TAYLOR FRITZ VS. ALEX MICHELSEN

 

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2025 DRAW: WHO WILL THE GREEKS PLAY?

Nick Kyrgios practices for the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Photo: AAP/Joel Carrett

Playing his first Grand Slam since reaching the 2022 US Open quarter-finals, Nick Kyrgios faces British world No.86 Jacob Fearnley, provided he can overcome an abdominal strain that forced his withdrawal from an exhibition match this week in Melbourne.

It’s a good outcome for Kyrgios who has entered the event with a protected ranking after his long injury lay-off.

Fearnley doesn’t necessarily represent a tough encounter for Kyrgios.

The 29-year-old said serving is off the cards for a few days to give himself every chance to be fit for the start of the Open on Sunday.

He’ll carefully monitor the final stages of his preparations for his home slam after a fresh injury threatened his involvement.

Thanasi Kokkinakis has drawn Roman Safiullin, in what will be the pairs first ever meeting, while Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is 11th seed, comes up against Alex Michelsen.

The two have played once before in Tokyo last year where the American bested the Greek.

On the women’s side, 31st seed Maria Sakkari comes up against Camila Osorio.

The Australian Open begins on Sunday. Schedules are released at approximately 6pm AEDT on the day prior to play.

All four are scheduled to play on Sunday January 12, with exact times to be confirmed. Subject to change*

With AAP

ATP ROUNDUP: KAREN KHACHANOV ADVANCES IN DOHA

Karen Khachanov. Reuters 

 Second-seeded Karen Khachanov recorded a 6-4, 7-5 win over Fabian Marozsan on Wednesday in the second round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

Khachanov, of Russia, fired six aces and benefited from three double faults by his opponent to dispatch the Italian in 88 minutes.

Top-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia cruised past France's Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-4.

The third seed, Ugo Humbert of France, also sailed through to the quarterfinal round with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Pavel Kotov of Russia.

Fourth-seeded Alexander Bublik had a tougher time in his match against Marton Fucsovics of Hungary. The Kazakhstan native overcame six double faults and rebounded from a first-set misstep in his 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.

Also Wednesday, Alexei Popyrin of Australia notched a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8), 6-1 victory over Frenchman Hugo Grenier, and Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori posted a 6-3, 6-3 win over Christopher O'Connell of Australia.

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray of Great Britain fell in a tough three-set match to Czech 18-year-old Jakub Mensik, who ousted No. 5 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain in the first round. Mensik needed three hours, 26 minutes to beat Murray 7-6 (6), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4).

France's Gael Monfils eked out a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (2) victory over China's Zhang Zhizhen.