Australian Open Lookahead: Andy Murray tries the 3rd round

MELBOURNE – PREVIEW ON THURSDAY

Andy Murray is looking to bolster his first-round win over Matteo Berrettini by winning again and earning a trip to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time since 2017. Murray, 35, is a three-time Grand Slam champion and five-time runner-up at Melbourne Park. He played Berrettini for more than 4 1/2 hours in the first round. Novak Djokovic is also in action in the second round as he continues his quest for a record-bending 10th Australian Open title and 22nd Grand Slam trophy overall. That would equal the current men’s record held by Rafael Nadal, who lost in the second round on Wednesday after injuring his hip. In Thursday’s most fascinating women’s game, WTA Finals champion and No. 4 Caroline Garcia meets 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.

FORECAST FOR THURSDAY

cloudy. Maximum temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Celsius).

WEDNESDAY’S KEY RESULTS

Women’s second round: No. 1 Iga Swiatek def. Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-3; No. 3 Jessica Pegula def. Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 7-6 (5); No. 6 Maria Sakkari beat Diana Shnaider 3-6, 7-5, 6-3; Anhelina Kalinina defeated No. 15 Petra Kvitova 7-5, 6-4.

Men’s second round: Mackenzie McDonald def. No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 7-5; No.6 Felix Auger-Aliassime def. Alex Molcan 3-6 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2; No. 15 Jannik Sinner defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; No.16 Frances Tiafoe defeated Shang Juncheng 6-4 6-4 6-1.

STAT OF THE DAY

2 – How many times has Nadal lost before the quarterfinals at the Australian Open since 2005 – a first round elimination in 2016 and then losing in the second round on Wednesday.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s fine. It’s allowed. It’s allowed. I won’t get a fine or anything.” – Maria Sakkari, defending her coach’s orders during her match, which is allowed for the first time at the Australian Open this year .

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