Japan's Nishioka beats Nadal conqueror with 100th career win

Yoshihito Nishioka ousted Rafael Nadal's conqueror Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open on Friday to become only the third Japanese man to record 100 Tour-level wins.

The 27-year-old reached his first round of 16 at a Grand Slam with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2 victory over the American, who stunned injured defending champion Nadal on Wednesday.

It was the left-hander's 100th career victory, matching the feat of fellow Japanese Kei Nishikori (431) and Shuzo Matsuoka (148).

He also joined them as the only men from Japan to progress to the fourth round at a major tournament, with Nishikori making the grade 22 times and Matsuoka once.

The 31st seed Nishioka, who won his second title last year at Seoul, will meet either American 16th seed Frances Tiafoe or Russian 18th seed Karen Khachanov for a place in the quarterfinals.

TSITSIPAS SETS UP LAST-16 CLASH WITH SINNER AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas kept his unbeaten streak this year intact on Friday with another romp at the Australian Open to set up a round of 16 clash with dangerous Italian Jannik Sinner.

The 24-year-old, who has yet to drop a set, clinched his seventh straight win of 2023 by beating Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena to coast into the fourth round.

With defending champion Rafael Nadal and world No 3 Casper Ruud both out, Tsitsipas, who won all four games at the United Cup leading into the Grand Slam, is the highest seed left on the men's side.

His next assignment, for a place in the last eight, is a showdown with Italy's 15th-seeded Sinner who stormed back to crush Hungary's Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.

It will be a rematch of their Melbourne Park quarterfinal last year, which Tsitsipas won in straight sets.

"It was good mixing up today, my slice, opening up the court. I think my placement on the serve was exceptional," said Tsitsipas.

"I didn't have a lot of rallies on my serve today, which helped, and I just kept things clean. I enjoyed finding my way through today, it wasn't easy at times."

Like Tsitsipas, 63rd-ranked Griekspoor also came into the match unbeaten, on a six-match streak after collecting a maiden Tour-level title in Pune, India.

But he was no match for the surging Greek, a three-time semifinalist at Melbourne Park who is pursuing a first Grand Slam title.

The 24-year-old was in charge in the first set, breaking twice, dominating from the baseline and the net to sweep through in just 28 minutes.

But the Dutchman put up stiffer resistance in the second, earning a set point at 6-5 which Tsitsipas saved to take it to a tiebreak where he kept his cool to prevail.

Griekspoor's resolve melted and Tsitsipas broke for a 3-1 lead in the third set before racing home.

Sinner, a six-time champion on the ATP Tour, kept his hopes alive with a sensational comeback against Fucsovics, who lost all confidence as the match progressed.

"The first two sets were very tough for me," said Sinner, who enjoyed straight sets wins in his opening two matches.

"Obviously, I had to change something in my game. I was feeling the ball well but the final shots I was missing. I did a lot of work physically in the off season and today I was physically good in the last sets."