A myriad of career-first clashes beckon on Wednesday, headlined by an intriguing showdown between the 2021 US Open women’s champion Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff, a finalist at last year’s Roland Garros who has long been touted as the future of American tennis.
These second round matches make for appointment viewing.
Emma Raducanu v Coco Gauff
Head-to-head: 0-0
Unrivalled anticipation surrounds the birth of this potential women’s tennis rivalry.
At 18, an unheralded Raducanu, ranked world No.150, rewrote history in 2021 during a fairytale three weeks at Flushing Meadows.
DRAW: Australian Open 2023 women's singles
Immediately thrust into the spotlight, the Brit learned to bear the weight of a nation’s expectation – a feat familiar to Gauff, dubbed a prodigy after making her professional debut at 14.
"I definitely can relate to bursting on to the scene and dealing with some pressure," said the agile seventh seed, acknowledging that success of compatriots including Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys has helped ensure she isn’t always the centre of attention.
Raducanu and Gauff broke their respective first round opponents, Tamara Korpatsch and Katerina Siniakova, a combined ten times.
The talented right-handers, despite having never practised together, know that their round of 64 bout will be far less straightforward.
"A really aggressive player, she likes to step in on the returns,” observed Gauff. "I'm just going to have to be ready and accept some return winners that might come my way."
"I’ll play my game and focus on my end of the court,” added the 18-year-old. “I think it will be a good matchup for both of us. I'm excited."
Shaking off an ankle issue sustained in Auckland and hungry for another deep run at a major, 20-year-old Raducanu - in her own words – is "very up for it."
"She's playing really good tennis and looking really solid right now," the affable Brit said of her future foe.
"She's a great athlete with some big weapons… going to be a tough opponent. I'm looking forward to the occasion."
"I think we're both good, young players, we're both coming through… part of the next generation of tennis really. It's going to be a great match.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas v Rinky Hijikata
Head-to-head: 0-0
When Tsitsipas steps on court Down Under, Greek flags proliferate. "I feel like everything is looking very optimistic - the energy of the people can create a very good mental space," said the pensive third seed after his first round win.
But crowd support in Melbourne for the three-time Australian Open semifinalist is likely to be dialled down a notch when he takes on Hijikata, a 21-year-old homegrown wildcard.
DRAW: Australian Open 2023 men's singles
24-year-old Tsitsipas, who notched a tour-topping 61 wins during the 2022 season, has both the weapons and experience to stop the Sydney-born right-hander from doubling his Grand Slam win tally.
But he’ll be wary of the unknown. After all, Hijikata has had a taste of what it’s like to trade blows with a top-5 player, and he stunned Rafael Nadal by nabbing the opening set of their first round battle in New York last August.
Hijikata recovered from a two-set deficit in his marathon first round match over Yannick Hanfmann, saving 12 of 15 break points despite the big occasion.
If he’s able to maintain self-belief and reproduce the aggressive shot-making that sealed his comeback victory, tennis fans are in for a treat.
John Millman v Daniil Medvedev
Head-to-head: 0-0
The Australian wildcard has reached the round of 32 twice before: in 2016 and 2020. To book yet another third round berth, he’ll need to deliver two-time finalist Medvedev a dose of Millmania.
"It's a daunting prospect because you know when you play against him, you have to work for every point, he gives you no points.
AUSSIES AT THE OPEN: Kubler leads quartet into second round
"He covers the court extremely well, he extends the rallies,” Millman said of the seventh seed.
"It's going to be a really tough battle, but I've had a couple of big matches before against some of these big players…I like to test myself against them," said the 33-year-old, who famously upset Roger Federer at the 2018 US Open – a feat he very nearly repeated at the 2020 Australian Open.
"They're the matches you want to play," said the Queenslander, deeming his injury-plagued body to be "in good order."
Millman’s full fitness will be challenged against the former world No.1, who dropped just three games in his 96 minute defeat of Marcos Giron.
Still, Medvedev knows the Australian journeyman, seven years his elder, can be dangerous.
"He's capable of playing some great tennis, so I'm going to have to play my best also," said the crisp-hitting right-hander.