Andrey Rublev overcame 2023 quarter finalist Sebastian Korda 6-2 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Korda saved three break points to hold serve after three deuces in the second game of the opening set. Rublev faced the only break point of the match in the fifth game before breaking twice in the sixth and eighth games to win the first set 6-2. Both players went on serve with no break points in the second set en route to the tie-break. Rublev came back from 2-4 down by winning six of the next eight points to clinch the tie-break 8-6.
Rublev earned a break in the third game of the third set to take a 2-1 lead. Korda saved two break points in the seventh game to hold serve for 3-4. Rublev served out the won on his first match point after 1 hour and 59 minutes. Rublev won 83% of his first service points.
Rublev started the 2024 season by winning the 15th of his career in Hong Kong. The Russian player has extended his winning streak to 7-0.
Rublev set up a fourth round match against world number 10 Alex De Minaur, who beat Flavio Cobolli 6-3 6-3 6-1.
“I am happy to start the year really well. I am happy to start the year with a title and to be here in the fourth round is something special for me. We will see what is going to happen next. I don’t want to think. I just want to play and that’s it”, said Rublev.
Taylor Fritz rallied from losing the first set to beat Fabian Maroszan 3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2 after 2 hours and 23 minutes. Fritz reached the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam tournament for the fourth time in his career. He advanced to the fourth round at the 2022 Australian Open and the quarter finals at Wimbledon in 2022 and at the US Open in 2023.
Maroszan broke serve in the second game to open up a 3-0 lead and served out the first set 6-3 after rallying from 30-40 down. Maroszan saved four break points to hold serve after eight deuces. Fritz converted his second break point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Maroszan broke back in the ninth game for 4-5, as Fritz was serving for the set. Fritz broke serve on his fifth set point to win the second set 6-4.
Fritz saved two break points to hold serve in the second game of the third set. Fritz earned two breaks in the sixth and eighth games to win the third set 6-2. The US player broke twice more in the second and eighth games to close out the match.
