The fourth round of the Australian Open singles tournaments delivered a day of high drama and decisive action at Melbourne Park on Sunday, January 25th. The world's top tennis stars battled for coveted quarter-final berths, with several standout performances and one significant upset reshaping the championship landscape.
Men's Singles: Alcaraz Maintains Perfect Run as Tien Stuns Medvedev
In the men's draw, top seed Carlos Alcaraz continued his imperious form with a commanding victory over American Tommy Paul. The Spanish sensation secured a 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-5 win, extending his perfect set record to an impressive 12-0 for the tournament. Alcaraz demonstrated remarkable resilience, recovering from an early break in the opening set to dominate with 35 winners.
Local favourite Alex de Minaur delighted the home crowd with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 triumph against Alexander Bublik. The Australian sixth seed showcased relentless defensive prowess and blistering speed to neutralise his opponent's unpredictable trick shots, booking his place in a second consecutive Australian Open quarter-final.
Alexander Zverev produced another clinical performance, defeating Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. The German third seed served with exceptional effectiveness throughout the match, preventing his Argentine opponent from establishing any meaningful rhythm on court.
The day's most remarkable result came from 20-year-old American Learner Tien, who produced a stunning upset against three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev. Tien's emphatic 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 victory propelled him into his first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final, marking a breakthrough moment in his burgeoning career.
Novak Djokovic's progression came without him striking a single ball, as the Serbian champion received a walkover into the quarter-finals following Jakub Mensík's injury withdrawal.
Women's Singles: Sabalenka Breaks Record as Gauff Survives Scare
The women's competition witnessed equally compelling narratives, with world number one Aryna Sabalenka achieving a historic milestone during her 6-1, 7-6(1) victory against Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. Sabalenka's triumph marked her 20th consecutive Grand Slam tiebreak win, breaking a record previously held by Novak Djokovic.
Third seed Coco Gauff navigated a challenging encounter against Karolína Muchova, eventually prevailing 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. After surrendering the second set, the American teenager demonstrated impressive mental fortitude to regain control in the decisive third set, keeping her championship aspirations firmly alive.
Elina Svitolina employed her considerable experience to overcome rising star Mirra Andreeva in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. The Ukrainian's victory sets up a tantalising quarter-final clash against Gauff, promising a compelling battle between youth and experience.
Iva Jovic delivered the day's most efficient performance, requiring just 53 minutes to dismantle Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1. The American's dominant display secured her maiden major quarter-final appearance in emphatic fashion.
As the tournament progresses towards its climax, these fourth-round results have established intriguing narratives and potential matchups for the remaining stages of the Australian Open.
