Australian Open 2025: Fritz beats Garin to set up third-round clash against Monfils in Melbourne

Australian Open 2025: Fritz beats Garin to set up third-round clash against Monfils in Melbourne

Fired-up Taylor Fritz scorched through to an Australian Open third-round clash against Gael Monfils with another emphatic win Thursday, dropping just eight games in the tournament so far.

The American fourth seed was untouchable on Margaret Court Arena, swatting aside Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 in 82 minutes.

Fritz only gave up five games to blitz past Jenson Brooksby in the first round and has spent barely three hours on court.

The win set him up with a trickier clash against 38-year-old Frenchman Monfils, who belied his age with a tight three-set victory over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier.

“Always feels great to come out and play a match like that,” said Fritz, who is yet to drop serve in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title.

“I played well in my first round too so I’ll be high on confidence going into the third round.”

Monfils will be awaiting him, with the veteran enjoying a late career resurgence, winning a title in Auckland ahead of the Australian Open.

“He’s a great guy. Just won a title, super happy for him and he’s played really well in his last two matches, so it’s going to be tough,” said Fritz.

After Fritz and Garin sized each other up in the early stages, the American made his move in a lengthy game four, converting from the baseline on his third break point to move 3-1 clear.

He then reeled off seven games in a row to take full control before Garin finally held serve.

But it was futile as Fritz wrapped up the second set in just 30 minutes, then broke Garin’s opening serve in set three before romping home.

Fritz is looking to build on a memorable 2024.

He lost the title match at the ATP Finals in Turin in November to top-ranked Jannik Sinner.

That came only weeks after playing the US Open final against the Italian, his first visit to a Grand Slam decider.

He is bidding to become the first American man to make the final in Australia since Andre Agassi won the title in 2003.

Fritz said he will donate his $82,000 first-round prize money from the Australian Open to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, calling the devastation “insane”.

“I just want everyone to obviously stay safe, it’s just insane what has happened,” said the 27-year-old.

“I’m going to be donating my first-round prize money to LA wildfire relief funds.

“It’s really the least I can do. Southern California is my home and LA was my home for a long time.

“I’m just doing what I can possibly do to help, and I would encourage anyone else who can donate to help because a lot of people really need it.”

The deady fires began more than a week ago, fanned by hurricane-force gusts that have left two dozen people dead and large areas of the city in ruins.

Several other players, including Coco Gauff, Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula, have expressed shock and praised firefighters for their efforts.

One-time LA area resident Keys donated $20,000 to the city’s fire department “in support of the incredibly brave firefighters working tirelessly to protect the community”.

Pegula, founder of the dog rescue charity A Lending Paw, has been sharing ways to help the hundreds of animals displaced by the fires to her online followers.

Naomi Osaka, who represents Japan but lives in Los Angeles, said on Monday that wildfires were “three blocks” from her house.