The 2023 Australian Open continues to be a cascade of surprises. Defeat with damage to the champion Rafael Nadal set the first alarm, which remained alert in the eliminations as in the Russian double finalist Daniel Medvedev.
In the men’s top-10 only four players remain: the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who faces a serious test this Sunday against Italian Jannik Sinner in the afternoon session, the Serbian Novak Djokovic (5), nine-time champion and who will face the Australian this Monday Alex de Minaur pending the evolution of the hamstring injury in the left leg, the Russian Andrey Rublev (6) and the Danish Holger Rune (10).
After leaving due to injury Carlos Alcaraz (1) farewell to the court came for Rafa Nadal (2), Casper Ruud (3), Daniil Medvedev (8) and Taylor Fritz (7). And in the eighth premiere the Canadian also stayed Felix Auger-Aliassime (7).
The American, 22 years old and hero of the last Davis Cup, was chased by another young man who rose more slowly but saw his moment come. the czech Jiri Lehecka21 years old and number 71, entered the quarterfinals defeating the student of Frederic Fontang and Tony Nadal by 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3).
“It’s crazy. If someone had told me I could play at this level, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said the daughter of Jiri, a swimmer, and Romana, an athlete.
He got into eleventh in the draw but the Pole Hubert Hurkacz It is temporarily ten in the ranking for now. It is not certain that he will keep the position because he also stayed in the round of 16, he was overtaken by one of the serious revelations of the tournament, the American. Sebastian Kordaexecutioner before Daniel Medvedev.
The son of the Czech Peter Korda, former absolute champion of an Open that Sebi already has in his palmares in the junior category, sealed his pass to his first Grand Slam quarterfinals in the final supertiebreak: 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 1-6 , 7 -6 (10-7). He will have as a rival one of the few top 20 lives as well, the Russian Karen Khachanov.
Australian Open: no No. 1 Alcaraz and Swiatek
In Sunday’s women’s draw for the round of 16, an even bigger prize was claimed, no less than world number one, the Polishto Iga Swiatekwho shared favorite status for the title with the American Jessica Pegula, unlike the European, he did succeed in his rivalry with a Grand Slam champion.
The American beat the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, who dominated Roland Garros in 2021, 7-5 and 6-2. Instead, Iga Swiatek bumped into the reigning Wimbledon queen, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina6-4 and 6-4.
between the tears he shed Coco Gauff the tournament, frustrated by losing 7-5 and 6-3 against the Latvian Jelena Ostapenkothe surprise Roland Garros champion in 2017. The 18-year-old American was threatening but not quite earning the big prize.
“I’d rather not lose than win”
Nerves also play a role, as recognized by Iga Swiatek, who didn’t hide having dealt with an extra rival, the pressure: “I wanted more not to lose than to win. I wasted too much energy worrying before and during the tournament. “
Swiatek (1), Ons Jabeur (2), Maria Sakkari (6), Gauff (7), Daria Kasatkina (8) and Veronika Kudermetova (9) have left the women’s top-10. Four are still looking for the crown vacated by retired Australian Ashleigh Barty: Pegula (3), Caroline Garcia (4), Aryna Sabalenka (5) and Belinda Bencic (10). And of these last two, only one will go to the quarterfinals as they measure the force between them.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
