Novak Djokovic does not stop on his journey to winning the Australian Championship for the third time in a row, and ninth overall. The world number one defeated Milos Raunic today (Sunday), securing his place in the quarterfinals at the end of almost three hours, in which he defeated his Canadian opponent 6: 7 (4), 6: 4, 1: 6, 4: 6.
In the next stage, an intriguing encounter with Alexander Zebrav awaits Djokovic. The second-ranked German in the world earlier secured his place among the last eight in the competition thanks to 4: 6, 6: 7 (5), 3: 6 over another Serb, Dusan Lajovic.
However, there was a surprise before that when Dominic Tim, ranked third in the world and last year’s finalist in the championship, was already eliminated in the round of 16 this morning (Sunday), after being defeated in three sets – 6: 4, 6: 4, 6: 0 by Bulgarian Gregor Dimitrov. Next, Dimitrov will meet Aslan Kartzev – who stunned the world earlier.
Earlier, the Russian, who was already in Israel and missed by the local tennis franchisees, qualified this morning (Sunday) for the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, after defeating Felix Oja Eliassim in five sets – 6: 3, 6: 1, 3: 6, 3: 6, 4: 6.
Incredible story.
Russian Aslan Karatsev is the 3rd ever qualifier to reach the QFs of the AusOpen, after coming back from two (!) Sets down and beating Felix Auger Aliassime 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 .
He is facing Thiem or Dimitrov next.
Top 100/90/80/70 debut confirmed. pic.twitter.com/Jf9jO4bSjk
José Morgado @josemorgado February 14, 2021
Kartsev is already trailing 2-0 in the sets, in what turned out to be an easy victory for the Canadian (ranked 19th in the world). But then the comeback began after two breaks for the Russians in the third set, kept the serve hits in the fourth – and a dramatic victory in the fifth, which sent the Russian to the historic quarter-final stage.
At the same time, in the women: Simona Halp, ranked second in the world, ousted the 19-year-old splash from Poland, Iga Sbiontek, who won the last Roland Garros. Romania came back from a 6-3 deficit in the first set, winning 1: 6, 4: 6, en route to an intriguing encounter with Serena Williams.
Su Wei Se from Taiwan qualified for the quarterfinals after a 0-2 draw over Czech side Marka Vandorosova; Naomi Osaka also in the buff stage, after a victory over Garbain Mugurosa in three sets, and with her also qualified Serena Williams, after defeating Arina Sabalenka of Belarus.