This is the round of 16 of the Australian Open

After the first three qualifiers, the sieve, the Australian Open 2023 will enter the final stage in the round of 16 contention. Not this Rafael Nadaleliminated in the second round by mackenzie mcdonald no chance to compete due to hip injury. The women’s champion, the Australian, left tennis Ashleigh Barty.

There will be alternatives. Only Serbian can repeat in Melbourne Novak Djokovic, extending his record to ten titles. Although the question remains whether he can survive the hamstring injury. At times when he seems to be on the verge of elimination, then suddenly he receives medical treatment and everything seems normal. The other fifteen survivors did not know Grand Slam success.

A Spaniard remains Roberto Bautista, with an interesting draw, surrounded by entry-level American rivals without his experience. He has arguments to aim for the semifinals.

Among the women there is a former Open champion, the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka.

Here’s the men’s round of 16, in order of draw, from top to bottom:

Yoshihito Nishioka-Karel Khachanov

The Japanese, 27 years old and number 33, occupies the slot reserved for the injured Rafa Nadal. He has already produced his best result in Australia. In front, the Olympic runner-up, the Russian Khachanov, 26 years old and nº 20.

2

Hubert Hurkacz-Sebastian Korda

The Pole, 25 years old and world number 11, is a semifinalist at Wimbledon 2021. He is doing his best Australian Open. In front, another hard-driving, an American of Czech descent, from a very sporty family. The executioner of Daniil Medvedev, at 22 years old, the world number 31 is knocking on the door of something bigger. Sebi has yet to make it past the eighth Grand Slam.

3

Stefanos Tsitsipas-Jannik Sinner

Explosive rivalry between the Greek, 24 years old and number 4, and the Italian, 21 years old and number 16. Two serious contenders for everyone. The Hellene, a finalist at Roland Garros 2021, has been a semifinalist three times in Melbourne. Sinner has made rooms at the 2022 Open, and so far his wall at other Grand Slams.

4

Jiri Lehecka-Felix Auger-Aliassime

Two young men with great potential. The Canadian is leading, at 22 is at No. He is 7 in the ranking. Semifinalist of the US Open 2021, quarterfinalist of this Open in 2022. Favorite against the Czech, 21 years old and world number 71. It opens in the round of 16 of a Grand Slam.

5

Andrey Rublev-Holger Rune

They crown the lower part of the painting. One of the most competitive to be seen in the round of 16. Russian Rublev, 25 years old and number 6, has passed the first three rounds with great authority. He has reached the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam six times, he also knows them in Australia. Not so the Dane, the revelation of the end of the last season prevailing in Paris-Bercy. At 19 years old, world number 10, Rune has already made fourth at Roland Garros 2022.

6

Alex de Minaur-Novak Djokovic

No one catches the eye more than Novak Djokovic. Not only because he holds the record for titles (9) and is seeking a tenth to match Rafa Nadal’s 22 Grand Slams and wrest the world number 1 from Carlos Alcaraz. Also because of the hamstring injury. At the age of 35, number 5, he will have the public against him on Monday, who will try to push his compatriot, with a Uruguayan father and a Spanish mother. De Minaur (or Miñaur), is 23 years old and No. 24 ATP. Second time in the round of 16 in Australia, he made the quarters at the 2020 US Open.

7

Ben Shelton-JJ Wolf

Two unexpected Americans in the round of 16. Ben Shelton had never left his country, either to play or on vacation, before this Australian tour. Only 20 years old, 89 of the world. As a rookie in the fourth round of the Grand Slam as JJ, 24 years old and number 67. The best will meet in the quarterfinals with Bautista or Paul.

8

Roberto Bautista-Tommy Paul

All in favor of Bautista, more experienced in these rounds. 34 years old, world number 25, he beat the American, 25 and number 35, in three out of four matches. Although he lost last time, Paris 2022, 6-4 and 6-4. The man from Castellón knows this tournament stadium very well, they are the second ‘big’ round of 16 for the American, a risk on an inspired day. Then he can beat a top seed, like he did with Carlos Alcaraz in Montreal or Rafa Nadal in Paris last season.

9

women’s round of 16

The Polish Iga Swiatek and the American Jessica Pegula are the starting favorites, they have not disappointed so far and they keep the option of meeting in the semifinals. The European has a test against the eventual Wimbledon champion, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina. The American faces the queen of Roland Garros 2021, the Czech Barbora Krejcikova.
At the bottom of the table, a tennis player to remember, 17-year-old Czech Linda Fruhvirtova. Her sister Brenda, 15, played in the previous episode.
By frame order:
​Iga Swiatek (Pol/1)-Elena Rybakina (Kaz/22)
​Jelena Ostapenko (Let/17)-Coco Gauff (USA/7)
​Jessica Pegula (USA/3)-Barbora Krejcikova (Che/20)
​Victoria Azarenka (BLR/24)-Lin Zhu (Chn)
Karolina Pliskova (Che/30)-Shuai Zhang (Chn/23)
​Magda Linette (Pol)-Caroline Garcia (Fra/4)
​Aryna Sabalenka (Blr/5)-Belinda Bencic (Sui/12)
​Donna Vekic (Cro)-Linda Fruhvirtova (Che)