Last year Daniil Medvedev was sensationally eliminated in the 3rd round by Sebastian Korda, but in the 2024 edition of the Australian Open the Russian champion took his revenge, winning the 4th round after eliminating Felix Auger-Aliassime with the final score of 6 -3, 6-4, 6-3.

The match against the Canadian was the match he needed to recover the energy spent in the match played with Emil Ruusuvuori. The Russian confirmed his excellent feeling when he found Auger-Aliassime on the other side of the net, leading the head-to-head against the Canadian 7-0.

Thanks to the victory, Medvedev also passed an important personal milestone. The Russian has reached at least the 4th round in 10 of the last 11 Slams played on hard courts.

Excluding last year’s Australian Open, Medevdev has achieved at least this result since 2019. In the 4th round, Daniil will meet the Portuguese Nuno Borges.

The other matches: out Dimitrov and Swiatek

In the round of 16 there will be no super challenge with Grigor Dimitrov, because the Bulgarian was sensationally eliminated – precisely – by Nuno Borges. Dimitrov had won seven in a row to win the title in Brisbane, and had high expectations ahead of the Australian Open.

The 32-year-old committed a painful double on the available set point, missed a forehand at 6-6 and allowed the Portuguese to obtain the most important result of his career.

Cameron Norrie, against predictions, beat Casper Ruud. The Briton managed the points that mattered the most better than his opponent and, after wasting two set points in the tie-break of the second set, prevailed with the final score of 6-4, (7) 6-7, 6- 4, 6-3.

Linda Noskova interrupted the streak of eighteen consecutive victories opened by Iga Swiatek in Beijing. The 19-year-old Czech sensed the big opportunity and played intelligently until the last point. Noskova triumphed by completing a sensational comeback, with the score 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

A dream that came true by putting an end to the world number one’s tournament. Victoria Azarenka beat Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets 6-1, 7-5.

Novak Djokovic is rewriting the history of tennis, reaching new epochal records, continuously updating data and statistics, going to a depth where no one has yet managed to reach. Not even Lord Voldemort went that far with his Horcruxes: he created 7, Djokovic, in Slams alone, has 24! Over 400 weeks at the top of the ATP Ranking and an endless series of records: Nole, at over 36 years old, is still dueling with the young talents of the Tour.

In 2023, the Serbian champion managed to win (among others) 3 Slam titles plus the ATP Finals, and only lost in the final and after a sensational battle against the young Spanish tennis player Carlitos Alcaraz, winner of Wimbledon.

In the last few hours Djokovic obtained qualification for the 4th round of the Australian Open 2024, beating Tomas Etcheverry in three sets. And we recall the Argentinian had previously eliminated Andy Murray and then Gael Monfils. With that victory, Djokovic achieved yet another great record of his career.

Djokovic achieved 92 successes at the Australian Open, the same number of victories that the Serbian also achieved at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Reaching 92 wins in three Grand Slam tournaments is a monstrous number. But this is just one of the many records that Djokovic has achieved.

“I didn’t play my best tennis, but I played better than in the first two matches. This is a very good change. I’m starting to feel better physically and in terms of my game, but I haven’t played to the best of my ability yet. We don’t always talk of positive pep talks. I guess it’s part of the game and who I am.

Everyone goes through moments of crisis, especially in matches where they don’t feel their best and have doubts. The question is how to overcome these doubts and focus on the present while trying to get the most out of the next point.

I am an extroverted person and I show – not always – my emotions, even the negative ones. It’s not something I like to do, but that’s the way it is. I try to fight my demons, like anyone else, on the pitch. Sometimes it works, other times not. You just have to accept the circumstances,” explained Nole at the on-court interview.

But what are the 10 most important records achieved by Djokovic?

Djokovic is in 1st place in both the men’s and women’s all-time rankings of weeks sitting on the throne of the ATP ranking (408 weeks), having surpassed the previous record of 377 weeks held by Steffi Graf.

He is the oldest tennis player in history – 36 years and 7 months – to have closed a season (in his case 2023) as ATP No.1.

The ATP No.1 is the only player to have won all 9 the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments – and in his case twice! – thus becoming the first to win the Career Golden Masters, on August 19, 2018, by winning the Cincinnati Open for the first time.

Not only that: Djokovic is the tennis player who has won the most ATP Masters 1000 titles, with 40 titles.

Novak has also become the tennis player who has won the ATP Finals the most times, with 7 titles won in 2023, as well as the only one to have won them for four consecutive years, from 2012 to 2015.

