Crossing the first half of the battle, the intensity in Melbourne escalates

The heatwave from the first week of the Australian Open has yet to fade, while the smoke of the second week’s battles quietly spreads. As the tournament advances into deeper rounds, the competition heats up like the summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The Grand Slam’s allure lies both in the steadfast dominance of top players who control the game and in the unstoppable surge of rising stars rewriting the landscape, injecting unpredictable drama into the court. After the first week, ASICS tennis ambassadors have consistently shown unyielding spirit on the court, continuing to fight bravely forward.

ASICS tennis ambassador Musetti

Two ASICS tennis ambassadors, Musetti and Fritz, faced off in a highly anticipated top-10 clash in the men’s singles fourth round. After two hours of intense battle, the in-form Musetti won decisively in straight sets, reaching the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time and setting his best record at Melbourne Park. Having endured a tough five-set match against Mahachi in the third round, Musetti showed no signs of fatigue in this highlight duel with Fritz; instead, he elevated his performance to a higher level. Next, he will meet the ten-time champion Djokovic in the quarterfinals. Facing this towering challenge, the Italian is poised and eager to break through in the year’s first major tournament.

ASICS tennis ambassador Fritz

ASICS tennis ambassador Fritz reached the men’s singles round of 16 at this Australian Open. Ranked ninth in the world, his form has fluctuated early in the new season, which is typical for elite athletes continuously evolving throughout the year. With his mature match intelligence and relentless professionalism, Fritz is fully capable of regaining momentum in upcoming tournaments and pushing toward even higher goals.

ASICS tennis ambassador Paolini

ASICS tennis ambassador Paolini competed in both the women’s singles and doubles events at this Australian Open, reaching the round of 32 in both. As the tournament’s seventh seed in singles, the Italian star advanced smoothly through the first two rounds without dropping a set. However, in the third round, she faced a strong challenge from 18-year-old rising star Jovic. After nearly two hours of fierce battle, Paolini was unable to withstand the young opponent’s pressure and was unfortunately eliminated. Though the start of the Australian season was somewhat disappointing, she still has many opportunities to shine throughout the long season.

ASICS tennis ambassador Bencic

ASICS tennis ambassador Bencic, boosted by a stunning performance at the United Cup earlier this month, reentered the top 10 before the Australian Open. She was widely regarded as one of the favorites to win the title at this event, but was unexpectedly upset in the second round by the Czech youngster Batukova, ending her run prematurely. Nevertheless, with her resilient will and solid technical skills, Bencic is expected to keep breaking through and shine again in the upcoming season.

ASICS tennis ambassador Zhang Shuai

ASICS tennis ambassador Zhang Shuai continued her trademark hard-working style by competing in three events at this Australian Open. Although she was narrowly defeated in the first round of singles by local player Preston, she still demonstrated strong competitiveness in women’s doubles and mixed doubles, having advanced to the round of 16 in both. Melbourne has always been a special place for Zhang: she reached her first Grand Slam singles quarterfinal here in 2016 and won her first Grand Slam title here in 2019. At 37, she still dreams of winning another major and says her tennis career holds many goals yet to be achieved. We look forward to witnessing her continue this unfinished journey toward her dreams.

ASICS tennis ambassador Maia

ASICS tennis ambassador Maia returned to Grand Slam competition after recovering from injury. In the first round of singles, she engaged in a nearly three-hour battle against Potapova, ultimately losing in three sets. Maia ended her 2023 season early in September due to physical issues to rest and recover. Although her comeback match ended in defeat, this former top-10 Brazilian player, with her deep experience and solid skills, is expected to gradually regain form and return to peak performance in upcoming matches.

As the tournament passes its midpoint, Melbourne has witnessed many impressive and thrilling encounters. The intensity rises as the second week’s stage becomes smaller and the spotlight sharper, where only the best collide and the competition grows fiercer. When paths cross, only the strongest can advance further.