In the night from Saturday to Sunday, several round of 16 games were played at the Australian Open. The opportunity for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer to continue on their way, as did Ashleigh Barty, worn by an entire nation.
The boss: Djoko already makes Raonic tremble
Milos Raonic, his opponent in the quarterfinals, knows how complicated his mission is likely to be. The Canadian will find a Novak Djokovic in great shape during the night of Monday to Tuesday and who has lost only one set since the start of the fortnight - against the German Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round. The Serb, unplayable for Diego Schwartzman (6-3, 6-4, 6-4), qualified for the eleventh time in his career in the Australian Major's quarterback. If Raonic was impressive at the same time against Marin Cilic (6-4, 6-3, 7-5), the task will nevertheless be more difficult against this Djoko, against whom he has never won…
We're not D-joking 🃏 @ DjokerNole advances to the final 🎱for the 11th time, def. Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-4 6-4.
Milos Raonic awaits. # AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/e4mcMrUMJG
Diesel: Federer goes crescendo
As often since the start of the tournament, Roger Federer will have taken a little time to start the machine. Already on Friday, the Swiss had imposed himself very painfully against the Australian John Millman, pushed until the fifth set and the super tie-break. And against the Hungarian Márton Fucsovics, the world number 3 conceded the first set before finding more colors (6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 2-6). And considering the level of play proposed by "Roger", it still seems far, this twenty-first title in Grand Slam. Especially since the table reserves him a potential semi-final against the defending champion, Novak Djokovic.
The number: 15
The little phenomenon stops there. Two days after beating defending champion and world No. 4 Naomi Osaka (6-3, 6-4), Cori Gauff fell again in the round of 16, like at Wimbledon last July. In a 100% American duel, the 15-year-old and 10-month-old prodigy was beaten by the world 15th Sofia Kenin (6-7 [5], 6-3, 6-0), 21 years old. Who qualifies for the very first time in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam.
The sensation: Jabeur traces his path
Ons Jabeur continues its amazing journey. The other sensation of this tournament dominated the Chinese Wang Qiang (7-6 [4], 6-1), who fell from Serena Williams in the previous round, becoming the first player in the Arab world to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament. The 25-year-old Tunisian, 78th in the world, will face the American Sofia Kenin, to continue to inspire the next Tunisian generations.
🇹🇳 "I'm 100% Tunisian Product" 🇹🇳
Inspiring the next generation, @Ons_Jabeur! # AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/InpwSkKLpG
Image: Barty raises crowds
For the Australian public, this second week remains full of promise. While Nick Kyrgios will face Rafael Nadal in the round of 16 for men, for women, Ashleigh Barty is still in the race. The world number 1 had to whip against the American Alison Riske (6-3, 1-6, 6-4), and will try to play a first semifinal of Grand Slam at home. To the delight of the local public.
The crowd watching @ashbarty win from Garden Square sure loved it! 🤗 # AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Nh4Jv9q1Dj
- #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2020