Defending champion Jannik Sinner faced an early setback on Thursday, dropping a set for the first time in three months. However, he quickly regained his focus to defeat Aussie wild card Tristan Schoolkate and progress to the third round of the tournament.

As the current world No. 1, Sinner had claimed victory in 30 of his last 31 matches and had not lost a set since his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in Beijing last October.

Yet, fan favorite Schoolkate, who ranks No. 173 globally, capitalized on his sole break point and managed to take the first set in just 47 minutes during the evening match at Rod Laver Arena.

Sinner found his rhythm in the second set, breaking at 4-3 with a crosscourt winner, eventually securing the match with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.

“It’s always tough to face an opponent I’ve never met before, and he started off playing really well, especially in his serving,” remarked Sinner, the top-seeded Italian.

“I’m very pleased with how I performed. I know not to take anything for granted, and I’m thrilled to be advancing. There’s room for improvement, but I’ll take it,” he added.

Danielle Collins embraces the role of villain

Danielle Collins stirred up the hostile crowd after overcoming local favorite Destanee Aiava in the second round, blowing kisses to the booing fans and humorously thanking them for funding her next luxury vacation.

The 10th-seeded American mentioned that the spirited interaction with the crowd at Kia Arena invigorated her, as she navigated a tricky phase in the middle of the match to defeat the 195th-ranked Australian with a score of 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2.

“It was clear they wanted her to win so badly,” Collins commented to journalists. “A lot of the crowd was pretty drunk and struggled to contain their excitement.

“Good luck trying to bother someone who truly doesn’t mind,” she said, after exchanging a few lighthearted curses for more formal comments.

The 31-year-old, who was the runner-up in the 2022 Australian Open to local hero Ash Barty, expressed that she actually enjoyed the sometimes intense atmosphere created by the crowd.

“I loved it. I’ve been doing this my whole life, and I thrive in energetic crowds, regardless of their support,” she stated.

Collins will move on to face fellow American and former U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys, who won against Elena-Gabriela Ruse 7-6(1), 2-6, 7-5 to reach the third round.

Iga Swiatek joins the top women advancing

Second-seed Iga Swiatek effortlessly moved into the third round alongside fellow Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina on a sunny Thursday at Melbourne Park.

After a day of rain that affected play, five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek struck quickly on Rod Laver Arena, beating Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-2, setting up a match against Raducanu.

“I felt confident going in and started the match strong, so I just continued that rhythm,” Swiatek commented. “It felt great to play efficiently and finish quickly.”

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina managed to recover from a minor second-set slip to dispatch 17-year-old American wild card Iva Jovic 6-0, 6-3, marking the second teenager she’s eliminated from the tournament.

Raducanu, having faced injury challenges since her 2021 U.S. Open victory, called for an off-court medical timeout for a left hip issue at 0-3 in the second set against Amanda Anisimova, ultimately overcoming the American with scores of 6-3, 7-5.

American Taylor Fritz keeps winning

On the men’s side, fourth seed Taylor Fritz cruised past qualifier Cristian Garin with a score of 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, while Ben Shelton won against Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4, making it three Americans advancing to the third round with potential for more.

Fritz has allowed only eight games against him in his two matches thus far and will next square off against 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils, who secured his spot in the third round by defeating German Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Since Andre Agassi last claimed victory at Melbourne Park in 2003, the wait for an American men’s champion continues, while Australia hasn’t seen a homegrown champion since 1976.

Alex de Minaur, seeded eighth, is considered their best chance of ending that streak this year and kept hope alive by defeating American qualifier Tristan Boyer with a score of 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena.

Australian Open Day 5 results

Women’s singles

• 6-Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated Iva Jovic (USA) 6-0 6-3
• 32-Dayana Yastremska (UKR) defeated Danka Kovinic (MNE) 6-0 6-1
• 19-Madison Keys (USA) defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU) 7-6(1) 2-6 7-5
• 10-Danielle Collins (USA) defeated Destanee Aiava (AUS) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-2
• 15-Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) defeated Erika Andreeva (RUS) 6-2 6-3
• Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) defeated 22-Katie Boulter (GBR) 7-6(3) 2-6 6-2
• 28-Elina Svitolina (UKR) defeated Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6-1 6-4
• 4-Jasmine Paolini (ITA) defeated Renata Zarazua (MEX) 6-2 6-3
• 8-Emma Navarro (USA) defeated Xiyu Wang (CHN) 6-3 3-6 6-4
• Ons Jabeur (TUN) defeated Camila Osorio (COL) 7-5 6-3
• 24-Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) defeated Shuai Zhang (CHN) 6-2 6-1
• 9-Daria Kasatkina (RUS) defeated Yafan Wang (CHN) 6-2 6-0
• Eva Lys (DEU) defeated Varvara Gracheva (FRA) 6-2 3-6 6-4
• Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) defeated Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) 7-5 7-5
• Emma Raducanu (GBR) defeated Amanda Anisimova (USA) 6-3 7-5
• 2-Iga Swiatek (POL) defeated Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) 6-0 6-2

Contributing: Reuters