Kei Nishikori skipped the fifth-set drama on Saturday and advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the seventh time.

The eighth seed, who had played two five-setters to start the tournament, swept Portugal’s Joao Sousa 7-6(6), 6-1, 6-2 to setup a round of 16 contest with Italy’s Fabio Fognini or Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

Both Nishikori and Sousa came through two five-setters to make the third round. Nishikori came back from two sets down against Polish qualifier Kamil Majchrzak and outlasted Croatian Ivo Karlovic in a fifth-set Match Tie-break.

Sousa overcame Argentina’s Guido Pella and Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany. But it was Nishikori who had more left in the tank in Margaret Court Arena. The Japanese right-hander, who’s made the quarter-finals three times (2012, 2015, 2016), won nearly 80 per cent of his first-serve points (40/52) and broke Sousa five times to pull ahead in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 2-1.

One of the greatest difficulties for younger players is acclimatising to the big stage at the most important tournaments. Whether it’s a Grand Slam or an ATP Masters 1000 event, the pressure inevitably grows. It may take time for even the brightest talents to get used to that.

But not Frances Tiafoe. The American lives for that pressure. And Tiafoe showed that in his come-from-behind win against Italian veteran Andreas Seppi on Friday at the Australian Open, defeating the former World No. 18 in five sets to reach the fourth round.

“I feel like I have a chance against anyone when I step on the court. I love playing in big stages. I always play well,” Tiafoe said. “Whether or not I get the win or not, it’s irrelevant. I always play a good match. I usually put myself in a position to win the match. Lately, I have been doing it since last year. Now I just kind of thrive for those moments, I want those moments.”

Tiafoe was down two sets to one against Seppi, and serving at 5-4 in the fourth set when he faced three consecutive break points. A wily veteran like Seppi could have broken right then and used the momentum to sprint to a four-set victory. But Tiafoe buckled down and battled through to earn the biggest result at a major in his career.

“That was a huge turning point for me. He breaks there, he can say he wins the match. That was a huge hold for me to extend the match,” Tiafoe said. “He makes you play a ton of balls. He’s so solid. He’s one hell of a player.”

The easy question is, how was Tiafoe able to maintain his composure and weave his way through that tough spot. How was he able to come from a set-and-a-break down against an in-form Kevin Anderson in the second round?

“I’m just taking it. I’m taking the game to the guys. I’m playing very aggressive, trying to put things in my terms,” Tiafoe said. “Also, I’m competing really well, staying in the rallies. Not bailing out. Going point-in, point-out.”

Tiafoe isn’t worrying about the pressure. He is embracing it. And you can see his passion during every match, letting out primal roars when winning big points, using fist pumps galore to stay positive while in tough spots. This is what Tiafoe loves to do.

“[I’m having] quite a lot of fun. Quite a lot of fun for me,” Tiafoe said after beating Seppi. “Definitely hurts, very tired right now. But, yeah, it’s unbelievable.”

Tiafoe is also garnering attention for his enthusiastic celebrations after his victories at Melbourne Park. In the past two rounds, the American has replicated celebrations made famous by basketball superstar LeBron James. The locker room is noticing, too, with Italian Fabio Fognini even giving him props.

“Guys are loving it,” Tiafoe said. “[It’ll] be interesting to see if guys want to try them. Just try to bring something in tennis. Obviously you guys know I’m a big basketball fan. Love the team celebrations. If I get a chance to do it on a big court, big situation, you’ve got to bring it up. It’s not pre-meditated. I don’t know what celebration I’m going to do. I got a lot of them that I know.”

There will certainly be something special in store should Tiafoe battle past 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round. Last year, in their only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting, Dimitrov needed a third-set tie-break to beat Tiafoe at the Rogers Cup.

“It should be good. We’re good friends,” Tiafoe said. “He’s going to come out obviously just competing like crazy. So am I. It’s a big match to get to the final eight. Obviously, he made the final eight last year, so he wants to get back there, start the year off well, get back to where he deserves to be, which is Top 5, in my opinion.”

The 2018 Delray Beach Open titlist isn’t fazed by that, though. In Tiafoe’s mind, this is his moment to shine.

“I’m not going to be an easy out for him.”

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan advanced to the third round of the Australian Open for the 18th consecutive year on Friday, battling past Adrian Mannarino and Andreas Mies 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in one hour and 56 minutes.

The feat is even more impressive because Bob Bryan, the left-handed of the twins, underwent hip surgery just more than five months ago. The pair’s last match together before this year came in the 2018 Madrid final, where Bob hurt his hip. It was unlikely to see the 40-year-old American back on the court so quickly, forget showing good form to reach the last 16 at the year’s first Grand Slam.

The Bryan brothers own the Open Era record of six doubles titles in Melbourne, with their most recent major victory coming at the 2014 US Open. Mike Bryan, however, triumphed at Wimbledon and the US Open last year with Jack Sock, before partnering Sock to the title at the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals.

Bryan/Bryan will next face Spaniards Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat wild cards Mao-Xin Gong and Ze Zhang 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The Bryan brothers defeated Garcia-Lopez/Carreno Busta in the 2017 Australian Open semi-finals in straight sets.

The shock of the day came when defending champions Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic were ousted. Maximo Gonzalez and Nicolas Jarry defeated the top seeds 6-4, 6-4 in 73 minutes, and they did not face a break point in the match. The Argentine-Chilean duo reached the third round or better at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open last year. Gonzalez/Jarry will clash with Leonardo Mayer and Joao Sousa, who beat alternated Roberto Carballes Baena and Andrey Rublev 7-6(5), 6-3.

The elimination of Pavic/Marach means that there will be no repeat titlist in the doubles draw, with the last team to retain its trophy being the Bryan brothers, who won three consecutive titles at Melbourne Park from 2009-11.

The pair that won two years ago, Henri Kontinen and John Peers, played well to defeat brothers Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski 6-3, 6-4. The No. 12 seeds, who did not face break point, will face the winner of Steve Johnson/Denis Kudla and Radu Albot/Malek Jaziri.

Did You Know?
The Bryan brothers’ longest streak of reaching the third round at any other major was at Wimbledon, where they advanced at least that far every year from 2001-16.