Australian Open—Melbourne, Australia
Zverev, Alcaraz, Djokovic and Sabalenka Reach Fourth Round of 2025 Australian Open
Friday’s action at the Australian Open saw 10-time former winner Novak Djokovic sail into the fourth round, defeating No. 26 seed Tomas MacHac 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Needing two hours and 22 minutes to advance, Djokovic hit nine aces, won 80 percent of his first serve points, added 28 winners and broke serve on five occasions.
The legendary Serb will next face No. 24 seed Jiri Lehecka, who dismissed Benjamin Bonzi 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.
Djokovic leads Lehecka 1-0 in career head-to-head meetings. Lehecka won the Brisbane title over an injured Reilly Opelka to start the year.
Elsewhere, No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz, No. 12 seed Tommy Paul and Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina reached the fourth round.
Davidovich Fokina won his second match in a row from being down two sets to love against Jakub Mensik, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-2.
Saturday’s action in Melbourne will feature top seed Jannik Sinner, No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz and No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur.
Sabalenka Rolls On
On the women’s side, top seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced past the challenge of Clara Tauson, defeating the Dane 7-6(5), 6-4.
Sabalenka, who is going for a three-peat Down Under, hit 39 winners, broke serve on six occasions and won 60 percent of her first serve points during the two hour and six minute match.
The Belarusian will next face No. 14 seed Mirra Andreeva for a place in the quarterfinals.
Andreeva ousted No. 23 seed Magdalena Frech from Poland, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.
Other players to advance on Friday included: No. 3 seed Coco Gauff, No. 11 seed Paula Badosa, No. 18 seed Donna Vekic, No. 27 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Belinda Bencic and Olga Danilovic.
Bencic advanced when two-time former winner Naomi Osaka was forced to retire trailing 7-6(3), and Danilovic got passed US Open finalist and No. 7 seed Jessica Pegula 7-6(3), 6-1.
Friday’s schedule of play in Australia will see No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek, No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini and No. 8 seed Emma Navarro.
Check back for daily updates from TennisConnected.com throughout the year for your up-to-date schedules, reviews, draws and results.
