Americans Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz ease into 3rd round, De Minaur thrills home crowd

Listen to Story American stars had a field day on Wednesday, January 17 at the Australian Open as the likes of Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz eased into the third round of the season's first Grand Slam. 23 year old Alycia Parks also won her second round match while local star Alex de Minaur put on a cinical show in the morning session of the day.

4th seed Coco Gauff showcased a lot of resilience in her second round match, overcoming a challenging start against fellow American Caroline Dolehide. Gauff, the US Open champion, found herself in a precarious position when Dolehide broke back after trailing 4 1 in the first set. The match intensified as Dolehide served for the set, but Gauff's determination shone through as she broke back to force a tie break, which she dominated with powerful forehands.

Securing the first set, Gauff maintained momentum, executing two breaks in the second set to win 7 6(2), 6 2. Her victory sets up an intriguing third round clash with compatriot Alycia Parks. Alex de Minaur avenged his Davis Cup heartache with a commanding performance against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi in the second round of the Australian Open 2024.

The Australian, seeded 10th, delighted the home crowd at Rod Laver Arena with a masterclass in precision and speed, dismantling Arnaldi in straight sets, 6 3, 6 0, 6 3. His efficient play saw him concede the fewest games in an Australian Open match of his career, setting up a third round encounter with Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli.

"It’s no secret it was heartbreaking at the end of the year losing to Italy in Davis Cup final. But I told the boys we’re gonna be back there. Today was a little bit of revenge for Australia," Alex de Minaur said after his win. Meanwhile, 12th seed Taylor Fritz secured a comfortable win over Hugo Gaston of France, days after he played a 5 setter in the first round.

Fritz's aggressive gameplay was evident as he fired 8 aces and hammered 65 winners, reflecting his strategic dominance throughout the match. Despite a challenging five set battle in the first round against Facundo Diaz Acosta, Fritz demonstrated resilience and an improved performance to overcome Gaston with relative ease.

Alycia Parks made a statement in Melbourne by securing her spot in the third round with a notable victory over Canadian Leylah Fernandez. Parks, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, showcased her tenacity and skill by rallying to win the first set 7 5. She continued her impressive form into the second set, winning it 6 4 and sealing the match in one hour and 43 minutes.

This win marks a significant milestone for Parks, as it is her first time reaching the third round of a major tournament. Beatriz Haddad Maia, the Brazilian 10th seed, delivered a dominant performance in her second round match at the Australian Open 2024. She swiftly defeated Alina Korneeva, last year's Australian Open junior champion, with a convincing scoreline of 6 1, 6 2.

Haddad Maia's powerful groundstrokes and strategic play were too much for Korneeva, allowing the Brazilian to advance to the third round with confidence. She will face Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva, aiming to continue her strong run in the tournament, in the third round..