Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a wobbly display to reach the Australian Open fourth round while Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were at their dazzling best on a warm but windy Friday at Melbourne Park.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit in setting up an Australian Open showdown with talented teenager Mirra Andreeva on Friday

World number one Aryna Sabalenka swept into the quarter-finals at a scorching-hot Australian Open on Sunday and was joined by Coco Gauff, while Carlos Alcaraz advanced when Jack Draper retired.

Elsewhere, in the men's draw, American 12th seed Tommy Paul will take on Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, while German second seed Alexander Zverev faces French 14th seed Ugo Humbert. The winners of these matches will advance to the semi-finals.

The business end is fast approaching at Melbourne Park, as the first fourth-round matches were played on Sunday (January 19, 2025) with quarter-final spots up for grabs. Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka raced into the quarter-finals thanks to an 18th successive Australian Open victory,

Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka are some of the prominent players who will be in action on the eighth day in Melbourne.

Aryna Sabalenka, Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz are the top seeds in action at Melbourne Park on Sunday. Rohan Bopanna will also partner China’s Shuai Zhang in their second round match of mixed doubles.

While there have been plenty of surprises in the men’s bracket so far, most of the top women have progressed through the draw without an issue.

An imperious Aryna Sabalenka stayed on course for a historic third consecutive Australian Open crown on Sunday, while Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz can later set up a blockbuster quarter-final. The prize for the winner is a meeting with either Carlos Alcaraz or Britain's Jack Draper for a place in the semi-finals.

The Australian Open fourth round matches have provided some thrilling entertainment with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz now on a collision course in the last eight after their respective victories.

By Shrivathsa Sridhar MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a wobbly display to reach the Australian Open fourth round while Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were at their dazzling best on a warm but windy Friday at Melbourne Park.