Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz achieved two firsts in his career by reaching the last 16 of the Australian Open. But it came in unfortunate circumstances at Melbourne Park as his rival was forced to retire.
Meanwhile, Tommy Paul suffered a final set meltdown as Jack Draper’s conqueror crashed out. Sloane Stephens was given a mouthful by the chair umpire as she took too long to eat sushi during her defeat.
Zheng Qinwen won the China derby in the first matcfh of the day in the Rod Laver Arena – and said she took inspiration from her country’s most famous player And Novak Djokovic has been bumped off his favourite evening slot in the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.
YOUNG GUNS
In his 201st Tour-level match, Alcaraz has played and beaten a player younger than him. The Spaniard, 20, won through to the fourth round here for the first time when Chineses wildcard Shang Juncheng, 18, had to retire in the third set trailing 1-6 1-6 0-1 after getting treatment for a quad injury. The match lasted only 66 minutes.
The two-time Grand Slam champion said: “It’s not the way anyone wants to move on. I wish him a speedy recovery. But I am glad to finally play against a younger player. I think tennis is growing with more younger players coming through. I think it is great for tennis and for all the people watching.”
Alcaraz is bidding to become the third man in the Open era to win three Grand Slams before the age of 21 along with Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander.
PAUL’S FALL
World No.2 Alcaraz will now faces Miomir Kecmanovic in the fourth round after No.14 seed Paul suffered a horrendous collapse.
Last year’s semi-finalist had two match point in the fourth set tiebreak but then won only six points in the final set. The American smashed his racquet in frustration at 0-3 down beore losing 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-6 6-0.
Serbian world no. 60 Kecmanovic, who reached the last 16 here for the second time in three years, said: “It feels good. A good thing is that I can get some rest now. I’m beyond happy to be, again, in the second week.”
NO SUSHI ROLL FOR STEPHENS
Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens lost 6-7 6-1 6-4 to Russian world No.75 Anna Kalinskaya in the Kia Arena – and also found a mid-match helping of sushi hard to swallow.
The American was told off by Brazilian chair umpire Aline Rocha for taking too long to eat the snack during her changeover at 0-5 down in the second. The world No.44 then ordered milkshakes to go along with the sushi but it did not prove to be a winning combination.
A series of big names and former Grande Slam winners are already out of the women’s draw
World No.75 Kalinskaya, who was playing her first ever third round match at a Grand Slam, said: “I saw a few upsets, and it just, for me, means that anyone can win. The most important is to fight, and you have to enjoy, and then in the end of the match, you will see how it goes.
LI NA’S LEGACY
It could have been a Battle of Britain in the third round between Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter. But instead Chinese players Qinwen Zheng and Yafan Wang won through with the No.12 seed Zheng edging the contest 6-4 2-6 7-6.
Li Na won the title here a decade ago. And in her courtside interview, Zheng, 21, said: “That final I have watched more than 10 timesI was sitting there in front of TV. I watched from beginning to the end. She [Li] is an unbelievable player – the first Asian woman to be a Grand Slam champion. How don’t you remember that?”
AUSSIE RULES
Ten-time champion Djokovic has played his first three matches at 7pm in the main court – but not tomorrow.
The Serbian superstar will face Adrian Mannarino in the second match in the Rod Laver Arena after Coco Gauff plays Magdalena Frech. It is the first time for three years that Djokovic – who missed the event in 2022 – will play during the day at Melbourne Park.
And Aussie No.1 Alex de Minaur will take the primetime slot for his blockbuster fourth round clash with Andrey Rublev. Katie Boulter’s boyfriend is seeking to become the first male home singles champion here since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka, who has only dropped six games in the first three rounds. Will face American Amanda Anisimova in the second match in the Margaret Court Aren
