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- Carlos Alcaraz beats Tommy Paul in 3 sets and confidently moves into the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.
- Last year’s finalist Alexander Zverev also left a strong impression in his victory over Francisco Cerundolo.
- Novak Djokovic gets another day of rest. His round of 16 opponent Jakub Mensik declares forfeit.
Carlos Alcaraz (ATP 1) also cleared the fourth hurdle at the Australian Open without losing a set. Against the American Tommy Paul (ATP 20), the Spaniard showed better nerves in the decisive phases of the game and won 7:6 (8:6), 6:4, 7:5. On his way to the quarter-finals, he didn’t let himself be deterred by a 15-minute interruption due to a medical incident in the stands in the first set. Alcaraz coped with the break a little better, Paul lost the tiebreak with a double fault.
A real tough test awaits Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Local hero and crowd favorite Alex de Minaur (ATP 6) defeated the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (ATP 10) in just under 90 minutes with 6:4, 6:1, 6:1 and is preparing to defeat the Spaniard for the first time. In the five duels so far, the Australian has only won two sets. Regardless of the outcome of the game, there will be a premiere. Both Alcaraz and de Minaur have never been to the semi-finals in Melbourne.
Old Zverev
His best performance of the tournament so far Alexander Zverev (ATP 3) in the round of 16 against Francisco Cerundolo. The German deservedly beat the Argentine (ATP 21) 6:2, 6:4, 6:4. The 28-year-old converted his second match point with a wonderful lob after 2:12 hours and remained without losing a set for the first time in this year’s tournament.
Zverev shouldn’t be dissatisfied with his quarter-final opponent either. Instead of Daniil Medvedev (ATP 12), against whom he only won two of the last eight duels, he is waiting in the round of the last eight Learner Tien on the Germans. The 20-year-old American (ATP 29) gave Medvedev no chance and won 6:4, 6:0, 6:3. Tien Medvedev had already been knocked out of the tournament last year, but back then in the second round.
Djokovic benefits
Without having to play Novak Djokovic (ATP 4) reached the quarterfinals. His opponent Jakub Mensik (ATP 17) withdrew due to injury one day before the round of 16. «It’s an unfortunate decision. After the last two games I have had increasing pain and the problem is on the left side of my abdominal muscles,” the Czech said in a statement released by the tournament organizers.
Australian Open 2026
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