Residence favorite Alex de Minaur equalled his finest outcome on the Australian Open Saturday when he cruised previous Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-1 to succeed in the fourth spherical for a second consecutive 12 months.
After successful a good first set, during which he twice squandered break benefits, the Australian pulled away, committing simply 12 unforced errors within the second and third units mixed to seal victory after two hours and 10 minutes.
Together with his fourth victory of the season, De Minaur now leads Bonzi 3-0 of their ATP Head2Head collection. He’ll look to maintain his run going when he takes on nine-time champion Novak Djokovic or twenty seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov within the fourth spherical.
The 23-year-old’s finest outcome at a significant got here on the US Open in 2020, when he superior to the quarter-finals.
De Minaur’s countryman Alexei Popyrin meets #NextGenATP American Ben Shelton in a while Saturday. If Popyrin wins, will probably be the primary time since 2015 that two Australian males have reached the fourth spherical in Melbourne. Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios achieved the feat eight years in the past.
In different motion, Tommy Paul wasted little time in reaching the fourth spherical in Melbourne for the primary time. The American overcame countryman Jenson Brooksby 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to arrange a conflict towards five-time finalist Andy Murray or Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
Paul, who’s as much as No. 33 within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Rankings, struck 34 winners and saved all 4 break factors he confronted to seal victory after two hours and 9 minutes. Together with his win, the 25-year-old has equalled his finest Grand Slam outcome, having superior to the fourth spherical at Wimbledon final 12 months.
Brooksby upset second seed Casper Ruud en path to the third spherical, however was unable to seek out the identical stage towards Paul, who now leads the 22-year-old 2-0 of their ATP Head2Head collection.
