Wang makes it to AO third round

MELBOURNE, Australia — China's Wang Xinyu produced a courageous comeback on Thursday against 24th seed Jelena Ostapenko to storm into the Australian Open third round, becoming the only Chinese player in the last 32 of the singles draw, after male compatriots Shang Juncheng and Wu Yibing both lost on Thursday.

Shang went down to Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands while Wu was beaten by Eliot Spizzirri of the United States.

Wang was down a set and a break before digging deep to prevail 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes.

Wang, the world No 46, is China's highest-ranked player in Melbourne after Zheng Qinwen withdrew ahead of the tournament.

There are high hopes for Wang, who has never progressed past the fourth round at a Grand Slam.

She entered the tournament in strong form after reaching her second career final with a runner-up finish to Elina Svitolina in Auckland, before having a dominant straight-sets victory over qualifier Anhelina Kalinina in the first round.

But Ostapenko, a former No 3 and 2017 French Open champion, had the edge in a hard-fought 48-minute first set, driving home a backhand winner at the net to gain a stranglehold.

Wang was in a big hole in the second set before stunningly reeling off four straight games to draw level.

The 24-year-old gained a crucial break in the eighth game to lead 5-3 but couldn't close it out on serve before finally sealing victory.

She next plays Czech 13th seed Linda Noskova, who defeated Australian wildcard Taylah Preston 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Noble Novak

Novak Djokovic dropped a service game for the first time in this Australian Open and then didn't lose another point against Francesco Maestrelli, advancing to the third round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win.

It was Djokovic's 399th win in a Grand Slam singles match, leaving the 24-time major just one more to be the first player ever to reach 400.

The former world No 1, who won his first match by the same comprehensive scoreline, said: "Similar feeling on the court of generally positive."

The fourth seed did not play a warm-up tournament and said his longer off-season was paying off.

"I'm really happy I'm able to play this way, considering the lack of competitive matches for more than two months," the 38-year-old said.

"It's all been positive so far, positive signs."

The break of serve, in the sixth game of the third set Thursday, was almost like Djokovic was doing a rehearsal for later matches. He followed a second serve to the net but then missed the volley to give it up.

It stung the 38-year-old Djokovic, a noted perfectionist. He broke Maestrelli at love in the next game to take a 5-2 lead, smacking the last ball into the net after the Italian, ranked No 141, hit a groundstroke long.

Djokovic held at love in an eight-point roll to finish things off. He's in Australia seeking an 11th title at Melbourne Park and a 25th major overall, which would make him the most decorated tennis player of all time.

"I didn't know much about him until yesterday," Djokovic said of the 23-year-old Maestrelli, who advanced through qualifying to make his Grand Slam main draw debut. "Nevertheless, respect is always there. I don't underestimate anyone.

"He's got a big serve. He's got a big game. He's lacking experience on the big stage but he's got the game to go high."

In the third round, Djokovic will meet Van de Zandschulp, who beat Shang 7-6 (6), 6-2, 6-3.

Djokovic is well known for his sometimes unusual preparations, which include hugging a Brazilian fig tree in Melbourne's botanical gardens.

"That is my oldest friend here in Melbourne," said the Serb, who has won 10 Australian titles, more than anyone in history.

"He has been there to heal my wounds and give me company.

"We have a friendship going over 20 years."

Keys to success

Defending champion Madison Keys was down a double break in the second set before rallying to beat fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5.

"Once I kind of got back momentum I just tried to sink my teeth into the set," Keys said of the second set.

Melbourne is where Keys made her Grand Slam breakthrough 12 months ago, and throughout her entire trip back so far, people have been asking her how confident she is about defending a major for the first time.

"The emotions are maybe just, like, a little bit more heightened," she said. "I think in those tough kind of moments like today, getting down in that second set, just kind of reminding yourself that you have been here before, you figured it out."

Besides, she told the crowd in her on-court interview, winning the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup last year will always remain a permanent highlight.

"That was such an amazing experience and nobody can take that away from me," she said. "Whether or not I do repeat it, I still get to keep Daphne at home!"

Six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek turned on the style to motor past Marie Bouzkova and into the third round Thursday as she limbers up for a crack at a first Melbourne title.

The Polish second seed was in cruise control against the Czech player as the sun went down at John Cain Arena, sprinting to the finish 6-2, 6-3 in front of a vocal group of fans.

In men's play, US qualifier Spizzirri advanced at the expense of China's Wu, 6-2, 6-4, 6-7.

Lorenzo Musetti, the fifth seed, beat fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

American eighth seed Ben Shelton was a comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victor over Australia's Dane Sweeny.

Agencies