Muristek
Melbourne, January 20
Daniil Medvedev faced a hostile crowd and a full array of Nick Kyrgios' outbursts and tricks, and still remained calm for long enough to reach the third round at the Australian Open.
The 115th-ranked Kyrgios worked up the crowd, hit tweeners and drop shots, mixed up the pace of his groundstrokes and tossed in an under-arm serve in a bid to ruffle the second-ranked Russian.
Medvedev kept his composure, taking a quick trip to the locker room after losing the third set and recovering to win 7-6 (1) 6-4 4-6 6-2 today on a rowdy Rod Laver Arena.
In an on-court TV interview with former champion Jim Courier, Medvedev was asked how he managed to stay so composed.
"That's the only choice when you get booed between first and second serve," he said, triggering some boos from the crowd. "It's not easy. The (service) games I lost, on the breakpoints, it was the case. It's tough to play."
Raducanu out
British teenage star Emma Raducanu was unable to find the solution to her latest Grand Slam puzzle today, as a combination of a blistered racket hand and an inspired Danka Kovinic derailed her plans in the second round.
The 17th seed, who rocketed to fame by winning last year's US Open as a qualifier without losing a set, gritted her teeth through the discomfort to stay in contention in a tense clash but fell to a 6-4 4-6 6-3 defeat. "I was struggling with my hand before the match. There were some people in my team that maybe didn't want me to play, but I wanted to go out there and fight through it," Raducanu said. — Agencies
Day 4: Highlights
HALEP STORMS
Former world No. 1 Simona Halep put in a clinical performance to see off Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2 6-0 and progress to the third round.
No hurray for Murray
Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel ended Andy Murray's challenge in emphatic fashion as he sealed a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over the three-time Major winner.
MARATHON CONTEST
Felix Auger Aliassime staved off a strong challenge from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to win 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 7-6(5) 7-6(4) in four hours and 19 minutes and book his place in the third round.
Tsitsipas on track
In-form 12th seed Elena Rybakina became the latest leading women's player to exit the Australian Open after she retired injured while trailing 6-4 1-0 against China's Zhang Shuai.