Novak Djokovic (7th) quietly reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, where he will face world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday in Melbourne, also qualified on Sunday as did Alexander Zverev (2nd), Aryna Sabalenka ( 1st) and Coco Gauff (3rd).
Djokovic rejoins Alcaraz
Ten-time winner of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic did not tremble. Facing the Czech Jiri Lehecka (29th), the Serbian won 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), and reached the quarter-finals for the 15th time in Australia, a record he shares with the Swiss Roger Federer.
Djokovic nevertheless surprised the audience by leaving the court without giving the traditional post-match interview. At a press conference, he justified his exit by “insulting comments” from a journalist employed by the official broadcaster of the tournament.
Since Friday evening, a video showing Channel 9 presenter Tony Jones mocking Novak Djokovic supporters has been circulating on social media. “Given that Channel 9 is the official broadcaster” of the Australian Open, the former world No.1 decided not to give them any more interviews until the channel apologizes.
The world No.7 will meet Carlos Alcaraz (3rd) on Tuesday for the quarter-finals in Melbourne, expected since the draw.
Earlier in the Rod Laver Arena, Alcaraz won the first two sets against Jack Draper (18th) before the Briton gave up.
Present in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the second year in a row, Alcaraz hopes to go “further” this year and win the only Grand Slam title he is missing.
The winner of the Djokovic-Alcaraz duel could meet Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
The world No.2 defeated Frenchman Ugo Humbert (14th) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, beaten for the third time in his career in the round of 16 of a Major.
In search of his first Grand Slam title at age 27, the German will face in the quarters the American Tommy Paul (11th), easy winner of Alejandro Davidovich (66th) 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.
“He is close to the top 10. He is very different from the last times I faced him,” Zverev underlined about his future opponent with whom he has already trained.
“He is a very intelligent player, capable of changing tactics. He can do anything on a tennis court. I expect a very difficult battle,” he warned.
-Sabalenka in demonstration, Gauff in three sets
Double title holder in Melbourne, Aryna Sabalenka, imperial against the young Russian Mirra Andreeva (15th), was on Sunday the first player to qualify for the quarters.
The Belarusian, winner of the Brisbane tournament at the beginning of January, won 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour and will face the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (32nd) to try to secure a place in the last square.
Pavlyuchenkova, who leads 2-1 in her confrontations with the world No.1, recalled that her victories were dated back (2019 and 2021).
Sabalenka “has clearly become another player now, very powerful. I don’t know what to expect,” admitted the oldest of the women’s draw (33 years old).
On Sunday, Sabalenka won his 18th match in a row in Melbourne, a performance not seen since 2014.
After the rapid success of the Belarusian, Coco Gauff needed three sets (5-7, 6-2, 6-1) and around 2h30 to overcome ex-N.4 Belinda Bencic, who fell to 294th rank after a break from the circuit to give birth to a daughter.
Olympic champion in 2021, Bencic “played really well in the first set, I had trouble being on the offensive,” said Gauff after her victory, the first in three sets since her victorious final at the beginning of November at the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.
“I played more aggressively in the 2nd and 3rd sets,” continued the American, undefeated since November and who will face Paula Badosa (12th) for a place in the last four.
The Spaniard beat the Serbian Olga Danilovic (55th) with a score of 6-1, 7-6 (7/2). She equals the best performance of her Grand Slam career, having reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros in 2021 and the US Open in 2024.
A possible first semi-final would “mean a lot” for Badosa, who however warned that she still lacks experience in the quarter-finals of major tournaments.
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