DANIIL MEDVEDEV, last year's runner-up, survived a tough challenge and a temper flare-up to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.
The Russian, seeded fifth, defeated Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej in five sets, eventually winning 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Medvedev struggled in his first match of the season against the world’s 418th-ranked player. "Second and third set I couldn't touch the ball. I didn't know what to do," he admitted.
At one point in the third set, Medvedev smashed his racquet and damaged the net camera in frustration before regaining composure to seal the victory on Rod Laver Arena.
Taylor Fritz, the fourth seed, had a smoother start to his campaign. The American needed just 1 hour and 46 minutes to dominate compatriot Jenson Brooksby, winning 6-2, 6-0, 6-3.
"It's never easy playing that first match in a Slam, there are some nerves, so I did a really good job shaking them off early and playing really solid," Fritz said.
France’s Gael Monfils overcame fellow countryman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a gruelling five-set contest, continuing his late-career resurgence.
Monfils, who became the oldest singles champion in ATP Tour history with his Auckland Classic win, battled to a 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 victory in 3 hours and 46 minutes.
The 13th seed, Holger Rune of Denmark, also survived a five-set test, defeating China’s Zhang Zhizhen 4-6, 6-3, 5-4, 3-6, 6-4.
In the women’s draw, Elena Rybakina, Emma Navarro, and Emma Raducanu secured early victories.
Rybakina defeated 16-year-old Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-1, while Raducanu beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2).
Raducanu admitted struggles with her serve, saying it had “a mind of its own.”
Anna Kalinskaya, seeded 13th, withdrew from her match due to undisclosed reasons, and lucky loser Eva Lys stepped in, claiming a 6-2, 6-2 win.
The 37-year-old, whose left leg was heavily taped after a quarter-final injury, withdrew after losing the first set 7-6 (7/5) to Alexander Zverev. (Photo: Getty Images)
NOVAK DJOKOVIC retired from the Australian Open semi-finals on Friday due to a muscle tear, ending his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The 37-year-old, whose left leg was heavily taped after a quarter-final injury, withdrew after losing the first set 7-6 (7/5) to Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic left the court to a mix of boos and applause, as Zverev advanced to his first final in Melbourne.
Asked if this could be his last appearance at the tournament, Djokovic said: "There is a chance. Who knows? I'll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going. But whether I'm going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I'm not sure."
He added: "I normally like to come to Australia to play. I've had the biggest success in my career here. So if I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come. But there's always a chance, yeah."
The loss extends Djokovic’s Grand Slam drought to five tournaments. He last won a major at the 2023 US Open and remains tied with Margaret Court’s record of 24 titles. His exit in Melbourne also denied him a 100th career title.
Reflecting on his tournament performance, Djokovic said: "I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played the last 12 months, to be honest. I liked my chances if I was physically fit and ready to battle. I think I was striking the ball very well. A lot of positives to take in terms of how I played. I wish Sascha (Zverev) all the best. You know, he deserves his first Slam. I'll be cheering for him."
Boos for Djokovic
Zverev will face either world number one Jannik Sinner or American Ben Shelton in Sunday’s final. The German, a two-time Grand Slam runner-up, has never reached the Melbourne final before.
Zverev criticised sections of the crowd for booing Djokovic as he left the court. "Novak Djokovic is somebody that has given to the sport for the past 20 years absolutely everything of his life," he said. "So please be respectful and really, really show some love for Novak as well."
Djokovic had come into the semi-final with fitness concerns after needing medical attention in his quarter-final win against Carlos Alcaraz. Despite this, he showed no visible signs of discomfort early on, saving multiple break points in a competitive first set.
The set was decided in a tiebreak, where Djokovic missed a straightforward volley to hand the advantage to Zverev. He approached the German to shake hands after the set, ending the match and his Australian Open campaign.
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The 19th seed defeated world number two Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10/8) in a final-set tiebreak. (Photo: Getty Images)
MADISON KEYS staged a comeback from a set down on Thursday to defeat Iga Swiatek in a thrilling semi-final, securing a spot in the Australian Open final against Aryna Sabalenka.
