In the men's draw, pending The Medvedev-Kyrgios clash, the surprise came from the elimination of Diego Schwartzman (13th) by the 175th in the world and guest in the main draw Christopher O'Connell.

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Sabalenka in, Muguruza out

Sabalenka was forced, as in the 1st round, to reverse a compromised situation.

Facing the 100th world Xinyu Wang, the powerful Belarusian found herself in great danger due to a completely disordered serve.

Six double faults in the very first game, then three in a row to offer the 3-0 and another one, the 12th, to concede the first set...

"I have a lot of experience playing without my serve...I kept telling myself that I had enough other shots in my racket to win games without my serve," she explained. .

But still, after having already had to reverse a compromised situation in the 1st round on Tuesday against the Australian Storm Sanders (128th) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, she again came very close to elimination against to Wang finally dismissed 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Muguruza was helpless against Cornet (61st) who perfectly executed the plan she had set herself.

Result, the French offered herself a nice birthday present two days before celebrating her 32nd birthday with an undisputed victory 6-3, 6-3 over the Spaniard.

French Alizé Cornet serving against Spaniard Garbine Muguruza during her victory in the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, January 20, 2022 William WEST AFP

"I know her well, I played her a few times. The last time I beat her on grass, so I knew what to expect and I knew how to annoy her," commented Cornet.

But between knowing what to do and applying it as I was able to do today, it's true that it's not easy.

I was super focused, I was in my bubble, I just felt good actually.

I had no stray thoughts, I felt that my shots were going well, I was playing relaxed", savored the Frenchwoman.

Finalist of the last Masters (against Muguruza), the Estonian Anett Kontaveit (7th) was also taken out prematurely and curtly, by the Danish Clara Tauson (39th) 6-2, 6-4.

Poland's Iga Swiatek, on the other hand, stormed past Sweden's Rebecca Peterson (82nd) ​​6-2, 6-2.

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Rublev in good port, Schwartzman in nature

Argentinian Diego Schwartzman (13th) was surprised by Australian Christopher O'Connell, 175th at ATP and beneficiary of an invitation, who won 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-4.

At 27, O'Connell is participating in his fourth Australian Open where he remained on a defeat in the 2nd round last year.

On the contrary, the express Andrey Rublev (6th) arrived safely in the 3rd round: the Russian took 1h47 to eliminate the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (93rd) 6-4, 6-2, 6-0, after having taken 1h24 to get rid of the Italian Gianluca Mager (65th), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, in the 1st round.

The clash of the day is scheduled for the start of the night session between the world No.2 and finalist of last year Daniil Medvedev, and the darling of the Australian Open, the whimsical and spectacular Nick Kyrgios.

Due to covid, the gauge at Melbourne Park has been reduced to 50%.

A few hours before facing the favorite of the tournament - since the expulsion of Novak Djokovic - Kyrgios demanded a maximum of spectators.

"Let 'em ALL IN!!! I say 100%%%%%," he tweeted.

Beginning of hostilities at 7:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. from Paris).

© 2022 AFP