Australian Open Second Round Sees Aussie Contingent Shrink Further
The local hopes at the Australian Open have taken another significant hit in the second round, with big-serving opponents proving too strong for Rinky Hijikata and Dane Sweeny. The defeats have further reduced the surviving Australian contingent, adding to the challenges faced by home players in the tournament.
Hijikata Struggles Against Vacherot's Power Game
Rinky Hijikata was the first of five Australians to compete on Thursday, but he found himself on the back foot early against the 30th seed, Valentin Vacherot, inside Kia Arena. Broken in the second game, Hijikata missed four crucial opportunities to break straight back and quickly fell behind 0-5.
Vacherot, boosted by 10 aces delivered at an average speed of nearly 200km/h, maintained his dominance to secure a two-sets-to-love lead in just over an hour. Despite this setback, Hijikata showed resilience by staying in the contest. He managed to break in the ninth game of the third set and held to love, forcing the match into a fourth set.
However, Vacherot regained control, winning every point on his first serve and ultimately clinching the victory with a final break of serve. The match ended 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in favour of Vacherot, who is now into the third round of a grand slam for the first time in his career.
Reflecting on his performance, Vacherot said, "First time for me playing on one of the arenas here, had a lot of fun. Not easy, of course, to play against an Aussie with the crowd behind him but it was pretty respectful along the way, so I'm happy." This win adds to his recent success, including a surprise victory at the Shanghai Masters late last year.
Sweeny Overwhelmed by Shelton's Serve
Meanwhile, qualifier Dane Sweeny faced his own formidable challenge against the eighth seed, Ben Shelton. Sweeny struggled to handle Shelton's powerful serve, conceding 12 aces in the first two sets alone. Compounding his difficulties, Sweeny committed 18 unforced errors compared to just nine winners, allowing Shelton to take a commanding 6-3, 6-2 lead after an hour of play.
This result highlights the tough competition faced by Australian players as they aim to advance in their home grand slam.
Upcoming Matches for Australian Players
Looking ahead, Aussie wildcard James Duckworth will hope to avoid a similar fate and join world No.6 Alex de Minaur in the third round. Duckworth is set to face world No.2 Jannik Sinner inside Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night, in what promises to be a challenging encounter.
On the women's side, qualifier Maddison Inglis is up against German veteran Laura Siegemund, while wildcard Taylah Preston will take on the 13th seed, Linda Noskova. These matches offer further opportunities for Australian players to make their mark in the tournament.
Additionally, a host of Australians are in action in doubles, including former champions Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, who will compete against countrymen Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans. This adds an exciting dimension to the local participation, with more results expected to unfold as the Australian Open continues.