The 19th seed defeated world number two Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10/8) in a final-set tiebreak after Sabalenka eased past Paula Badosa in straight sets. It will be Keys' first final in Melbourne and her second in a Grand Slam.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, had not lost her serve since the opening round but was broken eight times by Keys. The American saved a match point during the 2-hour 35-minute battle, which marked the first time an Australian Open semi-final was decided by a 10-point tiebreak in the final set.
“That match was just such a high level, and she played so well,” said Keys, 29. “I felt like I was just fighting to stay in it... The third [set] was just a battle. To be able to be standing here and be in the finals is absolutely amazing, and I’m so excited that I get to be here on Saturday.”
Keys, the 2017 US Open runner-up, admitted she could hardly recall the details of the dramatic third set. “In the third set, it was just so up and down. I feel like I blacked out at some point,” she said with a smile. “Just to be able to stay in it and keep fighting... a 10-point tiebreaker for a dramatic finish.”
Earlier, Sabalenka defeated her close friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena to remain on track for her third consecutive Australian Open title.
The world number one and reigning US Open champion is aiming to become the first woman in 26 years to win three straight Melbourne crowns. The last to do so was Martina Hingis in 1999, with only four others achieving the feat, including Margaret Court and Steffi Graf.
Sabalenka said the achievement would be deeply meaningful. “I’m so proud of myself, I’m proud of my team,” she said. “If I’m able to put my name into history, it will mean a lot. It will mean the world to me.”
Despite the loss, Badosa described Sabalenka’s performance as nearly unbeatable. “Sometimes you’re like, I don’t know, I’m just walking around the court because I feel like she’s playing a PlayStation,” Badosa said.
Both Keys and Badosa will return to the top 10 after their strong performances in Melbourne.
(With inputs from AFP)
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The match extended Djokovic’s career head-to-head lead over Alcaraz to 5-3. (Photo: Getty Images)
NOVAK DJOKOVIC defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night thriller at the Australian Open to book a semi-final spot against Alexander Zverev, while defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka fought through to the last four.
Djokovic, 37, claimed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory at Rod Laver Arena, securing the win close to 1 am. The Serb, who has won the Australian Open 10 times, is now just two wins away from an 11th title and a record 25th Grand Slam trophy.
"I just wish that this match today was the final," Djokovic said after the match, describing it as one of the most memorable matches he has played on the court.
Djokovic, who had his thigh heavily strapped, appeared to struggle at the end of the first set but rallied back strongly.
The match extended Djokovic’s career head-to-head lead over Alcaraz to 5-3.
Alcaraz, the 21-year-old world number three from Spain, had hoped to progress beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the first time.
Reflecting on his performance, Alcaraz admitted he missed a key opportunity. "I'm going to say that was the biggest mistake that I made today," he said.
With former rival Andy Murray in his coaching corner, Djokovic showcased his trademark defiance, gesturing to the crowd after winning critical points.
The Serb was also at the centre of a controversy earlier in the week when he demanded and received an apology from a local TV presenter for "insulting" remarks.
In the semi-final, Djokovic will face Germany's Alexander Zverev, who overcame American Tommy Paul 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/0), 2-6, 6-1 in windy conditions.
Zverev lost his composure during the match when a feather disrupted play but recovered to dominate the final set.
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka kept her dream of a third consecutive Australian Open title alive with a hard-fought 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 win over Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Sabalenka, who is aiming to become the first player to achieve this feat since Martina Hingis in 1999, described the match as challenging due to windy conditions.
"Honestly I was just praying, trying to put the ball back in these tough conditions," she said after the match.
Sabalenka will face Spain's Paula Badosa in the semi-finals. Badosa, ranked 11th, defeated world number three Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.
Badosa reflected on her journey, saying, "A year ago, I was here with my back and I didn't know if I had to retire from this sport, and now I'm here playing against the best in the world."
The tournament continues on Wednesday with world number one Jannik Sinner playing Alex de Minaur and Iga Swiatek facing Emma Navarro.
(With inputs from AFP)
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Djokovic sparked debate on Sunday when he refused to do the routine on-court interview after defeating Jiri Lehecka. (Photo: Getty Images)
NOVAK DJOKOVIC was at the centre of a dispute at the Australian Open on Monday, while Jannik Sinner battled through intense heat and a medical scare to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek cruised past her opponent, and American teenage qualifier Learner Tien's dream run ended due to injury.
