Australia's great hope Alex de Minaur made light work of what was supposed to be a tricky match against Matteo Arnaldi as he cruised into the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-0 6-3 victory.
De Minaur weathered the early storm from the Italian before showcasing all of his class as he proved far too strong for his opponent at Rod Laver Arena.
Alex de Minaur cruises into the third round of Aus Open with dominant win over Matteo Arnaldi
De Minaur has been in electric form to start the year, beating the likes of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the buildup to the first Grand Slam of the season and showed no signs of slowing down against Arnaldi.
The world no.10 outlasted Milos Raonic earlier in the week, with the Canadian retiring hurt to hand De Minaur a safe passage through. And he looked thoroughly refreshed as he constantly cut the court and denied the Italian any space to get off his powerful forehand rockets.
De Minaur regularly broke Arnaldi's service game which crumbled under the weight of the Australian's relentless pressure on the front foot.
As the home crowd favourite grew into the contest producing some of the best tennis of his career to date, the Italian crumbled as unforced errors plagued his game.
The two rising talents had never met before entering into the contest, but De Minaur threatened to race away with the win as he eased to a 6-3 6-0 advantage.
Arnaldi was unable to halt the momentum as De Minaur rattled off game after game in a dominant display before a small late revival ultimately proved fruitless as the Aussie served out the match to advance.
Alex de Minaur vs. Matteo Arnaldi final score
| Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | |
| [10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Alex de Minaur vs. Matteo Arnaldi updates, highlights and commentary
The Sporting News followed the Alex de Minaur vs. Matteo Arnaldi match live, providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as it happened.
*Denotes server
De Minaur wins the match - 6-3 6-0 6-3
De Minaur* 6-3 6-0 6-3 Arnaldi
De Minaur, serving for the match, earns the first point before an errant backhand up the line draws things level. He then races to the next two points to earn two match points. Arnaldi flicks one long and De Minaur wins the match and advances into the third round in just over two hours with an utterly dominant display.
De Minaur 6-3 6-0 5-3 Arnaldi*
Arnaldi produces a brilliant forehand winner down the line to draw level at 15-15. He then grabs the lead with De Minaur going long down the centre. A drop shot goes awry from the Italian though before a low volley is driven into the net to hand De Minaur a break point. A big serve and follow up saves the break. Arnaldi once again drops one in but De Minaur scurries to retrieve it before smashing a volley into the far corner to earn another break point. The Italian is rumbled and sends one long to give the Aussie the break.
De Minaur* 6-3 6-0 4-3 Arnaldi
An ace from De Minaur to start. A routine backhand dips into the net to draw it level at 15-15. Arnaldi takes the lead and gives a quick nod to his coaching box, but De Minaur's serve in response is driven into his opponent's body to force an error. The Aussie gets a lucky bounce off the net before he forces Arnaldi into a volley with a backhand lob which he is unable to do.
De Minaur 6-3 6-0 3-3 Arnaldi*
Arnaldi grabs the first point via a mistimed shot from De Minaur but just as he starts to look revitalised, he misses a winner close to the net as the Aussie somehow keeps himself alive. The pumped up Italian doesn't make the same mistake the second time around when he follows up a searching forehand with a smash across court. An ace, his fourth of the match, gives him advantage before he closes it out.
De Minaur* 6-3 6-0 3-2 Arnaldi
An absorbing rally as both players travel to all corners of the court but when Arnaldi gets his chance for the winner it bounces high and wide close to the net. The longest rally of the match then ensues with the Italian earning a break point as De Minaur smashes one into the net. Arnaldi explodes as he claims his first break in six attempts with a winner down the line.
De Minaur 6-3 6-0 3-1 Arnaldi*
Arnaldi grabs the first two points of the game before another unforced error welcomes De Minaur back into it. The Aussie doesn't need a second invitation as he diverts a smash past the Italian to level at 30-30. A strong forehand keeps him at bay though as Arnaldi then claims his first win in 12 games.
De Minaur* 6-3 6-0 3-0 Arnaldi
De Minaur is cruising. He races into the net and slips yet still manages to pull out a cushioned volley, then whips an ace just for good measure down the line to register a rapid win.
De Minaur 6-3 6-0 2-0 Arnaldi*
De Minaur races into a 30-0 lead against the serve with his backhand continually penning in the Italian until he powers one across the court and out of the reach of the Aussie to claim his first point. An ace then ties up the scores, before a wayward backhand gives the advantage to De Minaur. He breaks him again as Arnaldi nets.
A perfect 🔟@alexdeminaur claims his 10th successive service game to lead Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-0 2-0.#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/rGqmE3SBUv
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2024
De Minaur* 6-3 6-0 1-0 Arnaldi
A few pumps of the fist throughout the first game of the third set as De Minaur is able to repel another break point - five in total faced and saved - against the Italian. The Aussie then produces a brilliant backhand cross court during an extended rally to grab the game.
De Minaur wins the second set - De Minaur 6-0 Arnaldi
De Minaur 6-3 6-0 Arnaldi*
Arnaldi spoons a backhand well wide as his game continues to crumble under the weight of De Minaur's relentless pressure on the front foot. The Italian's second serve is poor and allows the Aussie to tie him up on the baseline. We're at deuce as De Minaur flicks a forehand out wide which the Italian can only return into the net. He responds though with a blistering serve down the middle to force deuce once again. However, three unforced errors then follow as De Minaur claims the set at the third time of asking.
