THINGS started to heat up in the men’s singles draw of the Australian Open yesterday as a couple of the seeds were bundled out of the tournament.

One of those was American Tommy Paul, who lost to Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

In five set, almost four hour tussle, the Serbian ultimately prevailed over the 14th seed 6–4, 3-6, 2-6, 7⁹-6⁷, 6-0.

Paul produced six more aces than Kecmanovic, but crucially it was the latter who won the double faults count. The Serbian also had a higher first serve in percentage, and higher percentages of wins off both first and second serve. Interestingly though, it was the American who had more winners and a higher percentage of break points won.

Things do not get any easier for Kecmanovic in Round 4, with his next opponent being the second seed Carlos Alcaraz, who won yesterday after his opponent Juncheng Shang had to retire in the third set after already being two sets down.

Paul was not the only seed to go down yesterday, with Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov and Tallon Griekspoor all losing.

RESULTS:

2024 Australian Open – Day 7

C. Alcaraz [2] def. J. Shang [WC] 6 – 1, 6 – 1, 1 – 0 (RET)
A. Zverev [6] def. A. Michelsen 6 – 2, 7⁷ – 6⁴, 6 – 2
M. Kecmanovic def. T. Paul [14] 6 – 4, 3 – 6, 2 – 6, 7⁹ – 6⁷, 6 – 0  
D. Medvedev [3] def. F. Auger-Aliassime [27] 6 – 3, 6 – 4, 6 – 3
H. Hurkacz [9] def. U. Humbert [21] 3 – 6, 6 – 1, 7⁷ – 6⁴, 6 -3
C. Norrie [19] def. C. Ruud [11] 6 – 4, 6⁷ – 7⁹, 6 – 4, 6 – 3
N. Borges def. G. Dimitrov [13] 6³ – 7⁷, 6 – 4, 6 – 2, 7⁸ – 6⁶
A. Cazaux [WC] def. T. Griekspoor [28] 6 – 3, 6 – 3, 6 – 1