Australian Open day seven wrap: Women’s stars dumped out in Melbourne
The Australian Open women’s draw lost its two biggest names on Sunday as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff fell within half an hour of each other.
Swiatek was beaten by Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina while Gauff lost to Jelena Ostapenko. Third seed Jessica Pegula, now the highest seed left, continued to look strong in a 7-5 6-2 win over Barbora Krejcikova.
Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a five-set battle with Jannik Sinner, while Jiri Lehecka upset Felix Auger-Aliassime and Sebastian Korda saw off Hubert Hurkacz.
Picture of the day
Instagram post of the day
Stat of the day
With Elena Rybakina defeating No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek today, this year's #AusOpen will be the first Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era where the Top 2 seeds in both the men's and women's singles draws have lost prior to the quarterfinals.
— ITF Media (@ITFMedia) January 22, 2023
Doubles delight
Fighting through to the #AusOpen 3rd round#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/9uMEB2paXg
— LTA (@the_LTA) January 22, 2023
British interest in singles may have ended but several players are still going strong in doubles. Neal Skupski, with Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof, and Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram are through to the third round in men’s doubles while Jamie Murray and American Taylor Townsend are into the mixed quarter-finals.
Bidding farewell
Today on Jan. 22, I made a decision to retire.
Thank you, everyone!@UQAmbassadors @yonex_jp @HondaJP @ANA_travel_info @in_jelly_ @reitakuuniv @BNYMellon @NEC_jp_pr @irctire_bike #oxengineering pic.twitter.com/76UVj3LCvd— 国枝慎吾/Shingo Kunieda (@shingokunieda) January 22, 2023
Wheelchair tennis great Shingo Kunieda, winner of 50 grand-slam titles, including a record 28 in singles, is calling it a day.
Fallen seeds
Women: Iga Swiatek (1), Coco Gauff (7), Barbora Krejcikova (20).
Men: Felix Auger-Aliassime (6), Hubert Hurkacz (10), Yoshihito Nishioka (31).
Australian Open day seven results
Collated results from Day 7 of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park on Sunday:
Men’s singles
4th round
Karen Khachanov (RUS x18) bt Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN x31) 6-0, 6-0, 7-6 (7/4)
Sebastian Korda (USA x29) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL x10) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x3) bt Jannik Sinner (ITA x15) 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3
Jiri Lehecka (CZE) bt Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN x6) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/3)
Women’s singles
4th round
Elena Rybakina (KAZ x22) bt Iga Swiatek (POL x1) 6-4, 6-4
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x17) bt Coco Gauff (USA x7) 7-5, 6-3
Jessica Pegula (USA x3) bt Barbora Krejcikova (CZE x20) 7-5, 6-2
Victoria Azarenka (BLR x24) bt Zhu Lin (CHN) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
Who’s up next?
The next test of Novak Djokovic’s troublesome left hamstring will come when he takes on home favourite Alex de Minaur in the night session on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
A place in the quarter-finals will be on the line, as it will be for fifth seed Andrey Rublev and ninth seed Holger Rune when they do battle.
The pick of the women’s matches pits two in-form players against each other in Aryna Sabalenka and Belinda Bencic.
Latest
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz forced to accept brutal reality as he slumps to shock Miami Open defeat
Carlos Alcaraz could have no complaints as he was forced to accept the brutal reality that he was beaten by a better player.
-
Tennis News
Alexander Zverev just happy to be back competing against the best
Alexander Zverev has said that he savours being competitive in big tournaments.
-
Tennis News
WTA star announces that she is expecting a baby girl
Alison Riske-Amritraj will be having a daughter.
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner breaks new ground for an Italian player with $20 million milestone
Jannik Sinner will become the first Italian player to bank $20 million in ATP Tour prize money after the Miami Open.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz identifies key Grigor Dimitrov threat as he seeks revenge in Miami showdown
Carlos Alcaraz and Grigor Dimitrov have looked ahead to their Miami Open match.
-
WTA Tour
Charleston Open hand former No 1 wildcard to start her clay season
Wildcards were forthcoming for former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, world No 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Charleston-native Shelby Rogers.
-
Tennis News
Former world No 1 weighs in on Iga Swiatek’s ‘aura’ as he makes ‘intimidating’ claim
“The more accomplishments Iga Swiatek has, the more intimidating it is to play her.”
-
WTA Tour
Naomi Osaka’s clay swing fills out with Rouen wildcard
Naomi Osaka gets Rouen wildcard to kickstart her clay swing.
-
WTA Tour
Danielle Collins balks at being asked to explain retirement
Danielle Collins has responded to those who question why she has decided to retire from tennis at the end of the current season.
-
Tennis News
‘Novak Djokovic’s problem is psychological’, assesses Roger Federer’s former coach
“Undoubtedly, ‘Nole’ must have fire inside, otherwise he is missing something.”