All the latest news and results from the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year that's taking place in Melbourne.
Czech Linda Noskova knocked out World No 1 Iga Swiatek in the third round of the Australian Open.
"I played great, from the first to the last point," said the defending champion, who is red-hot favourite to collect an 11th Melbourne title and a record 25th Grand Slam crown. Defending women's champion Sabalenka has been in imperious form and was in complete charge against unseeded Amanda Anisimova on Margaret Court Arena, sweeping past the American 6-3, 6-2.
"First Aussie quarter-final. Super happy to be in this position and be here.... It's cool to get over that hump."She will next meet Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, who beat Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva 6-2, 6-1. Should she go all the way, the 25-year-old will be the first woman to retain the title since compatriot Victoria Azarenka completed the feat in 2013.
It was a vastly different match from his late-night escape from two sets down against Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round, a contest that finished at 3:40am on Friday. Against the odds, the Canadian broke immediately in the second set, but it was temporary blip, with Medvedev getting back on levels terms at 3-3.
"I knew it was going to be an amazing match, but I didn't really think it would end up like this."I'm just really glad to get through." Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka said Saturday she still"loves a challenge" after rallying past fellow Grand Slam winner Jelena Ostapenko in Melbourne.
"I think I'm just ready to give whatever it takes. I'm going to stay out here as long as I need to be. Alcaraz, who missed last year's tournament at Melbourne Park with an injury, said it was"not the way anybody wants to move on" after the lopsided contest, which lasted just 66 minutes on Rod Laver Arena."I was watching the matches at home from the couch, wishing to play in the second week here.Shang held serve in his first game, but Alcaraz won the next six games to take the set, not facing a single break point.
The two-time Grand Slam champion next faces Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic, who is ranked 60th in the world and beat 14th seeded American Tommy Paul in five sets.Zheng Qinwen admitted Saturday she has watched Chinese great Li Na's win in the 2014 Australian Open final"10 times" as she moved a step closer to matching her idol's exploits.
"I was sitting there in front of the TV, watching that from the beginning to the end," said 12th seed Zheng, who was 11 at the time."I mean, she was an unbelievable player, the first Asian woman who won the Grand Slam. How can you not remember that." He is aiming to become the third man in the Open era to win three Grand Slams before the age of 21, after Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander.Shang, 18, is an unknown quantity for the two-time major winner, who is in the unusual position of facing someone younger than himself.
On her days off she has witnessed defending champion Aryna Sabalenka pummel her three opponents into submission, for the loss of just six games in total. Men's third seed Daniil Medvedev is back on court after his gruelling five-set encounter with Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori, which finished at 3:40 am on Friday.
Another young Russian, qualifier Maria Timofeeva, joined them in the fourth round by upsetting 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia and in doing so became the lowest-ranked woman since 2017, at 170, to get so far at Melbourne Park. Fellow defending champion Sabalenka was unstoppable in a crushing 6-0, 6-0 canter over 28th-seed Lesia Tsurenko while Sinner dropped just four games in crushing Sebastian Baez.
"Last year Iga won so many sets 6-0 and this is one of the goals," she said."I'm trying to get closer to her. So far, he has lived up to expectations and is yet to drop a set, unlike the trio of players ahead of him in the rankings -- defending champion Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. At 170 in the world and in her first Grand Slam, she is the lowest-ranked woman to get so far in Melbourne since Germany's Mona Barthel seven years ago."It feels like a fairytale, but with the support of this amazing crowd, I feel like anything is possible," she said.
She joins another young Russian, Mirra Andreeva, in the last 16 and will play unseeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk for a place in the quarter-finals. Timofeeva was equally impressive against 2018 champion Wozniacki, showing power and grit to haul herself back into that contest and ultimately prevail 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner emphatically stated their Australian Open title credentials on Friday, surging into the fourth round as a below-par Novak Djokovic prepared for another testing examination.
Anisimova, returning from eight months on the sidelines due to burnout and mental health issues, faces Sabalenka next and will have to lift her level to stand any chance. "I'm super happy with the level I'm playing at so far and hopefully I can keep going like that or even better." So far, he has lived up to expectations and is yet to drop a set, unlike the trio of players ahead of him in the rankings - defending champion Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.
Parry, herself only 21, stopped the rot by breaking to set up a tie-break. But the teenager had all the momentum and imposed herself again for a remarkable victory.Another young Russian, Maria Timofeeva, is back on court later after upsetting former champion Caroline Wozniacki and will meet Brazilian 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.
The second round match stretched well into the early hours even though tournament organisers added a day this year in an effort to curb late-night finishes. Earlier, women's world number one Iga Swiatek and men's second seed Carlos Alcaraz each played on the court for more than three hours, both coming out on top.
Australian Open organisers announced in October they were making the year's opening Grand Slam a 15-day event to limit late finishes after Britain's Andy Murray notably played until 4:05 am at the 2023 tournament.Carlos Alcaraz revealed Thursday he is a huge fan of the Sylvester Stallone movie franchise 'Rocky' and is using it as motivation at the Australian Open.
"I'm a huge fan of Rocky Balboa. The songs remind me of the movie, all the training sessions that he had in the movie.The two-time major champion and second seed is seeking a maiden title in Melbourne and will meet Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng next. "Both of us played such a great level, high intensity. The match was a bit tricky with the wind and sun, tough to play my best.Alcaraz had a stellar 2023, lifting six tour-level trophies.He also constantly battled for the number one spot with 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and has the opportunity to seize back the top ranking in Melbourne.
It surpassed the previous longest tie-break of 38 points, according to the International Tennis Federation. "This day, I will remember for the rest of my life, especially on this court with this crowd. I will never forget it. It is the best day of my life so far."Grigor Dimitrov blocks out the noise, holds his nerve and overcomes a fired-up Thanasi Kokkinakis to advance!
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