Local hopes Rinky Hijikata and John Millman face enormous hurdles to the third round of the Australian Open, with the pair taking on two of the best players in the world on Night 3 at Melbourne Park.
Hijikata will take on third seed and three-time Australian Open semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, while Millman faces last year’s finalist and former world number one Daniil Medvedev.
Medvedev and Hijikata have met once before on the Tour, with Medvedev winning through in straight sets in Los Cabos last August.
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Millman and Tsitsipas have also met once, with Tsitsipas winning in 2018 in Sweden in a deciding set.
Elsewhere, a whole host of matches are still to be completed after rain delays left most of the courts at Melbourne Park unplayable.
KUBLER v KHACHANOV
On John Cain Arena, Jason Kubler faced a stiff test of his own, matched up against 18th seed Karen Khachanov.
Khachanov ended Nick Kyrgios’ US Open title hopes last year, defeating the Australian in a five-set quarterfinal.
It was a difficult start for Kubler, who was broken by Khachanov before settling into a rhythm on his serve.
He forced Khachanov to serve for the set at 5-4, but he did just that to take the opener in 42 minutes.
Down a break at 4-5, Kubler generated a break point chance.
What followed was an engrossing 70-shot rally, which went the way of Kubler following a net cord, sending the crowd into meltdown.
The rally narrowly avoided setting history, with Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils still holding the record from a 2013 exchange at the event.
Going ahead 6-5, Kubler then earned several break points, converting one of them to take the second set 7-5 and get the John Cain Arena crowd even more fired up.
MILLMAN v MEDVEDEV
Millman started poorly against Medvedev, getting broken to love by the former US Open champion.
Undeterred, however, Millman broke straight back.
Night 3 Order Of Play (all times AEDT)
Rod Laver Arena
Matches from 7pm
Emma Raducanu (GBR) v [7] Coco Gauff (USA)
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) v Rinky Hijikata (AUS)
Margaret Court Arena
Matches from 7pm
John Millman (AUS) v [7] Daniil Medvedev (AUS)
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v [13] Danielle Collins (USA)
John Cain Arena
Matches from 5pm
[18] Karen Khachanov v Jason Kubler (AUS)
[22] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) v Kaja Juvan (SLO)
Kia Arena
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-1 6-2 4-2, Fognini serving 15-40
[8] Daria Kasatkina v Varvara Gracheva
Olivia Gadecki (AUS) v Marta Kostyuk (UKR)
[11] Cameron Norrie (GBR) vs Constant Lestienne (FRA)
Suspended matches from late Tuesday night
Kia Arena – Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-1 6-2 4-2, Fognini serving 15-40
1573 Arena – Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v Brandon Holt (USA) 4-6 6-1 2-4, Holt serving
Court 3 – John Isner (USA) v Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 7-6(5) 3-4, Isner serving 30-0
Court 5 – Joao Sousa (POR) v [24] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 3-6 1-0, Bautista Agut serving
Court 6 – Alison Riske-Amritraj (USA) v Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 4-1, Vondrousova serving 30-15
Court 7 – Claire Liu (USA) v Madison Brengle (USA) 4-2, Liu serving 0-15
Court 12 – Maxime Cressy (USA) v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 7-6(2) 7-5 3-6 2-2, Cressy serving
Court 13 – Michael Mmoh (USA) v Laurent Lokoli (FRA) 4-6 6-2 7-6(7) 4-6 3-1, Lokoli serving 30-30
Court 15 – Donna Vekic (CRO) v Oksana Selekhmeteva (RUS) 6-2 2-6 6-6 [5-1 in match tiebreak], Vekic serving
Court 17 – Lauren Davis (USA) v Danka Kovinic (MNE) 1-6 7-5 4-1, Kovinic serving 15-0
