• No 8 seed defeats American qualifier Tristan Boyer 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
• 31st seed Francisco Cerundolo up next for Australia’s No 1

The seeds lie in wait for Alex de Minaur, who strode through his second round match at the Australian Open on Thursday, defeating American qualifier Tristan Boyer 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 in just under two hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Australia’s main hope of breaking a 49-year drought in the men’s singles at Melbourne Park now meets 31st seed Francisco Cerundolo. A possible quarter-final match up looms against world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who plays local wildcard Tristan Schoolkate on Thursday night.