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On the heels of breakthrough 2022 campaigns, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe had been supposed to guide the American cost on the boys’s facet in 2023.
That would nonetheless occur–it simply received’t on the Australian Open.
Fritz, the No. 8 seed, fell sufferer to the “Netflix curse” and crashed out within the second spherical to world No. 113 Alexei Popyrin. Nearly 24 hours later when third-round motion obtained underway in Melbourne, Tiafoe misplaced to Karen Khachanov in 4 units after blowing a 6-1 lead within the fourth-set tiebreaker.
simply these two outcomes by themselves, you’d assume that the 2023 Aussie Open was nothing in need of a practice wreck for the American males.
Fairly the opposite. Even with out Fritz and Tiafoe, that is shaping as much as be their most profitable Grand Slam since Andy Roddick triumphed on the 2003 U.S. Open.
Tiafoe was one among eight People who reached the third spherical at Melbourne Park, joined by Sebastian Korda (now within the fourth spherical after ousting Daniil Medvedev in straight units), Mackenzie McDonald, Jenson Brooksby, Tommy Paul, J.J. Wolf, Michael Mmoh, and Ben Shelton. Every of the highest two seeds on the season’s first slam obtained bounced by Workforce USA: No. 1 Rafael Nadal by the hands of McDonald (albeit an injury-plagued consequence) and No. 2 Casper Ruud courtesy of a typical Brooksby efficiency that left the opponent utterly baffled.
McDonald, who handled an damage of his personal two days after upsetting Nadal, preceded Tiafoe by the exit. However Brooksby, Paul, Wolf, Mmoh, and Shelton are all nonetheless alive within the backside half of the bracket. No less than two are assured to affix Korda within the final 16, as Brooksby vs. Paul and Wolf vs. Mmoh make up a pair of all-American matchups on Saturday’s schedule. 1 / 4 (eight of 32) of the Aussie Open third-round lineup consisted of america flag and the identical (4 of 16) would be the case for the fourth spherical if Shelton defeats Popyrin.
“That’s going to be one other battle for certain,” Brooksby stated of his upcoming contest with Paul. “Quite a lot of the People are doing very well proper now and we’re all pushing one another.”
They’re not simply pushing but additionally beating the very best gamers on this planet. Simply if you thought it couldn’t get any higher for the celebrities and stripes after Brooksby ousted Ruud, Korda’s upset of Medvedev–a serious champion and up to date world No. 1–was even larger.
“I at all times was instructed how good of a tennis participant I may be,” Korda commented. “Now (I’m) simply getting the appropriate folks round me, constructing a very strong crew, simply trusting the method. I’m rising as an individual (and) as a participant. (I’m) simply attempting to do the appropriate issues; simply have enjoyable, get pleasure from it. Good issues will occur.”
They’re taking place alright.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
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