Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff all booked quarter-final places at the Australian Open on Sunday in Melbourne, as cooler conditions returned and the tournament settled back into form after a day of heat-induced disruption.
Sabalenka, the two-time champion and world number one, was first on court and extended her formidable tiebreak record with a 6-1 7-6(1) victory over Canada’s 19-year-old Victoria Mboko. The Belarusian dominated the opening set in just 31 minutes and surged to a 4-1 lead in the second before Mboko mounted a spirited comeback.
Mboko broke Sabalenka twice to move ahead 6-5, but the resistance ended abruptly in the tiebreak as Sabalenka tightened her grip to claim a 20th consecutive Grand Slam tiebreak win. The victory secured her 13th straight appearance in a Grand Slam quarter-final.
“It’s incredible to see these kids coming up on tour,” Sabalenka said. “She pushed me really hard today.”
Sabalenka will face another teenager next, meeting 18-year-old American Iva Jovic, who dismantled Yulia Putintseva 6-0 6-1 at John Cain Arena. Jovic’s run has included the earlier removal of seventh seed Jasmine Paolini.
The men’s draw has offered fewer shocks, with the last 16 made up entirely of seeded players for the first time at any Grand Slam in the professional era. Top seed Alcaraz maintained that pattern with a composed 7-6(6) 6-4 7-5 win over 19th seed Tommy Paul at Rod Laver Arena.
Paul, a semi-finalist here in 2023, pushed Alcaraz at times but was unable to disrupt the Spaniard’s rhythm. It was Alcaraz’s latest success over Paul at a major, following wins at the French Open and Wimbledon.
“He kind of, like, suffocates you in a way,” Paul said. “He makes you feel like you have no time.”
Alcaraz will next play the winner of home favourite Alex de Minaur and Alexander Bublik, who meet in the evening session.
Earlier on Sunday, third seed Gauff reached her third consecutive Australian Open quarter-final with a hard-fought 6-1 3-6 6-3 win over Karolina Muchova. The American missed three match points before finally closing out a contest that swung sharply in momentum.
“She definitely elevated her game and I thought I was sometimes a bit passive,” Gauff said. “I am really happy to get through this one today. I think today I didn’t panic. I knew I just had to capitalise on those chances in the third set and I did that.”
Gauff will face either Elina Svitolina or Mirra Andreeva for a place in the semi-finals.
Elsewhere, three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev advanced to set up a quarter-final meeting with Learner Tien, the American who stunned him in five sets in the second round last year. Revenge, at least, will be firmly on Medvedev’s mind.
