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SCMP Sport

Agencies

A “hot-headed” Novak Djokovic sent an Australian Open warning to join Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in the last 16 on Friday, but Naomi Osaka’s bid for a third Melbourne crown is over with injury.
Also on day six, women’s defending champion Aryna Sabalenka “pushed to the limit” to set up an intriguing showdown with teenage talent Mirra Andreeva.
Djokovic, who is chasing a record-extending 11th Melbourne title and historic 25th grand slam crown, is on a collision course with Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
Both kept that tantalising prospect alive with ruthless victories.
Under new coach and old rival Andy Murray, the 37-year-old Djokovic needed four sets in both of his opening two matches.

But not this time, swatting aside Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 and letting out a roar at the end.
“I think I played really well, honestly. Very happy with my game,” said the seventh seed, who also pointed to his ear and then someone in the Rod Laver Arena crowd.
“I am very hot-headed right now,” said the fiery Serb, but added: “This is definitely the best match I played at this tournament.”
Djokovic, who needed a medical break in the second set and used an inhaler, faces 24th seed Jiri Lehecka next.
Spain’s Alcaraz, who raced into the last 32 for the loss of just 12 games, suffered a wobble in the third set against Portugal’s unseeded Nuno Borges.
But the third seed, who has won four majors but never been beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne, regained his focus to ease through 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2.
The 21-year-old knows how he plans to celebrate if he wins the tournament for the first time: he vowed to get a kangaroo tattoo.
“It’s a kangaroo, that’s for sure. That’s my idea,” said Alcaraz, who is sporting a new buzz cut in Melbourne.

Germany’s second seed Zverev also booked his place in the second week with a methodical 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Britain’s Jacob Fearnley. Zverev has not dropped a set in three matches so far.
But Jakub Mensik, the Czech teenager who shocked sixth seed Casper Ruud in round two, crashed out in five gruelling sets to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Top-ranked Sabalenka was made to work hard behind a faltering serve before beating Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the third round on Rod Laver Arena.
Sabalenka was broken four straight times at the start of the match but found her groove to win 7-6, 6-4 after more than two hours.
“I’m just super happy that I was able to just stay in the game and I was able to push myself, honestly, to the limit to get this win,” said Sabalenka, who is chasing a third Melbourne title in a row.
Her win puts her into a clash against highly rated 17-year-old Andreeva, the 14th seed, who beat Poland’s 23rd seed Magdalena Frech in three sets.
Two-time Melbourne champion Osaka was on course to clash with third seed Coco Gauff in the next round.
But the former world No 1 needed treatment on her stomach from the trainer during the first set against Belinda Bencic and called it quits after losing the opener on a tiebreak.

Osaka, who was in the third round of a slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023, had a troubled build-up to the Australian Open, retiring from the final in Auckland with an abdominal injury.
The Japanese star also revealed last week that she and her rapper boyfriend Cordae, the father of her daughter Shai, had split up.
“If I could have served, then I could have potentially won and I could have maybe gone far in the tournament,” she said, adding: “It sucks.”
Bencic will face Gauff after the American eased to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Canada’s 30th seed, Leylah Fernandez.
In an earlier match, the conqueror of China’s Zheng Qinwen, Laura Siegemund of Germany, was thrashed by Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The 36-year-old had dominated China’s Olympic gold medallist in their clash two days ago, but was brushed aside 6-1, 6-2, on John Cain Arena.


Australian Open, day 6: fired-up Novak Djokovic sends warning, Naomi Osaka bows out injured

Australian Open, day 4: Zheng Qinwen says ‘not my day’ after shock loss, Naomi Osaka wins

Why NBA, tennis could bypass Hong Kong despite its new HK$30 billion Kai Tak Sports Park

Australian Open day 3: three Chinese win, three exit – as Daniil Medvedev destroys racquet

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Novak Djokovic lets out a roar after winning his third-round match against Tomas Machac on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Novak Djokovic told the crowd it was “definitely the best match I played at this tournament”. Photo: Reuters

Carlos Alcaraz tries to save a point during his match against Portugal’s Nuno Borges on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

Naomi Osaka (centre) is attended to by medical staff before retiring from her round three match. Photo: EPA-EFE

Amad rescues United from embarrassing Saints defeat, Medvedev out, Collins trolls Open fans

Amad Diallo almost single-handedly saved Manchester Untied from an embarrassing defeat at home to Southampton. Photo: DPA

Learner Tien beat Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller that ended at 3am in Melbourne. Photo: EPA-EFE

Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk in action. Photo: Reuters

Kai Tak Sports Park occupies a prime position beside Hong Kong’s harbour, as seen from inside the main stadium. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong pop groups Mirror and Error perform at Kai Tak Arena last month to test the new facility. Photo: Nora Tam

Kai Tak’s main stadium is designed to stage sports such as rugby and football. Photo: Nora Tam

Kai Tak Arena has 10,000 seats, but its ceiling is lower than basketball and tennis rules require. Photo: Sam Tsang

Sport

Tennis

The Serb is on collision course with Carlos Alcaraz, who stayed on track with a wobbly win; Zheng Qinwen’s conqueror is thrashed


The Serb is on collision course with Carlos Alcaraz, who stayed on track with a wobbly win; Zheng Qinwen’s conqueror is thrashed.


Australian Open

Zheng Qinwen