Novak Djokovic was back to his ominous best Friday with a straight-sets romp into the Australian Open last 16 as Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner emphatically stated their title credentials.
On a dynamic day at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic showcased his formidable form with a straight-sets victory, signaling a strong return to his championship bid. Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner also asserted their title aspirations, while young talents like Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva made compelling statements on the court.
Defending champion Djokovic, a ten-time winner at the Australian Open, had faced challenges in his earlier matches, dropping sets and admitting to feeling under the weather. However, he regained his momentum with a convincing 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) win against 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Djokovic expressed satisfaction with his performance, considering it his best in the tournament so far. The world number one is now set to face French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino in the next round.
Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion on the women’s side, displayed dominance with a commanding 6-0, 6-0 victory over 28th-seed Lesia Tsurenko. Sabalenka, seeded second, continues her impressive run and will face Amanda Anisimova in the next round. Anisimova, making a comeback after eight months, secured a 7-5, 6-4 win against Paula Badosa.
Jannik Sinner, the fourth seed, continued his strong form by dropping just four games in a comprehensive victory over Sebastian Baez. Sinner, yet to drop a set in the tournament, emphasized his confidence and will face Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov in the next round.
Mirra Andreeva, the 16-year-old Russian, continued her dream run with a resilient fightback against France’s Diane Parry, winning 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/5). Another young Russian, qualifier Maria Timofeeva, extended her remarkable run with an upset win over 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, becoming the lowest-ranked woman since 2017 to reach this stage at Melbourne Park.
As the tournament progresses, the competition intensifies, with intriguing matchups ahead. Fifth seed Andrey Rublev, seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, and 12th seed Taylor Fritz also secured victories, setting the stage for exciting clashes in the upcoming rounds. The Australian Open continues to deliver thrilling moments, with emerging talents challenging established stars on the grand stage of Melbourne.
