Australian Open: Ruud, Fritz and Zverev crash out, Jabeur too

In the final exchange, when the two men met at the net after four hours of drilling into the corners, second-seeded Casper Ruud rifled a thumping winner, something he was struggling to do for much of the second-round Australian Open clash.
The Norwegian summed up his opponent American Jenson Brooksby, laying out the indices. "I said, well played," Ruud said with a smile, adding, he was annoyingly good today."
Brooksby's 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-2 win opened up what was Ruud's nook of the draw.
"I was proud of my mental resolve to stay focused out there. In a tough situation like that, not being able to close it out," Brooksby said of Ruud saving three match points and fighting back from 2-5 in the third set to push the match into a fourth set.
The 22-year-old American, ranked 39, is from Sacramento, California. He is named after Formula One driver Jenson Button as his father Glen, an anaesthesiologist, is an avid fan. Brooksby, who plays the piano, says it's relaxing.
On a cold Thursday at Melbourne Park, consistency was going to be rewarded. The American hits a flat ball not giving his opponents time which is exactly where he had the two-time major finalist in a corner. Brooksby manned the baseline like a sentinel on steroids, running corner to corner and sending almost everything back.
Brooksby, who plays compatriot Tommy Paul next, won 102 of 186 baseline points.
On a day of shock results Aussie wildcard entrant Alexei Popyrin served up a storm as he drowned out eighth seed American Taylor Fritz 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-2. Of the 106 points that came into play on his first serve, Popyrin won 92, in the fifth set he dropped just a point on his first serve.
American lucky loser Michael Mmoh stopped 12th-seeded German Alexander Zverev. Mmoh won 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
In the women's draw, Czech Marketa Vondrousova, ranked No. 86, put out second-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.
DJOKOVIC ADVANCES
Novak Djokovic was given a warm welcome for his first round match. On Thursday, when he played French qualifier Enzo Couacaud, he was at the receiving end from a section of the crowd. Djokovic, who played with his hamstring taped, was at the practice courts without the taping, but under lights he needed support.
The Serb complained to chair umpire Fergus Murphy about a drunk spectator. "From the first point he has been provoking me," said Djokovic, who won 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-0. The spectator was escorted out of Rod Laver Arena.