Defending champion Janic Siner had an easy win against James Duckworth while Naomi Osaka overcame Sorana Cirstia.
Two-time defending champion Janik Sinner defeated home wildcard James Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the third round of the Australian Open.
The world number two Italian was in no mood for an extended shift on a chilly Rod Laver Arena on Thursday as he faced American Eliot Spizziri in the last-32.
Recommended stories
3 List of itemsEnd of list
It was Sinner’s 27th consecutive tour-level win against Australians, his last loss coming against Duckworth in Toronto in 2021.
But a repeat of that result never looked likely as Sinner produced a flawless display from the back end of the court.
“Every match is tough. It’s great to be in the next round,” Sinner, who has won his last 12 matches without dropping a set, said on court. “Very happy with my performance.
“I know how much work I’ve done, so the body feels good and the mind is in a good moment.”
He was in control from the moment he drilled a backhand winner into the corner to break Duckworth’s serve in the fourth game and had a second break of serve with a double fault.
Sinner won the first set in 26 minutes and although Duckworth put up more resistance with some aggressive play in the second set, the Italian’s controlled power and placement were too much for his 34-year-old opponent.
A forehand winner earned him a break point at 3-3 and Duckworth held on as the pressure dictated.
Duckworth’s winners were applauded by the evening crowd, but the end came quickly and Sinner finished it off with an ace – his 18th of the match.
Sinner has spent less than three hours on court to reach the third round and will be the heavy favorite against 85th-ranked Spizzeri, who survived a five-setter against China’s Wu Yibing.
“I was watching him quite a bit last year – very aggressive on the court and a big server as well,” Sinner said.
“I don’t know him because we haven’t played yet, but I hope for a good match.”
Osaka defeated Sarsti in three sets
Naomi Osaka fought back in the second set to beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstia 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Osaka, who won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, got off to a shaky start against Cersei, dropping the opening game on her serve and making early errors.
She soon shook off the cobwebs and leveled at 2-2 and won the opening set, defending a break point and holding serve before taking a 5-3 lead.
Cirstia, 35, who retires at the end of the year, took an early lead again in the second set and Osaka leveled at 2-2, but the Romanian broke at a crucial moment in the final set.
Osaka, the 16th seed, took a 3-1 lead in the decider with a break between sets and then another medical timeout, but any worries were short-lived.
With her movement seemingly hampered, Japan’s former world number one responded by dialing up the intensity of her ground strokes and sealing a stunning win over Circe.
The final set also saw some drama as Serstia made the point that Osaka lifted herself up by shouting “let’s go” between the Romanian’s first and second serves.
“(There were) apparently a lot of ‘come-ons’ that she was angry about. I mean I tried to play well. I think I made a lot of inappropriate mistakes, but I tried my best,” Osaka said.
“She’s a great player. I think it was her last Australian Open, so sorry she got mad about it.”
Osaka will face Australian qualifier Madison English in the third round.