Nole is the only tennis player capable of winning 3 Slams in the same calendar year at least four times in his career, having achieved this in 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023.

The Serb is the first player of the Open era to have won 4 consecutive tournaments, from Wimbledon 2015 to Roland Garros 2016, a goal achieved only by Rod Laver in 1969.

A fundamental record concerns the Australian Open. Nole is the tennis player who has won the Melbourne Major the most times, with 10 titles. He is also undefeated in 10 finals and 10 semi-finals at the Australian Open.

With his 3rd victory at the Roland Garros in 2023, Djokovic became the only tennis player in history to have won all 4 Slams at least 3 times.

Nole is the most successful tennis player in the history of the Slams, together with the Australian Margaret Court, with her 24 titles won during her career. And, even more incredibly, Djokovic seems destined to further improve this figure.

Coming back to the last interview, the Serb added: “I know that Roger Federer definitely didn’t like the way I behaved at the beginning. I don’t know what the others thought. I guess I wasn’t the kind of guy that the strongest people like , because I wasn’t afraid to say: I want to be the best player in the world.

I was confident and felt like I could back up what I was saying through my game. I have never disrespected other tennis players. I always greet my opponents before and after the match, and I recognize their value. Respect is a value that I was taught and that must always be present regardless of what happens on the court.”

 

Legendary Rod Laver arrived in Melbourne from his home in California, visiting his home Major and the court that carries his name. Laver had no doubts when the journalists asked him to pick the men’s favorite. The legend backed Novak Djokovic to chase his 11th Australian Open trophy next Sunday, offering his rivals little chances to dethrone him.

Laver praised Djokovic’s serve and groundstrokes, acknowledging someone would have to play at the highest level to beat him. Struggling with the virus, Novak had to work hard in his first two clashes at Rod Laver Arena, beating Dino Prizmic and Alexei Popyrin in four sets, spending over seven hours on the court.

Djokovic felt better a couple of days later, defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 and moving into the last 16. The Serb faced no break points, stealing his rival’s serve three times in sets one and two and prevailing in the third to remain on the title course.

 

Novak tamed his strokes nicely and had the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced rallies, setting the fourth-round clash against Adrian Mannarino.

Djokovic served well in the opener and clinched a break in the sixth game after the rival’s backhand error. The Serb held at love at 5-3 to wrap up the set and move in front after 44 minutes. Nothing changed in the second set, with Novak serving well and challenging his rival to follow those numbers.

Djokovic broke Etcheverry in the third game, moving in front and opening a 5-3 gap with a forehand winner in game eight.

Rod Laver picks Novak Djokovic as the clear Australian Open favorite.

World no. 1 grabbed another break in game nine, opening a 6-3, 6-3 advantage after an hour and 22 minutes.

Tomas consolidated behind the initial shot in the third set, following Novak’s pace and holding with ease in games ten and 12, introducing a tie break. Djokovic moved 2-0 up and placed a deep return in the third point to extend the gap.

The Serb landed a service winner in the fifth point and passed his rival at the net in the next one for a massive 5-1 advantage. Novak created four match points with a service winner and fired another powerful serve to emerge at the top and enter the second week for the 16th time in Melbourne.

“Novak has all the shots and knows exactly when to use them. Novak is priming himself to reach another Australian Open final, and its like it unfolds in front of him. Novak is a great champion with a great serve and unbelievable strokes.

Unless someone miraculously delivers the best tennis, they can start putting part of Novak’s initials on the trophy now,” Rod Laver said.

 

The challenge has been thrown: does the final in Melbourne between them seem like the natural epilogue to the tournament? And who are we talking about, if not Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

The young Spaniard won the 4th round (for the first time in his career) of the Australian Open 2024, overcoming the Chinese Shang Juncheng, who was also forced to the withdrawal, at the beginning of the third set due to an obvious physical problem.

Carlitos showed a consistently high level of play throughout the match, also helped by the imperfect conditions of his not irresistible opponent. Furthermore, Alcaraz will not challenge Tommy Paul in the 4th round, but Miomir Kecmanovic, who eliminated the American from the tournament. And to think that Paul is a tennis player who in the past has often caused difficulties (and even beaten) the young Spaniard.

At the press conference, Alcaraz analyzed his match, highlighting how he has not yet reached his best level.

“I’m not at my best level yet, I’ve realized that by now but I tried to concentrate only on the match and thought about playing a good match. Shang is a great tennis player and I think I will face him several times in tournaments like this in the future. Match rating? I feel good, I think I’m at a level of 7-8 out of 10, it’s a good level and I feel good.

