US Open champion Daniil Medvedev will face the mercurial Nick Kyrgios in a tricky second-round clash at the Australian Open on Thursday as the Russian looks to make the most of world number one Novak Djokovic’s absence and collect a second major title.
Medvedev secured a routine win against Henri Laaksonen in his opener but would expect a tougher examination against Aussie Kyrgios, who dazzled the John Cain Arena with some outrageous shot-making in the straight-sets victory over Liam Broady.
“I mean, obviously either way it’s going to be a hell of an experience for me. You know, he’s probably the best player in the world at the moment. So I’m pretty excited… that’s why I play the game,” said Kyrgios, who has won both their previous meetings.
Emma Raducanu, who won her maiden Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows last year, will be hoping to build on her impressive win over Sloane Stephens when she takes on the unseeded Danka Kovinic, while fellow Briton Andy Murray will fight it out against Taro Daniel.
Two more former major winners are in action on Thursday, with third seed Garbine Muguruza drawn against Alize Cornet and Iga Swiatek facing Rebecca Peterson, while world number two Aryna Sabalenka will look to better a wobbly first-round performance when she meets Wang Xinyu.
Margaret Court Arena will play host to two of the most promising youngsters in the men’s game, as fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas continues his quest for a first major title against Sebastian Baez and 11th seed Jannik Sinner faces Steve Johnson.
Order of play on the main showcourts on the fourth day of the Australian Open on Thursday (play begins at 0000 GMT, prefix number denotes seeding):
ROD LAVER ARENA
Alize Cornet (France) v 3-Garbine Muguruza (Spain)
Wang Xinyu (China) v 2-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
NOT BEFORE 0330 GMT
Kamil Majchrzak (Poland) v 32-Alex de Minaur (Australia)
NOT BEFORE 0800 GMT
Nick Kyrgios (Australia) v 2-Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
14-Simona Halep (Romania) v Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil)
MARGARET COURT ARENA
6-Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) v Clara Tauson (Denmark)
Hailey Baptiste (United States) v Maddison Inglis (Australia)
Sebastian Baez (Argentina) v 4-Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece)
NOT BEFORE 0800 GMT
Danka Kovinic (Montenegro) v 17-Emma Raducanu (Britain)
Steve Johnson (United States) v 11-Jannik Sinner (Italy)
JOHN CAIN ARENA
7-Iga Swiatek (Poland) v Rebecca Peterson (Sweden)
NOT BEFORE 0200 GMT
Frances Tiafoe (United States) v 20-Taylor Fritz (United States)
Zhang Shuai (China) v 12-Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)
NOT BEFORE 0630 GMT
Andy Murray (Britain) v Taro Daniel (Japan)
REUTERS