Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff Charge into Australian Open Quarterfinals with Commanding Performances
Melbourne, Australia
Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked men’s tennis player, delivered a masterclass on Sunday, dismantling France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 to storm into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. This remarkable victory marks the Serbian star’s 58th appearance in the last eight of a grand slam tournament, equaling Roger Federer’s all-time record.
Djokovic, who is on a quest for a record-extending 25th grand slam title, faced stern tests in the opening two rounds of this tournament, dropping a set in each. However, he has ominously found his rhythm as the second week approaches.
“The first two sets [were some] of the best sets I’ve played in a while,” Djokovic said afterward, as reported by the ATP Tour.
Djokovic’s dominance was so complete that he raced through the first two sets without dropping a single game. He seemed poised for a rare triple bagel – which would have been the first of its kind at the Australian Open and the first at any grand slam since 1993. However, Mannarino, who could only laugh at the end of the second set, finally managed to win a game in the third.
“I really wanted to lose that game in the third set, because the tension was building up so much in the stadium,” Djokovic said. “I just needed to get that one out of the way so I can refocus on what I needed to do to close out the match.”
Djokovic will now face Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals after the American shocked last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 in their fourth-round match. Fritz, the tournament’s No. 12 seed, had never before defeated a top 10 player at a grand slam, but he limited himself to just 19 unforced errors and hit 13 aces to reach his maiden Australian Open quarterfinal.
“The last three games of the match I really, really turned it on, almost like [I] was in a trance and everything,” Fritz said afterward, according to the tournament’s website.
“Just felt good. I felt like I knew exactly what shot to hit, the right decision to make on every ball. It’s great. It’s been a while since I’ve had that feeling, so it gives me a lot of confidence.”
Coco Gauff Reaches First Australian Open Quarterfinal with Dominant Display
American sensation Coco Gauff also made history on Sunday, reaching her first-ever Australian Open quarterfinal with an impressive 6-1, 6-2 victory over Poland’s Magdalena Frech. This win extends her consecutive grand slam match-winning streak to 11, including her US Open title last year.
Gauff was utterly dominant throughout the match, hitting 21 winners compared to Frech’s seven and never facing a break point. The 19-year-old’s increasingly assured performances make it easy to forget that she is still a teenager, as she herself admits.
“I just feel like I’ve lived so many lives the last four years, that I just feel older than 19,” she told reporters afterward. “Yeah, I definitely do forget my age a lot.”
Gauff has become the youngest woman to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals since Agnieszka Radwanska in 2008. She will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the next round.
Other Notable Results from the Australian Open Fourth Round
* No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka defeated Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals, where she will face Donna Vekic.
* No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was upset by Taylor Fritz in four sets, ending his hopes of reaching a second consecutive Australian Open final.
* No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev defeated Dan Evans in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals, where he will face No. 9 seed Holger Rune.
* No. 6 seed Maria Sakkari defeated Yulia Putintseva in three sets to reach the quarterfinals, where she will face No. 22 seed Elena Rybakina.
* No. 7 seed Iga Swiatek defeated Camila Osorio in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals, where she will face No. 19 seed Elise Mertens.
* No. 8 seed Jessica Pegula defeated Marta Kostyuk in three sets to reach the quarterfinals, where she will face No. 4 seed Barbora Krejcikova
Quarterfinal Matchups Set for the Australian Open
Men’s Singles
* Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz
* Andrey Rublev vs. Holger Rune
Women’s Singles
* Aryna Sabalenka vs. Donna Vekic
* Maria Sakkari vs. Elena Rybakina
* Iga Swiatek vs. Elise Mertens
* Jessica Pegula vs. Barbora Krejcikova
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