I’m improving day by day and even with the movements things make me better. I’m getting used to these fields and I hope I can still improve. Goals? My goal is to maintain a high level throughout the season. After Wimbledon I lost matches that I shouldn’t have lost but this is tennis, these things happen. Now my goal is to do as well as last year and correct the things I did wrong.

Kecmanovic? He has come from very tough matches and this is certainly better for me. Two years ago we faced each other in Miami and he played a great match, I think it will still be a great fight. I have to play my best tennis to advance to the next round.”

Alcaraz challenges Djokovic

Carlitos also talked about his ambitions: his aim is obviously to aim for what Djokovic has done in his career. The challenge is launched between them: “Borg’s record? I don’t give it importance, I want to aspire to the same records of Novak Djokovic, I aim for those over the course of my career. I’m focused on the work and I want to do well, but I don’t have to focus on the records otherwise it could go against you.”

 

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has suffered a shock defeat to 19-year-old Linda Noskova at the Australian Open.

Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was up by a set before 50th-ranked Noskova came back to stun the Pole 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Right from the start of the match, it was clear that Noskova came to play, having earned two consecutive break points in the third game. However, Swiatek was able to save those break points and avoid going down by an early break.

After avoiding going down by an early break, Swiatek earned her first break point chances in the sixth game and realized them to open a 4-2 lead. Up by a break, Swiatek held on to her serve for the remainder of the first set to clinch the opener.

Swiatek lost after being up by a set against Noskova

Midway through the second set, Swiatek had chances to go up by a set and a break. But Swiatek wasn’t able to convert on her chances after missing out on a break point in the fifth and seventh games.

Swiatek paid the price for not realizing her chances as Noskova earned her first break of the match in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead. In the ninth game, Noskova routinely served out for the second set.

After winning the second set, Noskova also claimed the first break of the third set in the third game. Down by an early break in the third set, Swiatek was able to respond and break back Noskova instantly in the following game.

However, Swiatek’s woes on her service continued as the Pole was able to save a break point in the fifth game but got broken again in the seventh game. Serving for the match in the 10th game, Noskova was 0-30 down in her game before winning the next four points to win the game and complete a three-set win over Swiatek.

After beating Swiatek, Noskova plays next against either Elina Svitolina or Viktorija Golubic.

 

A couple of weeks after winning her first professional title, the 14-year-old Ksenia Efremova is making her debut at Majors. Ksenia received a wild card for the Australian Open main draw and made a winning start, ousting the 5th seed and last year’s US Open finalist Tereza Valentova 7-6, 6-4 in an hour and 42 minutes.

As often in juniors, both players struggled with double faults and the second-serve efficiency. However, Ksenia emerged at the top after taking six points more than Tereza. The French player seized six out of eight break chances and lost serve five times from ten opportunities offered to her opponent.

Efremova led 5-2 in the opener before starting to struggle, allowing Valentova to erase the deficit and create two set points on the return at 6-5. Ksenia defended them and clinched a tie break for a massive boost of confidence.

The younger player grabbed three breaks in the second set, enough to emerge at the top.

Ksenia Efremova is off to a winning start in Melbourne.

Efremova grabbed an extended rally in the encounter’s first game and earned a break after Valentova’s backhand error.

The French player squandered a 40-15 lead in the second game and got broken after a forced error, bringing the Czech back to 1-1. They served well in games three and four, and Efremova attacked on the return again at 2-2. Tereza missed a forehand and faced three break points, losing serve on the second and falling behind.

Ksenia cemented the break with a service winner in game six and welcomed another forehand mistake from Tereza in game seven for another break and a 5-2 advantage. The 14-year-old served for the set in game eight and got broken at love after a double fault, keeping her rival in contention.

The Czech held at 15 in game nine and created a break chance at 4-5 after the French player’s forehand error. Ksenia missed another forehand, allowing Tereza to lock the result at 5-5.

The more experienced player produced another hold at love in game 11, moving 6-5 up and keeping the pressure on the other side.

Efremova faced two set points and saved them, prolonging the game and held to introduce a tie break. Ksenia moved 4-2 up with a service winner and extended the lead after Tereza’s loose backhand. The 5th seed sprayed a forehand error at 2-6, with the younger player moving in front after 51 minutes.

Efremova held at 30 in the first game of the second set and broke her rival in game two after Valentova’s backhand mistake. The Czech forced the opponent’s error in the third game, pulling the break back and still fighting.