De Minaur* 6-3 5-0 Arnaldi
The duo exchange points before De Minaur slams down a first serve and flirts with the back edge on a volley. A forehand winner then follows before an unforced error on the backhand levels the game at deuce. The Italian can't capitalise though as he nets two successive return shots. De Minaur is now one game away from claiming the second set.
Clinical.@alexdeminaur broke Arnaldi to close out the first and he's broken him twice on his way to a 5-0 lead in the second.#AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/1aW89rmeaN
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2024
De Minaur 6-3 4-0 Arnaldi*
Arnaldi spoons one close to the net to gift De Minaur an easy pass shot - the pressure is starting to tell. The Aussie cruises his way to three break points but Arnaldi responds with a powerful first serve to disrupt his opponent's rhythm. But then the Italian nets a backhand to hand another break to De Minaur. The youngster is unravelling in the second set.
De Minaur* 6-3 3-0 Arnaldi
Errors have started to come thick and fast within Arnaldi's game now as De Minaur controls his serve and works the Italian around the court for a comfortable hold.
De Minaur 6-3 2-0 Arnaldi*
Three unforced errors in a row from Arnaldi gift his opponent a 40-15 lead and De Minaur suddenly has two break points. The home crowd favourite does what the Italian couldn't, as he grabs it at the first opportunity with Arnaldi sending a forehand long. It's been a big 10 minutes in this match for De Minaur.
De Minaur* 6-3 1-0 Arnaldi
Two long rallies and two wins for Arnaldi as his forehand once again does the damage as he grabs a 30-15 lead. De Minaur goes long and it's two break points for the Italian. De Minaur responds by smashing a brilliant half-volley through for a winner after coming up to the net. And then it gets even better as a sublime backhand pass at the net saves the second break point. The Aussie means business as he goes on to hold his serve.
De Minaur wins the first set - De Minaur 6-3 Arnaldi
😈 takes the first set against the Italian!
— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) January 17, 2024
↳ Australian Open. Now Streaming. Every Match. Ad-free. Live & On Demand. Centre Court in 4K UHD.#StanSportAU #AO2024 #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/JXSAZdA32I
De Minaur 6-3 Arnaldi*
Arnaldi dishes up two strong serves with De Minaur struggling to reply. Yet on his second serve, De Minaur finds joy with winners in long rallies to bring up deuce. The Aussie then earns a set point with a sweet strike down the line. He grabs it at the first opportunity as the Italian goes long.
De Minaur* 5-3 Arnaldi
Strong service game to start from De Minaur as his first two go unanswered. But then two unforced errors level it at 30-30. A searching serve gets the Aussie back on top as the Italian can only return into the net, before Arnaldi replies with two successive winners to earn a break point. The Aussie defends and draws a massive response from the crowd. De Minaur powers another serve down the line to grab the advantage, yet the Arnaldi refuses to go away. The Aussie presses at the net with a half-volley winner and grabs the game off an unforced error.
De Minaur 4- 3 Arnaldi*
A rally at the net sees De Minaur come out on top to grab the first point of the game. A lucky bounce off the net then puts him 30-0 up. The Aussie slips on the baseline which Arnaldi exploits with a delicate slice. The Italian then levels with a forehand down the line. Unforced error from the Aussie off an ill-advised Arnaldi drop shot and then a slice into the net hands the Italian the game.
De Minaur* 4-2 Arnaldi
An ace to start from De Minaur, which is his first of the match so far. And then another! Arnaldi struggles with a second serve as the Italian mistimes one to make it 40-15. Then a third ace from the Aussie.
De Minaur 3-2 Arnaldi*
The Italian gets back on track as he grabs a 40-0 lead through two unforced errors from De Minaur. A big serve closes it out as he holds to love.
De Minaur* 3- 1 Arnaldi
Arnaldi fires one into the umpire's chair as De Minaur looks to force the pace. The Aussie controls a backhander for another winner down the line and easily consolidates his break.
De Minaur 2-1 Arnaldi*
De Minaur races to 30-0 against the serve before a lovely backhand strike down the line brings up three break points. Another backhand goes long and gives Arnaldi hope as he then races into the net and slams home another winner. But he can't hold his serve as De Minaur lobs one over his head to force an error and a break.
De Minaur* 1-1 Arnaldi
Arnaldi attacks the second serve to register the first point of the game before De Minaur replies with a whipped forehand winner. Double fault from De Minaur then ties it up at 30-30. The Italian then powers a forehand winner to earn a break point. De Minaur crashes a strong first serve down the line and we are at deuce. Arnaldi goes long with an unforced error and the Aussie holds.
De Minaur 0-1 Arnaldi*
Arnaldi looks to cut De Minaur off at the net early but skews a volley long. The duo then trade points before an Arnaldi double fault hands De Minaur a break point. The Italian saves himself with a strong forehand to force De Minaur into the net upon return. We are at deuce and Arnaldi then lobs a precise drop shot in before holding his serve.
Start
Matteo Arnaldi has won the toss and will serve first.
Pre match: Both players are out on court with De Minaur getting a rousing reception from the home crowd.
Pre match: Teenager Mirra Andreeva has cruised past Ons Jabeur in under an hour in the first match of the day at Rod Laver Arena. De Minaur is now up next.
How to watch Alex de Minaur vs. Matteo Arnaldi
Television
Being Australia's best hope at the major, De Minaur will be telecast live on free-to-air TV via Channel Nine's main and HD channel.
Live stream
De Minaur's second round contest can be watched on live stream via Stan Sport, which has every game live via their platform.
Channel Nine's free streaming service 9Now will also have the game available to watch.
--
The Sporting News may earn an affiliate commission through our links. The Sporting News' affiliates have no influence over the editorial content included in this article.