Alcaraz, Sabalenka pass Australian Open tests to reach third round

Carlos Alcaraz withstood a barrage of big hitting from a familiar foe in Yannick Hanfmann in the Australian Open second round on Wednesday, with fellow top seed Aryna Sabalenka also enduring some shaky moments before sealing progress. After a comfortable win in the opening round, top seed Alcaraz was given more of a workout by […]

Carlos Alcaraz withstood a barrage of big hitting from a familiar foe in Yannick Hanfmann in the Australian Open second round on Wednesday, with fellow top seed Aryna Sabalenka also enduring some shaky moments before sealing progress.

After a comfortable win in the opening round, top seed Alcaraz was given more of a workout by Germany’s world number 102 Hanfmann on a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena but rose to the challenge and moved on 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2.

“I knew he was going to play great,” Alcaraz, 22, said.

Meanwhile, despite her issues in the opener, world No 1 Sabalenka refocused to win 6-3 6-1 to stay on track for her third title at Melbourne Park.