Ksenia clinched the fifth game with a service winner and erased Tereza’s game points in the next one, securing a break following a costly double fault from the 5th seed. Valentova pulled the break back in game seven after a return winner and closed the next one after deuce thanks to an unreturned serve for 4-4 and more drama.

Ksenia defended nicely in the ninth game and held at 30 for a 5-4 advantage, shifting the pressure to the other side. Valentova led 40-15 in the tenth game before spraying two groundstroke errors. The 5th seed played a loose forehand and offered her rival a match point.

Ksenia seized it after Tereza’s forehand mistake, celebrating her first Major victory at 14 and moving into the second round.

 

Andrey Rublev hilariously struggled while attempting to safely catch and remove a cricket during his Australian Open third-round meeting but the whole situation had a positive end to it.

In the first set of his match against Sebastian Korda at Melbourne Park, Rublev noticed a cricket near the baseline. Rublev, who is known in the locker room as one of the kindest people on the Tour, didn’t want to hurt the cricket.

Instead, Rublev attempted to gently catch the cricket with his hands. But the cricket was constantly avoiding getting caught, giving Rublev a hard time. Since Rublev was struggling to catch the cricket, that prompted some laughs from the crowd.

But then, two ball kids came to help Rublev and the cricket was finally caught. After catching the cricket, one of the ball kids took the insect courtside and safely removed it. The ball kid received cheers and the whole arena enjoyed the situation and was happy with the outcome.

Rublev helps save a cricket, then beats Korda

After giving his best to save a cricket, No. 5 seed Rublev handled the business on the court as he saw off 26th-ranked Korda 6-2 7-6 (6) 6-4 to set up an Australian Open round-of-16 meeting against Alex de Minaur.

In the first set, Rublev and Korda were tied to two games apiece before the Russian claimed back-to-back breaks in the sixth and eighth games to win four games in a row and seal the opener. After not a single break point was seen in the second set – the set went into a tie-break – where Rublev realized his second set point at 7-6 to go up by two sets.

After winning a tight second set, Rublev also broke Korda in the third game of the third set. Up by two sets and a break, Rublev held on to his serve for the rest of the third set to complete a three-set win.

 

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will compete in the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time in a career. Carlos met Juncheng Shang in the third round at Rod Laver Arena and scored a dominant 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 victory following his rival’s retirement.

Shang struggled since the beginning of the match, dealing with the pain in his right leg and taking a medical timeout after the fifth game of the second set. The Chinese decided to retire in the second game of the third set, propelling the Spaniard through.

Carlos faced the opponent younger than him for the first time on the Tour, having the upper hand from start to finish and remaining on the title course. Alcaraz served well and dropped five out of 34 points behind the initial shot.

He never faced a break point and turned 58% of the return points into six breaks from 12 opportunities. Carlos overpowered Juncheng in the shortest exchanges up to four strokes and dominated the more extended ones, moving safely into the last 16 and achieving that at all four Majors.

 

Carlos Alcaraz lost two games against Juncheng Shang in Melbourne.

Shang made a reliable start and brought the encounter’s first game home at 15 with a service winner. Carlos responded the second game home with a service winner and played a perfect running forehand lob in the third game for two break chances.

World no. 2 broke a left-hander with a deep return, moving in front and gaining a boost. Alcaraz fired an ace in the fourth game, opening a 3-1 gap and settling into a fine rhythm. Juncheng faced three break points in game five and saved the first with a forehand winner.

The Chinese reached deuce and saved the fourth break point with a backhand winner. The Spaniard attacked on the fifth break chance and drew the rival’s mistake for a 4-1 advantage. Shang netted a forehand in game six, allowing Alcaraz to open a 5-1 gap at love.

A teenager served to stay in the set in game seven and experienced three set points after a forced error. Carlos seized the second with a sharp return, wrapping up the opener in 27 minutes.

Alcaraz grabbed the first game of the second set with a service winner before a left-hander leveled the score at 1-1 with a powerful forehand.

Carlos placed a service winner for a hold at 15 in game three and forced the rival’s mistake in the next one for a 3-1 advantage. The Spaniard painted a forehand down the line winner in the fifth game for 4-1, and the Chinese required a medical timeout on his right thigh.

Alcaraz earned a break at 15 in game six for 5-1, serving for the set in game seven. World no. 2 wrapped up the set at love with a service winner, forging a 6-1, 6-1 advantage after 59 minutes. Carlos created two break points in the first game of the third set with a crafty drop shot and fired a forehand return winner on the first to move in front.

Shang sprayed a forehand error in the first point of the second game and decided to retire, leaving Melbourne as the first Chinese male player in the third round of a Major.