Taylor Fritz, the highest-seeded American man at the Australian Open, needed just 82 minutes to defeat Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin on Thursday and advance to the third round in Melbourne.
Behind a strong first serve, the fourth-seeded Fritz cruised past Garin 6-2, 6-1, 6-0.
Also advancing was local favorite and eighth seed Alex De Minaur, who dispatched American qualifier Tristan Boyer 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena.
Earlier Thursday, Gael Monfils, 38, became the fourth-oldest man to reach the third round of the Australian Open since the event switched to hardcourt in 1988.
Monfils, on the heels of the becoming the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title Saturday at the Auckland Classic, beat Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (3) to set up a meeting with Fritz for a spot in the Round of 16.
And No. 16 Lorenzo Musetti reached the third round at Melbourne Park for the first time in his career by overcoming Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6), 6-2. Up next for Musetti is American 21st seed Ben Shelton, who took out former Spanish world No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4.
ESPN Research and Reuters contributed to this report.
