The Australian Open has seen its local heroes face tough challenges, with the home-grown contingent taking a hit in the second round. The battle of the big servers proved too much for our Aussie stars.
Rinky Hijikata, one of the five Aussies in action on Thursday, found himself up against the powerful Valentin Vacherot. Hijikata struggled early on, going down 0-5 after missing crucial break points. But he fought back, breaking Vacherot in the third set and holding serve to force a fourth set. However, Vacherot's consistent serving, with an impressive average speed of nearly 200km/h, proved decisive, and he sealed the match 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
And here's where it gets controversial... Vacherot, a late bloomer who surprised many by winning the Shanghai Masters late last year, has now reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. He admitted, "It's my first time playing on one of the arenas here, and I had a lot of fun. Playing against an Aussie with the crowd behind him wasn't easy, but it was a respectful atmosphere."
Meanwhile, qualifier Dane Sweeny faced a tough battle against the eighth seed, Ben Shelton. Sweeny struggled with Shelton's powerful serving, committing errors and falling behind in the first two sets. But he showed his fighting spirit, holding serve in a lengthy first game of the third set. Shelton eventually broke through, and went on to win 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Shelton praised Sweeny, saying, "Dane's a great competitor, a tough guy to play against. He's electric, and it's clear why Aussie crowds love him."
And this is the part most people miss... Shelton, despite his victory, seemed to appreciate the Aussie spirit, saying, "I love the chants, the noise, and the passion you guys have for the sport."
With eleven Australians making it to the second round, the question remains: Will anyone join Alex de Minaur in the third round? James Duckworth, a wildcard entry, will face a tough battle against world No.2 Jannik Sinner on Thursday night. On the women's side, Maddison Inglis is the last Aussie female standing after a hard-fought win, while Taylah Preston put up a brave fight against the 13th seed.
The Australian Open continues to deliver thrilling matches, but will our local heroes be able to keep up the fight? Only time will tell. What do you think? Will we see an Aussie breakthrough in the next round? Let us know in the comments!
