Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 17, 2024 Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki reacts during her second round match against Russia's Maria Timofeeva REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Highlights of the fourth day of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday, all times local (GMT +11):
0055 AVANESYAN UPSETS SAKKARI
Elina Avanesyan bagged a massive upset in the second round, knocking out world number eight Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-4.
The 21-year-old Russian will next face Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, who beat former world number one Elise Mertens earlier in the evening.
2358 DJOKOVIC FIGHTS THROUGH POPYRIN CHALLENGE
Unseeded Australian challenger Alexei Popyrin made top seed Novak Djokovic work hard for the second round win but the defending champion ultimately triumphed 6-3 4-6 7-6(4) 6-3.
The 24-year-old Popyrin hit more aces and winners than Djokovic, but was undone by committing 26 more unforced errors than the world number one.
READ MORE:
Djokovic, Sabalenka go through after Jabeur ousted by talented teen
Djokovic survives Popyrin scare to reach third round
Sabalenka glides past Fruhvirtova into third round
Jabeur shocked, contenders through as rain hits Melbourne
De Minaur has 'more to show' in Australian Open campaign
Sinner swats aside De Jong and dreams of Baywatch bod
Andreeva shocks Jabeur in Australian Open second round
Swiatek aces Kenin test, Alcaraz sees off veteran Gasquet
Home hopes aim to sparkle in Australian Open spotlight
Australian Open order of play on Wednesday
Alcaraz hits his stride to sink gutsy Gasquet at Australian Open
Swiatek suppresses Kenin challenge to reach second round
Australian Open order of play on Thursday
Raducanu pain free and serene as she enjoys winning Grand Slam return
Zverev sees no reason to quit Players' Council pending abuse court case
Briton Draper leaves it all on court, and in the bin
India's Nagal guaranteed big payday after stunning win in Melbourne
Primetime Rybakina fights her way past Pliskova into second round
Tsitsipas hankers for Wimbledon quiet after 'party court' outing
Nadal senses growth opportunity in Saudi, Swiatek on the fence
2248 TSITSIPAS WEATHERS THOMPSON CHALLENGE
Stefanos Tsitsipas bounced back from an error-driven first set loss to beat Australian opponent Jordan Thompson 4-6 7-6(6) 6-2 7-6(4), with the world number seven hitting eight more aces and 22 more winners than Thompson.
Tsitsipas will face 19-year-old Frenchman Luca Van Assche in the third round.
2105 ETCHEVERRY DOWNS MONFILS
Argentine 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry eased past Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-4 6-4 6-4 to clinch a spot in the third round.
2040 MACHAC UPSETS TIAFOE IN STRAIGHT SETS
Unseeded Czech Tomas Machac stunned 17th seed Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-4 7-6(5) to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Next up for world number 75 Machac is a meeting with 15th seed Karen Khachanov.
2020 SABALENKA STORMS PAST TEEN FRUHVIRTOVA
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka blasted her way past 16-year-old Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-3 6-2. Fruhvirtova had no answer to the Belarusian's power hitting as Sabalenka racked up 30 winners compared to just seven from her opponent.
1950 FRECH OUSTS 16TH-SEED GARCIA
Poland's Magdalena Frech won a second set tiebreak to upset Caroline Garcia of France 6-4 7-6(2) and set up a third round meeting with qualifier Anastasia Zakharova.
1935 SHELTON SQUEEZES PAST O'CONNELL
American Ben Shelton beat home hope Christopher O'Connell 6-4 6-1 3-6 7-6(5) to reach the third round.
The 16th seed, who struck 17 aces and 52 winners, will next face France's Adrian Mannarino, who beat Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3 6-3 1-6 2-6 6-3.
1835 KHACHANOV FENDS OFF KOVACEVIC
Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov overcame a third-set wobble to beat American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-3.
1715 HADDAD MAIA BEATS KORNEEVA
Brazilian 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia claimed a 6-1 6-2 win over last year's Australian Open junior champion Alina Korneeva to progress to the third round, where she faces another Russian in Maria Timofeeva.
1638 TIMOFEEVA ASTOUNDED BY NEWFOUND ONLINE FAME
Russian qualifier Timofeeva said she was shocked after seeing her Instagram follower count double in the wake of her win over former world number one Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday.
"I just checked the Instagram. I was like, 'what the hell happened'? I was doing mine for like three years," the 20-year-old told reporters.
"I had 5,000 followers. Now I opened. I gained 8,000 in one match. That's crazy."
1557 GAUFF, KREJCIKOVA ADVANCE
World number four Coco Gauff battled through a difficult opening set and overcame issues with her first serve to beat fellow American Caroline Dolehide 7-6(2) 6-2.
Gauff next faces another American in Alycia Parks, who knocked out 32nd seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist.
Czech ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova also secured a straight sets win, firing off 30 winners and eight aces to eased past Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-2 6-2.
1530 DE MINAUR DOWNS ARNALDI
Australian Alex de Minaur sealed a spot in the third round with a dominant 6-3 6-0 6-3 win over Italian Matteo Arnaldi.
De Minaur said he had a bit of added motivation after being part of the Australia squad that was beaten in the Davis Cup final by an Italy team featuring Arnaldi.
"It's no secret it was heartbreaking to lose to Italy," De Minaur said. "Today was a little bit of revenge for that loss."
1405 'SKINNY' SINNER DREAMS OF BAYWATCH BODY
Jannik Sinner joked that he dreams of beefing up and having a physique like that of actors in the 1990s TV series "Baywatch".
"Tomorrow I have a day off, trying to practice myself into match rhythm. I also will go to the gym. Even if you can’t see it, I'm skinny ... but it's okay," Sinner said after his win over Jesper De Jong.
Asked how much he weighed, the Italian quipped: "It's a secret, guys. Of course it's all muscle. Unfortunately not but it's ok. I'm happy with my physicality at the moment. Of course it's a dream to have the Baywatch physique but it's ok."
1356 SINNER CRUISES INTO THIRD ROUND
Italian fourth seed Sinner barely broke sweat as he struck 26 winners en route to a dominant 6-2 6-2 6-2 victory over Dutch qualifier De Jong.
1333 TIMOFEEVA DOWNS WOZNIACKI
Timofeeva fought back from a set down to end the run of 2018 Australian Open champion Wozniacki 1-6 6-4 6-1.
1320 'MATURE' 16-YEAR-OLD ANDREEVA DEFIES OWN EXPECTATIONS
Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva said she had surprised even herself after playing breathtaking tennis in a straight-sets demolition of Tunisia's Ons Jabeur.
"I'm really inspired by Ons. Before I started to play on the WTA Tour I always watched her matches. Now I had a chance to play her and in the first set I showed some amazing tennis. I didn't expect that from myself," Andreeva said.
"I'm a bit more mature than I was before. Last year I was 15, this year I've changed a lot and I think you can see that on the court."
1308 ANDREEVA STUNS JABEUR
Andreeva knocked out sixth seed Jabeur to reach the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-0 6-2 win.
Three-times Grand Slam finalist Jabeur, who opted to skip this month's warm-up events, was far off her best level throughout the match and committed 24 unforced errors.
1148 WOZNIACKI, TIMOFEEVA GET PLAY UNDER WAY
Former champion Caroline Wozniacki began her second round contest against Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva as scheduled under the roof on John Cain Arena.
Big crowds made their way to Melbourne Park undeterred by the rain and grey skies.
1008 RAIN DELAYS START ON OUTER COURTS
Organisers said the start of play on the outer courts, which was scheduled for 11 a.m., would be delayed until at least mid-day due to persistent rain around Melbourne Park.
