World number 2 Alexander Zverev cruised past Jacob Fearnley 6-3 6-4 6-4 on Margaret Arena in Melbourne to set up a fourth round match against the winner of the all-French clash between Arthur Fils and Ugo Humbert.
Zverev earned a break point in the sixth game of the first set after a double fault from Fearnley. Zverev broke for the first time at love after an eight-stroke rally and that proved to be enough to win the first set 6-4.
Both players traded early breaks at the start of the second set. Zvevev broke serve in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead.
Zverev was broken for the first time in this tournament in the next game after 35 holds at the start of his Australian Open campaign. Zvevev broke for the second time in the ninth game to move into a 5-4 lead after a backhand error at the net. Zverev served out the second set 6-4 with a hold at love in the tenth game.
Fearnley earned an early break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Zverev converted his third break-back point in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. The German star broke again in the fifth game before holding serve to take a 4-2 lead. Fearnley saved four break points to hold serve for 3-4. Zverev served out the win with a hold at 15.
Zverev hit 25 winners and won 14 of 17 net points.
Zverev has claimed his 28th match at the Australian Open. He is just one win behind Boris Becker for the most match wins by a German player at this tournament.
“I think my opponent did a great job of maximizing today. He was very aggressive, returning quite well. I am happy with a straight-sets win. The conditions are much more difficult to play compared to previous rounds. In the first few matches there were perfect conditions, no wind at all. Today was obviously very different. Fearnley is an incredible player. He went through all the stages, he went to college, through the Challenger series, and now he is on the big tour playing third round at a Grand Slam. So massive respect for him. He is only getting respect”, said Zverev.