“Very hot” Novak Djokovic produced a vintage display to join Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open last Friday, but Naomi Osaka’s bid for a third Melbourne crown was ended by injury. Also on Day 6, defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka was “pushed to the limit” in preparation for an exciting showdown with teenage talent Mirra Andreeva. Hot Coco Gauff was a strong winner, once again highlighting her title credentials. Djokovic, seeking his 11th Melbourne title and historic 25th Grand Slam crown, is on the verge of a clash with Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
Both kept that tantalizing prospect alive with ruthless victories.
Under new coach and long-time rival Andy Murray, the 37-year-old Djokovic needed four sets in both of his first two matches.
But not this time. He defeated Tomas Machak, the 26th seed from the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, and let out a shout at the end.
Djokovic also pointed to his ear and someone in the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
“I am very impatient now,” said the passionate Serb. But he added, “This is definitely the best game I’ve played in the tournament.”
Djokovic, who needed a medical break in the second set and used an inhaler, next faces 24th seed Jiri Reheka.
Spain’s Alcaraz, who advanced to the round of 32 with only 12 losses, appeared shaky in the third set against Portugal’s Nuno Borges, who was not seeded.
However, the third seed, who had won four majors and had not advanced past the quarterfinals in Melbourne, regained focus by breaking through 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2.
The 21-year-old knows how he plans to celebrate when he wins his first tournament.
Alcaraz, who is showing off his new buzz cut in Melbourne, has vowed to get a kangaroo tattoo if he goes all the way.
“It’s definitely a kangaroo, that’s what I think,” he said.
Germany’s second seed Zverev also booked his place in the second week with a methodical 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Britain’s Jacob Fearnley.
Zverev has not dropped a set in three matches so far and faces French 14th seed Hugo Humbert.
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik, who stunned sixth seed Casper Ruud in the second round, lost to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five sets.
Defending men’s champion and world number one Jannik Sinner will face America’s Marcos Giron in the third round on Saturday.
‘It’s annoying’
Top-ranked Sabalenka beat Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the third round at Rod Laver Arena after working hard behind a shaky serve.
Sabalenka suffered four consecutive breaks at the start of the match, but won 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 after more than two hours of tennis.
“I’m very happy that I was able to stay in the game and honestly push myself to the limit to get this win,” said Sabalenka, who is seeking her third successive Melbourne win.
Her win set her up for a clash with 14th seed Andreeva, a highly rated 17-year-old who had beaten Poland’s 23rd seed Magdalena Frech in three sets.
Andreeva beat Sabalenka in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros last year.
Two-time Melbourne champion Osaka was scheduled to face third seed Gauff in the next round.
But the former world number one needed treatment on her stomach in the first set against Belinda Bencic and said she had to quit the match after losing the opener in a tiebreak.
“If I could have served, we could have potentially won and gone far in the tournament,” said Osaka, who retired from the Auckland final with an abdominal injury ahead of the Melbourne game.
“It’s frustrating,” she added.
Bencic will face Gauff after the American won 6-4, 6-2 over No. 30 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada.
Gauff has yet to drop a set in eight matches this season and has won all five of her singles titles at the United Cup.
Seventh seed Jessica Pegula, a finalist at last year’s US Open, suffered a surprise straight loss to Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.
Second seed Iga Swiatek plays Emma Raducanu in Saturday’s women’s selection clash between former US Open champions.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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