Frances Tiafoe Knocks Off Francisco Comesana In 2nd Round Of Australian Open
Frances Tiafoe is playing like a man who just dropped a heavy backpack. On Wednesday, he took care of business against Argentinaโs Francisco Comesaรฑa, winning 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to punch his ticket to the third round of the Australian Open.
But now, the fun really starts. Because next up is the “Demon.”
Tiafoe and Alex De Minaur are on a collision course that feels less like a tennis match and more like a main event at a prize fight. While Tiafoe was busy looking cool, calm, and collected, De Minaur was down in the trenches, surviving a serious scare against Serbian power-hitter Hamad Medjedoviฤ. Who will advance?
A New-Look Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe hasn’t seen the round of 32 in Melbourne since 2023, but he looks comfortable out there. Against Comesaรฑa, he was dictating play with that heavy forehand we all love to see, mixed with some high-efficiency serving that kept him out of trouble for most of the match.
Sure, there was a little hiccup in the third set. He let the momentum slip, and for a moment, it looked like things might get complicated. But the old Tiafoe might have let that spiral. This version? He just locked back in. He snatched the momentum right back in the fourth set and closed it out with authority.
“Iโm playing with no pressure and lots of confidence,” Tiafoe said. He looks like heโs having fun again, and a loose Tiafoe is a dangerous Tiafoe.
The Demon Survives a Scare
On the other side of the net, things were a little more dramatic for De Minaur. The No. 6 seed and local hero had to dig deep to get past Medjedoviฤ. Weโre talking about a match where De Minaur was getting absolutely walloped in the first hour. Jim Courier called it “bully ball,” and he wasnโt wrong. Medjedoviฤ was teeing off on everything, blasting winners from the baseline like he was trying to punch a hole in the back fence.
But hereโs the thing about De Minaur: heโs annoying to play against. He just doesnโt go away. He weathered the storm, waited for the Serbian to cool off, and then took over. After a rain delay, De Minaur went on a tear, winning 18 of the final 23 games.
“He was playing some unbelievable tennis,” De Minaur said. “But a five-set match is long.”
The Showdown Weโve Been Waiting For
So, here we are. Tiafoe vs. De Minaur. The American showman against the Australian grinder. History favors the Aussie. De Minaur has a 3-1 head-to-head lead and holds a ridiculous 18-0 record against lower-ranked opponents in Melbourne. Plus, heโs got the home crowd, which at Rod Laver Arena is worth at least a break of serve per set.
But stats don’t hit forehands. Tiafoe is playing with a visible sense of freedom that makes him an unpredictable threat. While De Minaur is carrying the hopes of being the first Aussie man to win this thing in decades, Tiafoe is just out there swinging.
This is going to be a battle of styles, a battle of wills, and maybe most importantly, a battle of vibes. Can Tiafoeโs relaxed aggression crack the code of De Minaurโs relentless defense? Or will the “Demon” turn Melbourne Park into his personal fortress once again?
