Rublev shuts down Eubanks at Australian Open

Andrey Rublev was in no mood for another five-set thriller at the Australian Open Wednesday night, breezing past Christopher Eubanks 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to charge into the second round.

After surviving a fifth-set tie-break in his opener against Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild, Rublev was bracing for another stern challenge from the Wimbledon quarter-finalist, who was one of the ATP Tour's breakout stars last year.

But the 26-year-old redhead led from start to finish, outhitting the free-swinging Eubanks 38 winners to 23 to book a third-round meeting with another American, 29th seed Sebastian Korda, also a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 winner over Frenchman Quentin Halys.

Make that six from six 💯@AndreyRublev97 continues his run of victories in 2024 with a straight-sets triumph over Christopher Eubanks.@AustralianOpen | #AusOpenpic.twitter.com/bapQY4APKD

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 17, 2024

Taylor Fritz has advanced to the third round in similar fashion to Rublev. He survived a five-setter against Facundo Diaz Acosta in the first round before sailing past French lucky loser Hugo Gaston 6-0, 6-3, 6-1 in the second round Wednesday. In a first-time Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, the World No. 12 next plays Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, who last year upset Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid.

Fellow American Ben Shelton, who kickstarted his breakout year last season with a run to the Australian Open quarter-finals, charged into the third round with a 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5) win over Australian Christopher O'Connell after firing 17 aces.

Countryman Frances Tiafoe, the 17th seed, was not so fortunate, falling 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5) to Czech Tomas Machac, who is No. 75 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.