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Agence France-Presse

Novak Djokovic surged into an Australian Open quarter-final clash against Carlos Alcaraz with a dominant victory on Sunday, while women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka was a ruthless winner.
Double defending champion Sabalenka is on a collision course with in-form world No 3 Coco Gauff in the semi-finals in Melbourne if both win in the last eight.
Alcaraz went through when Britain’s Jack Draper retired injured, the 37-year-old Djokovic then kept up his end of the bargain with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 win over Czech 24th seed Jiri Lehecka in the prime-time match on Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic is anticipating a “big battle” against Alcaraz on Tuesday.
“The kind of matches that I played against him remind me of my match-ups versus [Rafael] Nadal in terms of the intensity and the energy on the court,” he said.

Djokovic appears to be growing into the tournament in an ominous sign for his rivals, as he pursues a record-extending 11th Melbourne crown and historic 25th grand slam title.
He dropped a set in each of his opening two matches but has won the previous two in straight sets.
Djokovic and Alcaraz have played each other seven times with the Serb leading 4-3, including victory in their clash in the Paris Olympics final. But they have never played at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic has achieved his greatest success.
“When we are seeing him playing, he seems like he’s young again … it’s unbelievable. He’s in a really good shape,” said Alcaraz, who has vowed to get a kangaroo tattoo if he wins the Australian Open for the first time.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, who has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne, was leading 7-5, 6-1 when Draper pulled the plug.
Draper had come through all three of his previous matches in five sets, and all from 2-1 down, and it appeared to have taken its toll.
“It’s not the way I wanted to win, but obviously I’m happy to play another quarter-final here in Australia,” Alcaraz said.
The 23-year-old Draper, whose rise has been held back by issues with his body, said his hip injury had been a “ticking time bomb” and he had “multiple areas really in pain”.
American 12th seed Tommy Paul destroyed Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for the loss of just three games as he bids to match or better his semi-final appearance from 2023.
Paul will meet German second seed Alexander Zverev, who survived a mid-match wobble to oust France’s Ugo Humbert. Zverev, who is zeroing in on a maiden grand slam title, won 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Sabalenka blew away Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in just 62 minutes, registering an 18th consecutive win at Melbourne Park.
“I’m super happy to get through this difficult match in straight sets,” said Sabalenka, who faces Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova next. “The ball was flying like a rocket.”
Gauff faces Spain’s 11th seed Paula Badosa after the American fought back to beat Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
Gauff dropped a set for the first time in 2025 but extended her unbeaten streak to 13 matches going back to last year’s WTA Tour Finals.
“Two out of three sets at this stage of my career is not that physically hard for me,” said the 20-year-old Gauff, who is chasing a first Melbourne title. “The off-season I just put in so much work physically so I’m not worried at all about recovering emotionally or mentally.”
Badosa declared she “loves” Gauff – but said that will not prevent her looking for “revenge”.
The pair have a 3-3 head-to-head record but Gauff won both their meetings in 2024, with each going to three sets. The last time was in the semi-finals of the WTA China Open in Beijing, where Gauff won 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on her way to lifting the title.

Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev has been fined a large chunk of his Australian Open prize money for unsportsmanlike conduct at the year’s opening grand slam, including a racquet-smashing meltdown in the first round.
The 28-year-old Russian whacked his racquet into the net five times as his frustration boiled over during his opening victory against Thai wild card Kasidit Samrej on Tuesday.
Medvedev incurred a point penalty during his five-sets defeat in the second round by American Learner Tien late on Thursday after throwing his equipment towards the sideline. He then failed to attend the post-match news conference.
The two incidents prompted the organisers to fine Medvedev a total of US$76,000. Players reaching the second round collect around $123,000.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, has earned more than US$45 million in prize money during his career.


Australian Open: Alexander Zverev beats Tommy Paul to reach semi-final, Badosa stuns Gauff

Australian Open: Jannik Sinner toughs it out as Learner Tien hobbles, Gael Monfils retires

Australian Open, day 8: Alcaraz, Djokovic to meet in last 8, Sabalenka powers past Andreeva

Australian Open, day 7: Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek storm into round 4 in straight sets

Australian Open

Novak Djokovic hits a return during his men’s singles fourth round match against Jiri Lehecka. Photo: Xinhua

Aryna Sabalenka brushed Mirra Andreeva aside. Photo: AP

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev throws his racquet during his match against Learner Tien. Photo: AFP

World No 2 Iga Swiatek celebrates match point during her round-three win over Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open. Photo: EPA

French veteran Gael Monfils celebrates after knocking Taylor Fritz out in the Australian Open third round. Photo: AP

Men’s world No 1 Jannik Sinner celebrates after his victory over Marcos Giron at the Australian Open. Photo: EPA

Premier League title race drama: Liverpool win, Arsenal draw; rare 147 break at Masters

Darwin Nunez celebrates with his Liverpool teammates after his late double earned his side a dramatic victory over Brentford. Photo: EPA

Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring the first goal during his side’s 2-0 victory over Brentford. Photo: EPA

Juventus’ Timothy Weah celebrates after scoring during the second goal in Juventus’ 2-0 win over AC Milan. Photo: AP

New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier of New Zealand in action during the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic. Photo: EPA

Sport

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz reaches quarter-finals in Melbourne for the first time after Jack Draper retires hurt. Aryna Sabalenka sweeps past Andreeva


Carlos Alcaraz reaches quarter-finals in Melbourne for the first time after Jack Draper retires hurt. Aryna Sabalenka sweeps past Andreeva.
