Melbourne Park came alive on Wednesday as the second round of the Australian Open delivered a mix of straight-set cruises and grueling five-set battles. Top seeds like Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka powered through, but the day belonged in part to Latin American players who showed grit and skill on the hard courts.
Francisco Cerundolo led the charge for Argentina, storming into the third round with a dominant performance, while compatriots Tomas Etcheverry and Sebastian Baez set up intriguing clashes ahead. The action unfolded under sunny skies, with crowds packing Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena for the biggest names.
The men’s draw saw several high-profile wins, starting with world number one Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard, fresh off a strong start to the season, faced a tricky test from Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann. Alcaraz dropped the first set in a tiebreak but quickly found his rhythm, winning 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2. He broke Hanfmann’s serve multiple times in the later sets, showcasing his trademark forehand and court coverage. Alcaraz now meets France’s Corentin Moutet, who advanced after American Michael Zheng retired in their match.
Another Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, endured a marathon against American Reilly Opelka. Davidovich Fokina took the first two sets but had to fight back after Opelka leveled the match. In the decider, the 14th seed held firm for a 6-3, 7-6(3), 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 victory. His ability to handle Opelka’s massive serve—over 200 km/h at times—proved decisive.
Latin American players provided some of the day’s highlights, with Argentina’s contingent standing out. Francisco Cerundolo, seeded 18th, dismantled Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour. Cerundolo’s baseline game overwhelmed Dzumhur, who struggled to hold serve. The Argentine converted break points efficiently and kept unforced errors low, setting up a third-round showdown with Russia’s Andrey Rublev. Rublev had earlier outlasted Portugal’s Jaime Faria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in a match that tested his consistency.
Tomas Etcheverry also advanced for Argentina, defeating Britain’s Arthur Fery 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-3. Etcheverry’s powerful groundstrokes wore down Fery after a tight first set, and he dominated the rallies thereafter. He faces Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik next, who beat Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 7-5, 6-4, 7-5. Bublik’s unorthodox style, including underarm serves, kept Fucsovics off balance.
Sebastian Baez, another Argentine, prepared for his all-Latin clash after both he and Italy’s Luciano Darderi won their first-round matches earlier in the week. Baez edged France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in five sets on Tuesday, while Darderi took out Chile’s Cristian Garin in straight sets. Their second-round matchup promised fireworks, with Baez’s return game clashing against Darderi’s serve. Unfortunately for Argentina, Thiago Agustin Tirante fell to American Tommy Paul 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, and Francisco Comesana lost to Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 despite a spirited third-set comeback.
Portugal’s Nuno Borges upset Australia’s Jordan Thompson 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, rallying after dropping the opener. Borges’ steady play from the baseline frustrated the home crowd, and he advances to face an undetermined opponent.
On the top half, Australia’s Alex de Minaur thrilled fans with a comeback win over Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. De Minaur shook off a slow start to dominate, breaking serve repeatedly. Germany’s Alexander Zverev overcame a mid-match dip to beat France’s Alexandre Muller 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Russia’s Daniil Medvedev recovered from losing the first set to defeat France’s Quentin Halys 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
In the women’s draw, top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her title defense with a routine 6-3, 6-1 win over China’s Zhuoxuan Bai. Sabalenka’s power overwhelmed Bai, who couldn’t match the Belarusian’s intensity. Third seed Coco Gauff advanced past Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, though the match went the distance in spots, with Gauff’s speed and defense proving key.
Other notable women’s results included Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina beating Czechia’s Linda Klimovicova 7-5, 6-1, Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez defeating Hungary’s Anna Bondar 6-2, 6-4, and Russia’s Diana Shnaider overcoming Australia’s Talia Gibson 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva routed France’s Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 6-2, and American Hailey Baptiste dispatched Australia’s Storm Hunter 6-2, 6-1. Russia’s Anastasia Potapova upset Britain’s Emma Raducanu 7-6(3), 6-2 in a battle of former prodigies.
Latin representation in the women’s side was lighter, but Mexico’s Renata Zarazua teamed with Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic in doubles, though they lost their first-round match. Chile’s Alexa Guarachi, a doubles specialist, was set for later action.
The day wasn’t without drama. Rain briefly threatened outer courts, but play continued smoothly. Injuries played a role too, with Zheng’s retirement highlighting the physical toll of Grand Slam tennis. As the tournament progresses, the third round shapes up with mouthwatering matchups, including Alcaraz versus Moutet and Cerundolo against Rublev.
For Latin tennis fans, the performances from Cerundolo and Etcheverry offer hope. Cerundolo, in particular, looks sharp after his quick dispatch of Dzumhur, his movement and shot-making evoking memories of past Argentine runs in Melbourne. With Baez still in contention, the region could see multiple players in the last 32—a strong showing in a draw dominated by Europeans and Americans.
As night fell on Melbourne Park, the buzz built for Thursday’s action, where more seeds aim to solidify their paths. The Australian Open remains wide open, with surprises lurking around every corner.
