ATHLETES OF THE AMERICAS COMPETE FOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN CROWN

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Led by tennis stars such as Coco Gauff (USA), Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG), Taylor Fritz (USA), Nadia Podoroska (ARG), Daniel Elahi Galan (COL), Jessica Pegula (USA) and Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA), the Americas are well represented in Australia at the first Grand Slam competition of 2024.

The world’s greatest tennis players are gathered in Melbourne for the 2024 Australian Open, searching for an elusive grand slam title in men’s and women’s singles and doubles tournaments.

Athletes representing 12 countries of the Americas are competing at the Grand Slam event, with several international tennis stars and medalists from previous Pan American Games taking part in the competition. The Americas are led by large delegations from the United States and Argentina, as well as players from Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and El Salvador.

Round 1 of the singles tournaments finished on January 15, as Round 2 of the singles event and Round 1 of the doubles tournaments continues today, January 16. Several of the top stars from the Americas have already advanced to Round 2 in the singles event.

For the U.S., #4 seed Coco Gauff made her debut with an impressive victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in consecutive sets. She will now face off against her compatriot Caroline Dolehide in round 2, with Dolehide previously winning a silver medal at the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games.

Fellow American Danielle Collins has the tough task of facing the top-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland in round 2 after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany in round 1. Jessica Pegula is the 5th seed in the women’s singles tournaments and will square off against Clara Burel in round 2.

Outside of the U.S., the next highest-seeded athlete of the Americas in the women’s singles event is Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, who won her first match in 3 sets as the 10th seed to face off against a qualifying round victor Alina Korneeva in round 2. Another interesting match in round 2 features Lima 2019 champion Nadia Podoroska versus Amanda Anisimova of the U.S.

On the men’s side, the singles tournament features numerous athletes from the United States and Argentina who advanced to the second round, as well as 1 athlete each from Canada and Colombia.

The U.S. is represented by Taylor Fritz (#12), Tommy Paul (#14), Ben Shelton (#16), Frances Tiafoe (#17), Sebastian Korda (#29), Christopher Eubanks, Alex Michelsen and Aleksandar Kovacevic. In round 1, Fritz eliminated Santiago 2023 Champion Facundo Acosta Diaz of Argentina.

Despite the loss of the reigning Pan Am Games champion, Argentina keeps its hopes alive with Francisco Cerundulo (#22), Sebastian Baez (#26) and Tomas Martin Etcheverry (#30).

Canada and Colombia each have one player left in the men’s tournament, as Felix Auger-Aliassime (#27) will represent Canada in round 2 versus Hugo Grenier, while Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan faces off against Argentina’s Baez (#26).

In men’s doubles, the 6th-seed duo of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni of Argentina have already advanced to round 2. Mexico’s Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela has also advanced to round 2 alongside partner Daniel Altmaier of Germany. The duo of Rafael Matos from Brazil and Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia also have advanced to the second round of the tournament. For the U.S., Austin Krajicek is part of the top-ranked team with partner Ivan Dodge of Croatia.

In the women’s doubles tournament, the top-ranked duo of Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula wait for their 1st round matchup against the French pari of Clara Burel and Diane Parry. The international duo of Beatriz Haddad Maia and Taylor Townsend used their 8th seed to their advantage to already advance to round 2.

For more information about schedules, matches and players at the 2024 Australian Open, visit the official event website at https://ausopen.com/

Panam Sports congratulates all of the athletes of the Americas on their success so far and look forward to watching the action that will conclude on January 28.