Era la riedizione della finale del 2008, ma come allora Novak Djokovic (ATP 1) si è dimostrato più forte. Il serbo ha avuto ragione dell'ex numero 5 del mondo Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (177) con il punteggio di 6-3 7-5 6-4 in 2h04' di gioco.
L'altro big impegnato nella night session era Alexander Zverev (4) che ha a sua volta raggiunto il terzo turno degli Australian Open, ma per farlo ha dovuto soffrire e lottare. In vantaggio di due set contro Jérémy Chardy (36), il tedesco si è fatto rimontare prima di riaccelerare nel quinto set per chiudere il conto sul 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 5-7 6-7 (6/8) 6-1 in 3h46'.
Tre teste di serie hanno salutato il torneo. La più alta a venire estromessa è stata la numero 7, con Dominic Thiem (8) costretto al forfait quando era già sotto di due set contro la wild card australiana Alexei Popyrin (149). Fuori anche il coreano Hyeong Chung (25), semifinalista un anno fa, e Gilles Simon (30).
Australian Open, highlights di Thiem (17.01.2019)
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