Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after successful his third spherical match on the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, on January 19, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Novak Djokovic was again to his ominous greatest Friday with a straight-sets romp into the Australian Open final 16 as Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner emphatically said their title credentials.
U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff additionally signalled her intent in a 6-0, 6-2 drubbing whereas 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva saved her dream run going with a fightback towards France’s Diane Parry.
Another younger Russian, qualifier Maria Timofeeva, joined them within the fourth spherical by upsetting tenth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia and in doing so grew to become the lowest-ranked girl since 2017, at 170, to get to this point at Melbourne Park.
Ten-time champion Djokovic has not been at his greatest till now, dropping units in each of his opening matches, admitting he was feeling under-the climate.
But the Serbian celebrity’s bid for a record-breaking twenty fifth Grand Slam crown obtained firmly again on monitor towards thirtieth seed Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry with a routine 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) win on Rod Laver Arena.
“I think the best performance I had during this tournament,” he mentioned after his one centesimal Australian Open match, with solely Roger Federer (117) and Serena Williams (105) taking part in extra.
“I am pleased with the way I played through the entire match, particularly the first two sets.”
The world primary will face journeyman French twentieth seed Adrian Mannarino subsequent.
Fellow defending champion Sabalenka was unstoppable in a crushing 6-0, 6-0 canter over Twenty eighth-seed Lesia Tsurenko whereas Sinner dropped simply 4 video games in crushing Sebastian Baez.
Rejuvenated former teen prodigy Amanda Anisimova was additionally a winner on day six, ending Paula Badosa’s Grand Slam damage comeback 7-5, 6-4.
Anisimova, getting back from eight months on the sidelines as a consequence of burnout and psychological well being points, faces Sabalenka subsequent and must raise her stage to face any likelihood.
The second seed, who gained her maiden Grand Slam crown in Melbourne final 12 months, has dropped simply six video games over three dominant matches to this point.
Even higher
Wearing vivid purple, she was within the zone towards Ukraine’s Tsurenko, racing dwelling in simply 52 minutes.
“Last year (world number one) Iga (Swiatek) won so many sets 6-0 and this is one of the goals,” she mentioned. “I’m trying to get closer to her.
“I’m super happy with the level I’m playing at so far and hopefully I can keep going like that or even better.”
Fourth-seed Sinner got here into the opening Grand Slam of the 12 months after ending 2023 in the perfect type of his life.
He gained his first Masters title in Toronto and reached the championship match on the ATP Finals, beating Djokovic in group play, earlier than main Italy to the Davis Cup title.
So far, he has lived as much as expectations and is but to drop a set, in contrast to the trio of gamers forward of him within the rankings — defending champion Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.
“Generally, I’m playing really well and feeling great here,” mentioned Sinner, who will subsequent play Russian fifteenth seed Karen Khachanov.
Andreeva underlined her enormous potential by crushing sixth seed Ons Jabeur in underneath an hour in spherical two and confirmed her grit to beat Parry 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/5).
Timofeeva’s gorgeous run continued with a 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 win over Brazil’s Haddad Maia, having already overwhelmed former champion Caroline Wozniacki.
At 170 on the earth and in her first Grand Slam, she is the lowest-ranked girl to get to this point in Melbourne since Germany’s Mona Barthel seven years in the past.
“It feels like a fairytale, but with the support of this amazing crowd, I feel like anything is possible,” she mentioned.
Fifth seed Andrey Rublev additionally gained to arrange a showdown with dwelling hope Alex de Minaur. Seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and twelfth seed Taylor Fritz each triumphed and can meet one another for a spot within the quarter-finals.
Source: www.thehindu.com
