Jannik Sinner is hardly shaking in his tennis shoes ahead of a potential Australian Open semi-final meeting with Novak Djokovic after racing into the third round.
Italy's fourth seed trounced young Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong 6-2 6-2 6-2 in one hour and 43 minutes on Wednesday to enhance his status as a huge threat to 10-time champion Djokovic.
Sinner beat the world No.1 twice in the space of a week in December and is continuing his hot run in Melbourne.
The world No.4 broke de Jong six times while powering into a third-round meeting with 26th seed Sebastian Baez on Friday.
"It doesn't really matter who you play against: you fear nobody, but have a lot of respect for everyone," the 22-year-old Sinner said.
"This is what I try to show to everyone."
Heavy rain in Melbourne forced the match to be played under a closed roof at Margaret Court Arena.
Sinner, who enjoyed a stellar indoor season in 2023, was perfectly satisfied with that.
"For me, they can play the whole tournament indoors," he said.
In a battle of South Americans for the right to face Sinner, diminutive Argentine Baez overcame crafty Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 7-5 2-6 6-2 6-4 in three hours and 14 minutes.
Australian 10th seed Alex de Minaur also advanced with a straight-sets win over Italian Matteo Arnaldi.
The local hope will face another Italian for a spot in the last 16 after qualifier Flavio Cobolli knocked off Russian Pavel Kotov 7-5 6-3 5-7 6-2.
Chris O'Connell was brave in a 4-6 1-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) loss to powerful American No.16 seed Ben Shelton in front of raucous home crowd on John Cain Arena.
"That Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi chant - I hear it when I sleep at night," the 2022 US college national singles champion said.
Shelton was staring down the barrel of a fifth set but battled back to force a tiebreak and book a third-round encounter with 20th seed Adrian Mannarino, who was pushed to the limit in a 6-3 6-3 1-6 2-6 6-3 win over Spaniard Jaume Munar.
O'Connell's fellow countrymen Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson similarly bowed out in respective four-set battles against 10-time Open champion Novak Djokovic and last year's runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas.
American 12th seed Taylor Fritz was in no mood to mess around on Wednesday, slamming down 11 aces and 38 winners in his 6-0 6-3 6-1 shellacking of French qualifying lucky loser Hugo Gaston.
The 26-year-old was on Kia Arena for less than 90 minutes after surviving a five-set scare against Facundo Diaz Acosta in the first round.
"After that long one in the first round, it's great to get some time back," Fritz said.
Fritz had never been past the round of 32 of a major until the 2022 Australian Open, when he won a five-set thriller over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Despite his recent run of success, reaching two grand slam quarter-finals, the former world No.5 insists his approach for majors remains unchanged.
Fritz booked another third-round clash at the Open with Fabian Marozsan after the Hungarian caused a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-2 upset over Argentine world No.21 Francisco Cerundolo.
Cerundolo's compatriot and 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry gave a better showing with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over French veteran Gael Monfils, setting up a third-round match-up with Djokovic.
Italian No.25 seed Lorenzo Musetti capitulated in a 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-0 loss to Luca Van Assche, while 2022 US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe barely fired a shot in a 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-5) defeat to Czech Tomas Machac.
Machac next faces last year's Melbourne Park semi-finalist Karen Khachanov, with the Russian 15th seed downing American qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-3.
Andrey Rublev eased past another American, Christopher Eubanks, 6-4 6-4 6-4 and will next face No.29 seed Sebastian Korda, who beat Frenchman Quentin Halys by the same score.
