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Novak Djokovic displayed his commanding prowess, securing a spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory on Sunday, joined by equally formidable performances from Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
After facing health challenges in his first two matches, Djokovic showcased top form against Adrian Mannarino, winning the first 13 games and advancing to the last eight for the 58th time in Grand Slam events, matching Roger Federer’s record.
The defending champion, eyeing his 11th Melbourne title and a historic 25th Grand Slam crown, expressed satisfaction with his positive direction in health and tennis.
Sabalenka, the defending women’s champion, continued her dominant run by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-2. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, aiming to replicate Naomi Osaka’s 2018-19 success, breezed past Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2 in just 63 minutes.
Gauff expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play in front of an 85-year-old tennis legend, looking forward to her first Aussie quarter-final against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
With several top women’s seeds eliminated, both Gauff and Sabalenka have a significant chance to secure another major title. Sabalenka, having dropped only 11 games in four matches, seeks to defend her title and become the first woman since Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to retain the Australian Open title.
Sabalenka’s next opponent will be either unseeded Russian Mirra Andreeva or ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova. Andreeva, at 16, could become the youngest woman to reach the Melbourne Park quarter-finals since Martina Hingis in 1997, a comparison often made due to their playing styles.
