Novak Djokovic stormed into the Australian Open quarter-finals with a commanding straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka, setting up an eagerly anticipated clash with Carlos Alcaraz. However, the Serbian star shifted the spotlight away from his performance by refusing to participate in an on-court interview and criticising the tournament’s official broadcaster.
Djokovic, aiming for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title and an 11th Australian Open crown, dispatched Lehecka 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4). Despite the convincing win, he opted for a brief acknowledgement of the crowd before exiting the court, citing dissatisfaction with comments made by Channel Nine’s Tony Jones regarding him and his supporters.
Jones had previously made remarks about Djokovic and his fans during an earlier match, which the Serbian found disrespectful. Djokovic stated he would continue to boycott interviews with the broadcaster until an apology is issued, even if it meant facing fines from tournament organisers.
Looking ahead to his quarter-final meeting with Alcaraz, Djokovic acknowledged the Spaniard’s talent and appeal, describing him as “dynamic, explosive, and incredibly talented.” The upcoming match is set to be one of the most highly anticipated encounters of the tournament.
Sabalenka and Gauff march into Quarter-Finals
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka maintained her dominant form with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva, extending her winning streak at Melbourne Park to 18 consecutive matches. Sabalenka, who fell to Andreeva in the French Open quarter-finals last year, showed no signs of vulnerability this time, wrapping up the match in just over an hour.
Meanwhile, US Open champion Coco Gauff overcame a tough challenge from Belinda Bencic, rallying from a set down to secure a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory. Bencic, ranked outside the top 200 following her return from maternity leave, put up a strong fight but ultimately could not contain Gauff’s relentless pressure.
Sabalenka will now face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who advanced after a 7-6(0), 6-0 win over Donna Vekic, while Gauff will meet Spain’s Paula Badosa, who secured her place in the last eight with a straight-sets win over Olga Danilovic.
Zverev and Alcaraz ease through
On the men’s side, Alexander Zverev continued his fine run of form with a solid four-set victory over Ugo Humbert, winning 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. The German’s powerful game proved too much for his French opponent, and he now looks to build on his momentum in the quarter-finals.
Carlos Alcaraz also progressed after his opponent, Jack Draper, retired due to injury. The Spaniard was leading 7-5, 6-1 when Draper was forced to withdraw, clearing Alcaraz’s path to a mouth-watering showdown with Djokovic.
Badosa overcomes Danilovic to set up Gauff clash
Paula Badosa reached her first Australian Open quarter-final with a hard-fought 6-1, 7-6(2) victory over Olga Danilovic. The Spaniard displayed resilience, rallying from 5-2 down in the second set to secure her place in the next round. Badosa expressed excitement about facing Gauff, hoping to turn the tables after previous defeats to the American in recent tournaments.
As the tournament progresses, the quarter-final line-up promises high-quality encounters, with fans eagerly awaiting the meeting between Djokovic and Alcaraz, alongside the possibility of a semi-final showdown between Gauff and Sabalenka.
