Tiafoe to battle De Minaur in high-stakes Melbourne clash
Frances Tiafoe won against Francisco Comesana 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on Wednesday and will play Australian Alex De Minaur, the No 6 seed, in the next round
Frances Tiafoe (Julien Nouet/Tennis Majors)
Frances Tiafoe and Alex De Minaur have set a collision course for the Australian Open third round after both navigated tricky second-round hurdles on Wednesday. While Tiafoe moved through with “no pressure” and a clinical four-set win over Francisco Comesaña, world No. 6 De Minaur was forced to survive an early-round “scare,” weathering a power-hitting storm from Serbian talent Hamad Medjedović to keep home hopes alive.
Frances Tiafoe looks more focused than he has in years. The 29th seed reached the round of 32 in Melbourne for the first time since 2023 with a 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Argentina’s Francisco Comesaña. Currently ranked world No. 34, Tiafoe is playing with a visible sense of freedom, utilizing a heavy forehand and high first-serve efficiency to dictate play. Despite a third-set lapse, the Maryland native remained “locked in,” immediately reclaiming the momentum in the fourth to secure his second consecutive Australian win. “I’m playing with no pressure and lots of confidence,” Tiafoe noted, signaling he is ready for the tournament’s bigger stages.
18-0 for De Minaur but…
However, to reach the second week, he must overcome the “Demon.” Alex De Minaur produced a quintessential gritty performance on Rod Laver Arena, recovering from a set down to defeat Hamad Medjedović 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.
The world No. 6 faced what Jim Courier described as “bully ball” in the opening hour, as the Serbian world No. 90 fired massive winners from both wings. Yet, De Minaur remained patient, trusting his superior fitness to outlast his opponent. “I weathered the storm,” De Minaur admitted. “He was playing some unbelievable tennis… but a five-set match is long, and there are always opportunities.” Following a brief rain delay before the third set, Medjedović appeared to “self-destruct” under the physical pressure, allowing the Australian to win 18 of the final 23 games.
The upcoming third-round clash is one of the marquee matchups of the first week. While De Minaur holds a 3-1 head-to-head lead, and a perfect 18-0 record against lower-ranked opponents in Melbourne, Tiafoe’s current “no pressure” mentality makes him a dangerous outlier. For De Minaur, the pressure of being the highest-seeded Australian man since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006 is a weight he seems increasingly comfortable carrying, but Tiafoe’s shot-making will be his sternest test of the fortnight.
