Native hopes Rinky Hijikata and John Millman face monumental hurdles to the third spherical of the Australian Open, with the pair taking over two of the very best gamers on the planet on Night time 3 at Melbourne Park.

Hijikata will tackle third seed and three-time Australian Open semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, whereas Millman faces final yr’s finalist and former world primary Daniil Medvedev.

Medvedev and Hijikata have met as soon as earlier than on the Tour, with Medvedev profitable via in straight units in Los Cabos final August.

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Millman and Tsitsipas have additionally met as soon as, with Tsitsipas profitable in 2018 in Sweden in a deciding set.

Elsewhere, an entire host of matches are nonetheless to be accomplished after rain delays left a lot of the courts at Melbourne Park unplayable.

Not for the primary time on the match, the standard of this yr’s tennis balls got here below scrutiny from one of many world’s prime gamers.

Felix Auger-Aliassime ultimately prevailed in 5 units over his unseeded opponent, however raised queries over the standard of the balls in the course of the match.

“I by no means complain about this however the balls aren’t bouncing,” Auger-Aliassime may very well be heard saying.

“I imply, we’re hitting regular however I don’t know. I do know you’ll be able to’t do something, however I don’t know if it’s the batch of cans but it surely’s horrible.”

The umpire replied: “I’ll double test this to verify they’re feeling regular.”

Auger-Aliassime handed the ball to the umpire however was fuming.

“I’m bouncing the ball to serve, I do know, I do know (what it’s alleged to really feel like),” the sixth seed mentioned.

“I’ve by no means seen it earlier than.”

Rafael Nadal additionally questioned the standard of the balls forward of this yr’s occasion, which he exited on Wednesday after an injury-marred defeat by the hands of American Mackenzie McDonald.

KUBLER v KHACHANOV

On John Cain Enviornment, Jason Kubler confronted a stiff check of his personal, matched up in opposition to 18th seed Karen Khachanov.

Khachanov ended Nick Kyrgios’ US Open title hopes final yr, defeating the Australian in a five-set quarterfinal.

It was a troublesome begin for Kubler, who was damaged by Khachanov earlier than settling right into a rhythm on his serve.

He pressured Khachanov to serve for the set at 5-4, however he did simply that to take the opener in 42 minutes.

Down a break at 4-5, Kubler generated a break level probability.

What adopted was an engrossing 70-shot rally, which went the best way of Kubler following a web wire, sending the group into meltdown.

The rally narrowly averted setting historical past, with Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils nonetheless holding the report from a 2013 alternate on the occasion.

Going forward 6-5, Kubler then earned a number of break factors, changing considered one of them to take the second set 7-5 and get the John Cain Enviornment crowd much more fired up.

Kubler continued to carry his personal from that time on, holding serve whereas urgent Khachanov on return.

Halfway via the set, Khachanov would break serve after which, with a set level at 5-4, got here via after one other prolonged rally to take a two-sets-to-one lead.

Khachanov in the end pulled via, nonetheless, breaking Kubler on a number of events within the fourth set to prevail 6-2 within the remaining set.

MILLMAN v MEDVEDEV

Millman began poorly in opposition to Medvedev, getting damaged to like by the previous US Open champion.

Undeterred, nonetheless, Millman broke straight again.

Medvedev would go forward a break but once more, however then was pressured to a number of deuces at 3-2.

Millman would ultimately convert on his fourth break level of the sport to degree issues up a 3-all.

Medvedev then went a break forward as soon as extra, however was damaged by Millman but once more when serving for the set, making it six breaks in whole from the primary 10 video games of the match.

Finally, there was yet one more break, with Medvedev going forward 6-5 after which serving out the primary set, which lasted simply over an hour.

Medvedev as soon as once more went a break forward within the second set, however this time held serve earlier than backing up with a double break to go forward 4-1.

He rapidly closed out the set 6-2, then went forward a break within the opening recreation of the third set.

OTHER MATCHES

On 1573 Enviornment in his resumed match, Aleksandar Vukic got here from the brink of defeat to drive a fifth set.

The Australian trailed 1-3 in opposition to American Brandon Holt, Vukic reeled off 5 straight video games to win the fourth set and drive a decider.

It proved a short-lived reprieve, nonetheless, with Holt as soon as once more pulling out forward and in the end profitable the ultimate set 6-3.

Thanasi Kokkinakis returned to Kia Enviornment for the resumption of his match in opposition to former world No.9 Fabio Fognini, needing simply 5 factors to seal victory and a second-round conflict with Andy Murray.

As soon as once more, Fognini barely seemed within the match.

On Rod Laver Enviornment, Coco Gauff was made to work by Emma Raducanu, however in the end prevailed in two units.

Gauff was down two set factors to the previous US Open champion within the second set earlier than in the end steeling herself and coming via in a tiebreak.

Night time 3 Order Of Play (all instances AEDT)

Rod Laver Enviornment

Matches from 7pm

[7] Coco Gauff (USA) def. Emma Raducanu (GBR) 6-3, 7-6(4)

[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) v Rinky Hijikata (AUS)

Margaret Court docket Enviornment

Matches from 7pm

John Millman (AUS) v [7] Daniil Medvedev (AUS)

Karolina Muchova (CZE) v [13] Danielle Collins (USA)

John Cain Enviornment

Matches from 5pm

[18] Karen Khachanov def. Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2

[22] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) v Kaja Juvan (SLO)

Kia Enviornment

Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-1 6-2 6-2

[8] Daria Kasatkina v Varvara Gracheva

Olivia Gadecki (AUS) v Marta Kostyuk (UKR)

[11] Cameron Norrie (GBR) vs Fixed Lestienne (FRA)

1573 Enviornment

Brandon Holt (USA) def. Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3