MELBOURNE, JAN 16: World number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner roared back to surge into the Australian Open third round on Thursday as Iga Swiatek set up a showdown with Emma Raducanu.
Taylor Fritz was an emphatic winner in his pursuit of a maiden major title but exciting 18-year-old Joao Fonseca was edged out in a five-set thriller.
Daniil Medvedev, beaten in the Melbourne final last year by Sinner, faces Learner Tien, 19, of the United States in a later match.
Sinner dropped a set for the first time in 14 matches when he lost the opener to Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate.
But he wrested back control after a slow start to go through 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 against the world number 173 at a cool and breezy Rod Laver Arena.
It was Sinner's 16th consecutive victory in an ominous sign for next opponent Marcos Giron.
"It's always tough to play against someone I don't know very well. He was playing much better than I was at the beginning," said the Italian, 23, who also won the US Open last year.
"I have to be very happy with my performance and never take things for granted. Very glad to be in the next round.
"I can improve, yes, but I'll take it."
Fritz swept through to a third-round clash against Gael Monfils with a brutal display of power hitting and has dropped just eight games in the tournament so far.
The American fourth seed was untouchable on Margaret Court Arena, swatting aside Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 in 82 minutes.
Fritz only gave up five games to blitz past Jenson Brooksby in the first round and has spent barely three hours on court.
"Always feels great to come out and play a match like that," said Fritz, last year's US Open finalist who is yet to drop his serve in his pursuit of a first Grand Slam crown.
The supremely talented Fonseca has been tipped for the top by Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, who has said he sees shades of himself in the Brazilian. —AFP