Sinner overcame Danish 13th seed Holger Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena despite needing medical attention for dizzy spells during the match.
Temperatures soared above 30 degrees Celsius for a second consecutive day, causing Sinner to struggle in the humid conditions.
His heart rate was checked during the third set before he took a medical timeout. He now awaits the winner of the match between Alex de Minaur and Alex Michelsen.
Djokovic sparked debate on Sunday when he refused to do the routine on-court interview after defeating Jiri Lehecka.
He later explained it was a protest against comments made by Tony Jones, a presenter with host broadcaster Channel Nine, who had called Djokovic a "has-been" and suggested he be "kicked out."
Djokovic said he would not engage with the network until he received a public apology.
Jones apologised on air on Monday, after which organisers Tennis Australia confirmed Djokovic acknowledged the apology and would now focus on his next match.
Djokovic’s boycott and subsequent video explanation, which garnered over 60 million views on X, drew responses from prominent figures, including Elon Musk and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese.
Svitolina advances, maintains protest
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina defeated Russia's Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the quarter-finals for the third time at Melbourne Park.
Svitolina declined to shake Kudermetova's hand, continuing a stance taken by Ukrainian players against Russians due to the ongoing war.
Speaking after her win, Svitolina said, "To bring a little light, a little win for the Ukrainian people is something that I feel I am responsible for."
Organisers displayed a notice on large screens to inform the crowd of the no-handshake policy and requested respect for the situation.
Svitolina will face American Madison Keys in the next round, while her husband, Gael Monfils, was forced to retire from his match against Ben Shelton due to exhaustion.
Shelton now faces Lorenzo Sonego, who defeated Tien in four sets.
Tien's impressive campaign, which included a second-round victory over Daniil Medvedev, came to an end after he struggled with a thigh issue in his loss to Sonego.
(With inputs from AFP)
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Despite Basavareddy's impressive performance, Djokovic fought back to win the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and began his quest for an 11th Australian Open title. (Photo: Getty Images)
NOVAK DJOKOVIC praised 19-year-old Indian-American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy after a tough first-round encounter at the Australian Open on Monday.
"At the end, it was great, but I think he was the better player for a set-and-a-half," Djokovic said. "He deserves every bit of applause that he got. These kinds of matchups are always tricky, dangerous when you are playing someone who has nothing to lose.
"To be honest, I’ve never seen him play up until 3 or 4 days ago. I didn’t know much about him. These matchups are always tricky when you play someone with nothing to lose. First match ever for him in a slam. He pleasantly surprised me with all of his shots. He's a very complete player. I wish him all the best for the rest of his career," Djokovic said post-match.
Despite Basavareddy's impressive performance, Djokovic fought back to win the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and began his quest for an 11th Australian Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam crown.
Basavareddy has named Djokovic as his favourite player and said he had modelled his game after the 24-times Grand Slam champion.
Basavareddy, who was making his Grand Slam main draw debut, stunned Djokovic in the first set, winning it 6-4.
The Serbian was out of rhythm, making 11 unforced errors and failing to convert any of the three break points he had. Basavareddy broke Djokovic at 3-3 with a crosscourt backhand that left the crowd gasping.
However, Djokovic regained his composure in the second set, breaking Basavareddy to take a 5-3 lead and serving it out to level the match. The American received treatment on his left leg at a changeover and was not the same player afterwards, allowing Djokovic to seize control and close out the match in four sets.
Both of Basavareddy's parents are from the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and moved to San Francisco in 1999. He was born in Newport Beach, California.
At the Auckland Open, Basavareddy became the youngest American to reach a tour-level hardcourt semifinal since an 18-year-old Reilly Opelka in 2016, reported The Hindu.
Djokovic’s new coach, Andy Murray, watched the match from one of the “coaching pods” on Rod Laver Arena.
The pairing marks a fresh start for Djokovic, who faced a difficult 2024 season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017.
While Djokovic won Olympic gold, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominated the majors last year. Djokovic is now focused on surpassing Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles and potentially securing his 100th career title, joining only Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer in achieving this milestone.
Next up for Djokovic is Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria in the second round.