I’m going to take a few days, get back home and try and just re-evaluate my game a bit,” the Brit said afterwards.
“I want to be playing a different way, and I think the misalignment with how I’m playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on. I need to just work on playing in a way more similar to how I was playing when I was younger.”