The American Taylor Fritz extended the high level he showed at the end of 2024 and with him at the beginning of 2025 with authoritarian victory over the Chilean Cristian Garín (6-2, 6-1 and 6-0), in 84 minutes.
The American, who had previously finished three fights with Garín, had a bit of a breakdown. All people on earth. The first is for the Chilean and the other two for the North American, in Madrid and Munich. The fact of playing on a hard court did not change the situation. On the contrary, it is more comfortable for the American, one of the candidates for the final victory.
The Chilean, who had to secure his place in the main draw from the qualifying phase, He can’t keep up with Fritz who will play in the third round for the sixth time.
Meanwhile, Fritz will face Frenchman Gael Monfils in the next match who defeated German Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3 and 7-6(3).
Last year Fritz recorded his best result at the Australian Open by reaching the quarterfinals. He defeated Facundo Díaz Acosta, Hugo Gastón, Fabián Marozsan and Stefanos Tsitsipas before falling to Novak Djokovic in 4 sets.
But his first final at a Grand Slam didn’t come until a few months ago, at the 2024 United States Open when he was overtaken by current world number one and former champion, Italian Jannik Sinner.
Also on the fast track and not missing a set along the way, the Australian Alex de Minaur made her date with American Tristan Boyer a method resolved in just three sets (6-2, 6-4 and 6-3) and after two hours.
He has not faced the North American since the previous stage who surprised with his victory over the Argentine Federico Coria in the first round. He blamed the scenario and the opponent. because De Minaur is one of the best players on the circuit who is also making strides forward that have put him among the sport’s elite.
It is Australia’s De Minaur hope for an event that has not enjoyed a local champion since Mark Edmondson lifted the trophy in 1976, nearly half a century ago. The eighth player in the world reached the third round for the sixth time. But he’s limited to the round of 16, which he’s played twice, most recently last year. But it doesn’t stop there. And in the rest of the Grand Slam he made it to the quarterfinals, the United States Open at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Although the presence of De Minaur’s compatriots, such as Alex Popyrin and Jordan Thompson, is still present in the team, the good moments you have shown and your latest performances have raised the spirits of the world number eight.
Alex de Minaur can equal his best record in Melbourne if he wins against Francisco Cerúndolo who reached the third round, benefited from the withdrawal of his compatriot Facundo Días Acosta, when he lost 6-2 and 1-0, due to an injury to his left foot.
The match in Melbourne will be the fifth face to face between the two compatriots. But the first on a hard court. The other four were always on clay and finished with two victories for each. The two from Buenos Aires were scored by Facu Díaz Acosta, who has only one trophy in his showcases, certainly won in the capital of Argentina. Cerúndolo signed up for those in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) and Santiago (Chile).
Francisco Cerúndolo has already equaled his best performance in the first Grand Slam of the season. They also reached the round of 32 in 2023, although last year they crashed out in the second round.
Cerúndolo, thirty-first in the ATP ranking, with titles in Bastad, in 2022, Eastbourne, on grass, in 2023 and Umag, in 2024, has the challenge of reaching the quarterfinals in Melbourne, his best performance in a Grand Slam.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
