Anderson Exits As Fresh US Faces Emerge

Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson was a high-profile casualty at the Australian Open, losing to Frances Tiafoe on a day when American tennis fans were given a glimpse of a brighter future on the men’s side.

The fifth-seeded South African was beaten on a hot day by the 20-year-old American, despite taking the first set 6-4.

Tiafoe, who had never previously progressed beyond the second round in Melbourne, admitted he dug “insanely deep” to take the match 4-6 6-4 6-4 7-5.

“It’s all about competing, Tiafoe said during an on-court interview. “Guys are so good. It’s just about how badly you want it. I want it real bad.”

The world number 39 has been one of the great hopes of American tennis since he won the Orange Bowl tournament at the age of 15, and he could go further than he has ever been before at a Grand Slam if he gets past Italian veteran Andrea Seppi on Friday (Tiafoe 10/11, Seppi 10/11 Match Betting).

And he is not the only man to fly the Star Spangled Banner into the third round as Taylor Fritz sealed his passage through with a four-set win over 30th seed Gael Monfils.

Fritz, who beat his doubles partner Cameron Norrie in round one, might not make it to the second week, however, as he next faces 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.

Another promising display from the US’s next generation of talent came from Mackenzie McDonald, who pushed sixth seed Marin Cilic as far as he could in a four-set defeat that lasted much longer than many thought possible.

The 23-year-old saved five set points to steal the second set, but ended up losing 7-5 6-7 (9) 6-4 6-4.

“I took it to him as much as I could,” McDonald said later.

Although a few years older than these three, Ryan Harrison could become the third American man into the third round if he overcomes 15th seed Daniil Medvedev on Thursday.

A third-round loser to Cilic last year, Harrison beat Medvedev on grass at Ilkley in 2016 but lost their most recent meeting at the Winston-Salem Open last year (Harrison 7/2, Medvedev 2/11 Match Betting).

Odds subject to change