World no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her efficient start to the tournament and dismissed Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the third round. Sabalenka was largely trouble-free, dictating the game from the baseline and losing just once as she steadily wore down the Chinese qualifier.
“I am confident in my game. I’m serving well and finding my shots early, which is important here.”
In the men’s race, Carlos Alcaraz put in one of the better performances of the day, getting through a tight opening set before pulling away for a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Yannick Hanfmann. Alcaraz was patient in the early exchanges and then raised his level once the match started, using his speed to extend rallies and force mistakes.
“I stayed calm when it was close,” Alcaraz said. “Once I broke through in the first set, I felt more comfortable.”
American Coco Gauff was similarly composed and rolled past Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 in a match that was rarely out of her control. The third seed served cleanly and took the ball early, preventing Danilovic from settling into rallies.
“I think I did a good job of staying aggressive but not rushing,” Gauff said. “That was the key today.”
A more physical test awaited Alexander Zverev, who dropped a set before regrouping to beat Alexandre Muller in four. Zverev leaned on his serve late and held his own after momentum swings, avoiding the kind of early-round exit that has troubled him in the past in Melbourne.
Home favorite Alex de Minaur provided the loudest moment of the day, shaking off a first-set loss and a rain delay before pulling away from Hamad Medjedovic 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. Once play resumed, De Minaur’s speed and consistency proved decisive.
“I knew I had to be patient,” De Minaur said. “Even after losing the first set, I felt like I was playing the right way.”
Among the standout results, teenager Mirra Andreeva recorded one of the most emphatic wins of the tournament, overpowering Maria Sakkari. 6-0, 6-4. Andreeva struck cleanly from both flanks and did not let the former semi-finalist get into his rhythm for a moment.
Not all the news was positive for former champions. Emma Raducanu exited the match in straight sets, undone by inconsistency in key moments as Anastasia Potapova advanced.
As the tournament moves deeper into the second round, the margins become smaller. Day 4 reminded that progress at Melbourne Park often comes not just from genius, but from patience, fortitude and the ability to take risks when they finally present themselves.
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