BARBORA KREJCIKOVA ended the dream run of 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva on Sunday to set up an Australian Open quarter-final against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Andreeva hammered sixth seed Ons Jabeur in the second round and then had to save a match point against Diane Parry in round three.
But she ran out of road in her last-16 tie on John Cain Arena against her Czech opponent, who lost the first set for the third time at the tournament before coming through 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
“I’m fighting,” said Krejcikova, who had lost her previous two matches against the young Russian.
“I’m just trying to give my best and go for every single ball.
“I think I was really improving with every single ball and I was going for it point by point.”
Both players struggled to hold serve in the opening set but Andreeva made the crucial break in the ninth game and served out to love.
The players swapped breaks early in the second set but Krejcikova broke again in the sixth game, going on to level the match.
The Czech player, 28, was again on top early in the deciding set and she broke again for a 5-2 lead, serving out comfortably to reach her second Australian Open quarter-final.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic was at his dominant best in a straight-sets demolition job to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals, with Sabalenka and Coco Gauff in equally ruthless touch.
The Serbian superstar recaptured his top form to surge into the last 16 after dropping sets in his opening two matches while ill, and he stepped up another level against Adrian Mannarino.
The French 20th seed, who at 35 is just a year younger than Djokovic, has been enjoying a late-career resurgence.
But he was taught a lesson by the world number one, who won the first 13 games in powering through to the last eight of a Grand Slam for the 58th time, equalling Roger Federer’s men’s record.
“I played great, from the first to the last point,” said the defending champion, who is a red-hot favourite to collect an 11th Melbourne title and a record 25th Grand Slam crown.
“It’s going in a positive direction, health-wise, tennis-wise so I’m really pleased with where I am at the moment.”
He will face 12th-seed Taylor Fritz next after the American beat last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
“The times I have played him I haven’t brought my best level and you need to if you are going to complete with someone like Djokovic,” said Fritz of the Serb.
Djokovic almost always plays the night session on Rod Laver Arena but was bumped to the afternoon this time.
That’s because home hope Alex de Minaur, seeded 10, is bidding to make the last eight for the first time, with Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev standing in his way.
The winner will face in-form fourth seed Jannik Sinner, who blasted past last year’s semi-finalist Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 and is yet to drop a set.
- ‘An honour’ -
Defending women’s champion Sabalenka has also been in imperious form and was in complete charge against unseeded Amanda Anisimova on Margaret Court Arena, sweeping past the American 6-3, 6-2.
Fourth seed Coco Gauff, attempting to become the first woman to back up a US Open title with a Grand Slam win in Australia since Naomi Osaka in 2020-2021, has been almost as impressive.
She swatted aside Poland’s unseeded Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2 in just 63 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, with the 85-year-tennis legend watching from the stands.
“It was an honour to play in front of you, so thank you for coming to my match,” said 19-year-old Gauff, who had never progressed beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park in four previous attempts.
“First Aussie quarter-final. Super happy to be in this position and be here…. It’s cool to get over that hump.”
She will now meet Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who beat Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva 6-2, 6-1.
With seven of the women’s top 10 seeds knocked out in the first week, including world number one Iga Swiatek, both Gauff and Sabalenka have a glorious chance to win their second major title.
They are on the same side of the draw and will not meet in the final, with a potential last-four clash looming instead.
Sabalenka has conceded just 11 games in four matches and is favoured to win another title to go with her breakthrough Grand Slam crown last year.
Should she go all the way, the 25-year-old will be the first woman to retain the title since compatriot Victoria Azarenka completed the feat in 2013.
“I’m getting stronger because I enjoy the atmosphere and I really want to stay here as long as I can, till the very last day,” she said.
Results on day eight of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Sunday (x denotes seeding):
Men’s singles
4th round
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA x20) 6-0, 6-0, 6-3
Taylor Fritz (USA x12) bt Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x7) 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
Jannik Sinner (ITA x4) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x15) 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
Women’s singles
4th round
Coco Gauff (USA x4) bt Magdalena Frech (POL) 6-1, 6-2
Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x2) bt Amanda Anisimova (USA) 6-3, 6-2
Marta Kostyuk (UKR) bt Maria Timofeeva (RUS) 6-2, 6-1
Barbora Krejcikova (CZE x9) bt Mirra Andreeva (RUS) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
