After a mixed bag of results last season that didn’t meet his lofty standards, Sam Querrey looks poised to push back up the FedEx ATP Rankings this year. The American advanced to the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday by defeating Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Querrey hammered 26 aces and won 87 per cent of his first-serve points (59/68) to advance in two hours and 35 minutes. The 32-year-old improved to 3-0 in his ATP Head2Head series with Berankis. He’s reached the the third round on six occasions in Melbourne (2007-08, 2013-14, 2017, 2020), but will now look for his first appearance in the second week.
[ATP APP]
Although Querrey enjoyed an outstanding grass-court season last year that included a quarter-final showing at Wimbledon and runner-up finish in Eastbourne (l. to Fritz), he posted a combined 16-15 record on other surfaces. If he can bring his Melbourne form to the rest of this season, he’ll quickly improve on his current ranking of No. 45.
[LISTEN AO]
Awaiting him in the next round is eighth-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini or American Tennys Sandgren. Querrey holds 1-0 records over both players in their respective ATP Head2Head rivalries.
