On Day Four of the 2022 Australian Open the Aussie action continued. Wildcard Chris O’Connell caused a huge upset, while Sam Stosur and Nick Kyrgios both fell out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, after today’s victory over Kamil Majchrzak, Alex de Minaur has now matched his personal best result at his home Slam.
Aussies in Action – O’Connell straight set upset to reach round three, while Kyrgios electrifies as he loses in four
Australia’s Chris O’Connell, ranked 145thin the world, achieved the biggest feat of his career so far, taking out the 13thseed Diego Schwartzman in straight sets.
The 27-year-old utilised the slice backhand to its full effect, making Schwartzman struggle to generate his own pace. In the big points, O’Connell stuck to his guns and went for his shots, while the Argentinian tightened up and made critical errors.
After sealing the first set in a nail-biting tiebreak and the second after a late break of serve to love in at 4-4, it was relatively smooth sailing for O’Connell in the third to finish it off.
O’Connell’s victory was his first over a top 20 player and means he is guaranteed to collect at least a $221,000 cheque at the end of the tournament.
Diego Schwartzman [13] | 66 | 4 | 4 |
Chris O'Connell [WC] | 78 | 6 | 6 |
On Rod Laver Arena, Alex de Minaur quick feet and court coverage allowed him to send home Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak in straight sets to put himself through to the third round.
More disappointing results came for 37-year-old Sam Stosur, who has now retired from playing singles tennis after an expected loss to the tenth seed Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Similarly, Nick Kyrgios lost to tournament favourite Daniil Medvedev in a blockbuster four-setter. Kyrgios was able to claim the third set after a series of magic shots, including a tweener and multiple underarm serves, but the Russian was too good in the end – despite the boisterous crowd (which he acknowledged in the post-match interview).
However, Madison Inglis was able to continue her run after getting past American Hailey Baptiste in a roller coaster of a three-set match.
There was some Aussie action in the doubles, with two all-Australian teams advancing. Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell won in straight sets, and Dane Sweeney and Li Tu won after their opponents retired mid-match.
Fifth-seeded John Peers maintained his doubles reputation with a win over all-Aussie team Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith, and wildcard Aussies Andrew Harris and Aleksander Vukic lost in two tiebreakers. John Millman's doubles hopes have also been lost after a 2-6, 2-6 defeat.
In the women’s doubles, Aussie combo Kimberly Birrell and Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz won a tight one in three sets, and Arina Rodinova lost her match to the one seed.
In the mixed doubles, married couple and doubles partners Daria and Luke Saville fell to the fourth seed, while Alex Bolt and Lizette Cabrera also couldn’t make it past the opening match, losing in a super tiebreak.
Kamil Majchrzak | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Alex de Minaur | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Samantha Stosur | 2 | 2 |
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [10] | 6 | 6 |
Nick Kyrgios | 61 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
Daniil Medvedev [2] | 77 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
Hailey Baptiste | 64 | 6 | 2 |
Maddison Inglis | 77 | 2 | 6 |
Matthew Ebden/Max Purcell | 77 | 6 |
Jonathan Erlich/Andrs Goransson | 65 | 3 |
Li Tu/Dane Sweeney | 5 |
Franko Skugor/Andrey Golubev | 2 |
Mackenzie McDonald/John Millman | 2 | 2 |
Jonny O'Mara/Andrei Vasilevski | 6 | 6 |
Aleksander Vukic/Andrew Harris | 62 | 64 |
Sam Querrey/Austin Krajicek | 77 | 77 |
Luke Saville/John-Patrick Smith | 3 | 5 |
John Peers/Filip Polasek [5] | 6 | 7 |
Katerina Siniakova/Barbora Krejcikova [1] | 6 | 6 |
Lesley Pattinama Kerkhova/Arina Rodionova | 0 | 2 |
Tatjana Maria/Madison Brengle | 4 | 77 | 3 |
Han Xinyun/Monique Adamczak | 6 | 61 | 6 |
Arantxa Rus/Nuria Parrizas-Diaz | 3 | 6 | 4 |
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz/Kimberly Birrell | 6 | 3 | 6 |
Luke Saville/Daria Saville | 65 | 5 |
Alexa Guarachi/Tim Pulz | 77 | 7 |
Michael Venus/Erin Routliffe | 65 | 7 | 13 |
Alex Bolt/Lizette Cabrera | 77 | 5 | 11 |
Related Stories
Around Melbourne Park – Top women fall short while top men advance
Three top-12 seeds in the women’s singles have been sent packing today. Garbine Muguruza, Anett Kontaveit both lost in massive upsets, and Elena Rybakina had to retire hurt. Last year’s US Open winner, Emma Radacanu, also lost, as she battled blisters on her hand.
Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka managed to get through in three sets, despite her serving woes continuing, serving up 12 double faults in the first set alone, and 19 for the whole match.
Seventh seed Iga Swiatek advanced with ease, along with former world number one Simona Halep and Elise Mertens.
In the men’s, the majority of the top seeds were able to claim their expected victories. Andrey Rublev won in straight sets, including to love in the final set. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime both had slight challenges, dropping their second sets but winning in four.
Veteran Marin Cilic advanced in four sets, but former world number one Andy Murray went out in straights after his gruesome round one match.
Serve and volleyer Maxime Cressy’s old-school tactics prevailed once again, while Daniel Evans got a walkover.
Alize Cornet | 6 | 6 |
Garbine Muguruza [3] | 3 | 3 |
Anett Kontaveit [6] | 2 | 4 |
Clara Tauson | 6 | 6 |
Danka Kovinic | 6 | 4 | 6 |
Emma Raducanu [17] | 4 | 6 | 3 |
Zhang Shuai | 6 | 1 |
Elena Rybakina [12] | 4 | 0 |
Iga Swiatek [7] | 6 | 6 |
Rebecca Peterson | 2 | 2 |
Andrey Rublev [5] | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Ricardas Berankis | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Sebastian Baez | 61 | 77 | 3 | 4 |
Stefanos Tsitsipas [4] | 77 | 65 | 6 | 6 |
Felix Auger-Aliassime [9] | 77 | 64 | 77 | 77 |
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | 64 | 77 | 65 | 64 |
Andy Murray | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Taro Daniel | 6 | 6 | 6 |