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Novak Djokovic celebrates. Alamy Stock Photo

Fired-up Djokovic sends Melbourne warning, Osaka bows out injured

Sabalenka fights on at Australian Open.

LAST UPDATE | 17 Jan

A “HOT-HEADED” Novak Djokovic sent an Australian Open warning to join Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in the last 16 on Friday, but Naomi Osaka’s bid for a third Melbourne crown is over with injury.

Also on day six, women’s defending champion Aryna Sabalenka “pushed to the limit” to set up an intriguing showdown with teenage talent Mirra Andreeva.

Djokovic, who is chasing a record-extending 11th Melbourne title and historic 25th Grand Slam crown, is on a collision course with Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.

Both kept that tantalising prospect alive with ruthless victories.

Under new coach and old rival Andy Murray, the 37-year-old Djokovic needed four sets in both of his opening two matches.

But not this time, swatting aside Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 and letting out a roar at the end.

“I am very hot-headed right now,” said the fiery Serb, but added: “This is definitely the best match I played at this tournament.”

Djokovic, who needed a medical break in the second set and used an inhaler, faces 24th seed Jiri Lehecka next.

Meanwhile, defending champions Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit in setting up an showdown with talented teenager Mirra Andreeva but Naomi Osaka’s run ended with an injury retirement in round three.

Also on day six in Melbourne, Carlos Alcaraz dropped a set before surging into the last 16 and Alexander Zverev staked his claim for a first major title with a third straight-sets victory.

Women’s number one Sabalenka was made to work hard behind a faltering serve before beating Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the third round on Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka was broken four straight times at the start of the match but found her groove to win 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 after more than two hours of attritional tennis.

“I’m just super happy that I was able to just stay in the game and I was able to push myself, honestly, to the limit to get this win,” said Sabalenka, who is chasing a rare third Melbourne title in a row.

melbourne-australia-17th-jan-2025-aryna-sabalenka-of-russia-celebrates-match-point-during-her-round-three-match-against-clara-tauson-of-denmark-during-the-2025-australian-open-at-melbourne-park-in Aryna Sabalenka of Russia celebrates match point. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Her win puts her into a clash against highly rated 17-year-old Andreeva, the 14th seed, who beat Poland’s 23rd seed Magdalena Frech in three sets.

Russia’s Andreeva announced her burgeoning talent by beating Sabalenka in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros last year.

Two-time Melbourne champion Osaka was on a collision course with American third seed Coco Gauff in the next round.

But the former world number one needed treatment on her stomach from the trainer during the first set against Belinda Bencic and called it quits after losing the opener on a tiebreak.

Osaka, who was struggling with an abdominal injury in the build-up to the tournament and retired from the final in Auckland, was in the third round of a Slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023.

Alcaraz, who raced into the last 32 for the loss of just 12 games, suffered a wobble in the third set against Portugal’s unseeded Nuno Borges.

But the Spanish third seed, who has won four majors but never been beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne, regained his focus to ease through 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2.

melbourne-australia-17th-jan-2025-carlos-alcaraz-of-spain-celebrates-his-round-three-win-over-nuno-borges-of-portugal-during-the-2025-australian-open-at-melbourne-park-in-melbourne-friday-januar Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates his round three win over Nuno Borges of Portugal. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Germany’s Zverev also booked his place in the second week of the opening Grand Slam of the year with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Britain’s Jacob Fearnley.

Zverev came into Melbourne at a career-high number two ranking and has not dropped a set in three matches at the tournament.

In other women’s draw early action, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova swept past Germany’s Laura Siegemund, who stunned Zheng Qinwen in the second round, 6-1, 6-2.

The Russian 27th seed will face Croatian 18th seed Donna Vekic for a place in the quarter-finals.

Vekic outlasted another Russian, 12th seed Diana Shnaider, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 in the day’s first match on Margaret Court Arena

Seventh seed Jessica Pegula, the US Open finalist last year, takes on Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.

– © AFP 2025

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