Welcome to news.com.au’s live coverage of Day 8 of the Australian Open.
The second week of the grand slam is upon us and the stakes are getting higher as the contenders look to go deep into the tournament.
The women’s draw has been blown open following World No. 1 Iga Swiatek’s shock loss on Saturday night, while last year’s runner-up Elena Rybakina has also been knocked out early.
Alex de Minaur has been in red hot form but faces his toughest test against Russia’s Andrey Rublev tonight in the fourth round.
The match has been given top billing on Rod Laver Arena, as the Demon relegated Novak Djokovic to the afternoon session.
Also in action are defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, US superstar Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.
Lleyton Hewitt’s son Cruz will also play his first match in the boys’ tournament.
5.14pm – ‘Don’t do it’: WAG’s gross act after AO stunner
America’s highest ranked man Taylor Fritz has moved into the quarterfinals, downing 2023 AO finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in a 7-6 5-7 6-3 6-3 win.
It’s the first time he’s made it to the quarters at the Australian Open, where it will get no easier as he comes up against Novak Djokovic.
But post match, the talk immediately turned to a bet his girlfriend Morgan Riddle promised should he get the win.
For the win, she promised via Instagram that she would eat a jar of Vegemite on Live if he won the match.
Luckily for her, they happened to have a 560g version of the product — likely she was meaning a 150g version.
Fans immediately advised her not to — and to be honest, she should have held out for him winning the whole thing before taking the Vegemite challenge.
One fan wrote: “Do not do this. I like marmite (the English one) and seriously a teaspoon covers two slices of toast.”
Fritz was undoubtedly pleased, saying he’d told his team he was going to win.
“My girlfirend thought I was too confident going into the match,” he said.
“This is a big jar but I’ll give it to her.”
Fritz promised to make sure he lived up to her side of the bet but wouldn’t join in himself.
“I won’t be partaking but I’ll make sure it happens,” Fritz said.
Asked if he’d tried it before, he said he: “wasn’t the biggest fan”.
3.35pm – Djoker marches on in commanding fashion
Whatever may have been ailing Novak Djokovic – and we know he keeps all his cards close to his chest – he was in ruthless form on Sunday.
A record-breaking performance looked on the cards when he marched to a 6-0 6-0 lead over outclassed Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Fortunately the 20th-seed avoided a disastrous ‘triple-bagel’, with Djokovic rounding off the third set 6-3 for a dominant victory in just 1 hour, 44 minutes.
Asked about his efforts aftewards, Djokovic said he was actually relieved when Mannarino got his first game on the board.
“The first two sets were some of the best sets I’ve played in a while,” the top seed said.
“I really wanted to lose that game in the third set, the tension was building up so much in the stadium, I needed to get that out of the way to refocus on what I needed to do to close out the match.”
Djokovic was also asked about the fact he was demoted to a daytime match for the first time since 2021, with Aussie Alex de Minaur handed the coveted 7pm slot for his quarter-final against Andrey Rublev on Sunday.
Djokovic’s response to the minor kerfuffle was about as cold and calculating as we’ve come to expect from the Serbian superstar.
“The way I played today, I don’t mind playing in the day, to be honest,” he fired back.
“Thank you, thank you guys for showing up also.
“I know it’s early in the day, but it’s Sunday, non-working day, thank you for showing up.
“It’s no secret I love to play at 7pm, but it wasn’t bad at all today. Not too bad.”
2.45pm – Djokovic in ‘distress’ amid pure domination
Novak is blowing his fourth round opponent Adrian Mannarino away on Rod Laver Arena, however commentators have spotted the world No. 1 is struggling physically as he battles illness.
The Serb has taken both sets without conceding a single game to his French rival, however commentators have heard him grunting during points.
“Djokovic is one of the most silent assassins we have seen in tennis. He doesn’t grunt until late in the match or if the point gets really long,” Jim Courier said.
“He is grunting until the last (stroke) on every point. He is without question physically wounded at the moment.
“He is sick. He told us he was sick five days before the tournament. Would have thought by now he would have healed up.
“Something is still not right inside his body because his energy levels are not what we are used to seeing.”
Commentator Brenton Speed said his fans would be concerned.
“Another double… That is about 10 or 15 metres away from our commentary position and Djokovic fans may be worried, he looks in real distress,” said Speed.
2.40pm – Second seed cruises through to quarters
Women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka has made light work of American qualifier Amanda Anisimova to advance to the quarter-finals.
Sabalenka overpowered her opponent with a 6-3 6-2 victory on Margaret Court Arena – continuing her dominant form this year at Melbourne Park.
She’s yet to drop a set in her four matches.
2.30pm – Djokovic’s ruthless opening set
Novak Djokovic looks to be in scary form with the Serbian top seed taking his first set against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-0.
Djokovic actually looked to have a challenge on his hands in the opening game as he had to save two break points against the skillful Frenchman.
However he never looked troubled from there as he quickly showed he’s on another level to his opponent.
“This is an exercise in efficiency,” Jim Courier said in commentary.
It is a rare early outing on Rod Laver Arena for Djokovic who’s made his stance clear that he prefers night games at Melbourne Park.
1.40pm – Rain stops play at Melbourne Park
Play has been suspended due to rain in second seed Aryna Sabalenka’s fourth round match against Amanda Anisimova.
Sabalenka is currently up 4-1 in the first set as the players wait for the roof to be closed on Margaret Court Arena.
1.20pm – Teenage superstar powers into quarter-finals
American star Coco Guaff has demolished her fourth round opponent Magdalena Frech 6-1 6-2 in a 63-minute bloodbath to advance to the quarter-finals.
The 19-year-old paid credit to tennis legend Rod Laver after her dominant performance in the arena named after him.
“Luckily when I noticed he came I was up a lot, so I wasn’t too nervous,” Guaff said.
“You guys were clapping and I was like I know it’s not for us, it’s only the first set
“Then I saw the screen and I was like ‘oh it makes sense’.
“So really really thanks for coming to my match and it’s not only you, there’s lots of legends in the box so thank you all for coming.”
Laver is expected to be a regular face at the Australian Open for the final seven days of the tournament as it reaches its final stages.
12pm – Hewitt to make Aussie Open debut
Aussie tennis great Lleyton Hewitt has revealed he’s ‘unbelievably proud’ as his son Cruz prepares to make his Aussie Open debut on Sunday afternoon in the junior boys’ singles event.
Cruz gained entry to the tournament through a wildcard, and will take on sixth seed Alexander Razeghi later today.
“Just unbelievably proud, to be honest,” Lleyton Hewitt said on Channel 9.
“They asked me late last night if I would go out and warm him up this morning on Show Court 3. Just a really special moment.
“My first ever main draw match at the Australian Open was actually out on Show Court 3 as well.
“Just some great memories coming back of me playing here. He’s been around the traps, but he’s worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. He is playing well.
“He’s still very young. This is all a learning experience. That’s what the junior event is all about.
“You want to get the opportunity to play here in seniors one day. He’s been fortunate enough to get a wildcard and hopefully goes out, has a lot of fun.”
11am – Aussie star caught up in ‘concerning’ meltdown
Aussie star Storm Hunter came to the support of her distressed doubles partner Katarina Siniakova on Saturday during a ‘concerning’ incident in their doubles match against fellow Aussie pair Maddison Inglis and Destinee Aiava.
Siniakova lost her cool after double-faulting in the second set to hand a break back to her opponents.
The Czech star smashed her racquet before returning to her seat and yelling out at her team in her supporter’s box.
The clear emotional distress on her face led to some concern from Hunter and the commentators.
“There’s something going on isn’t there?” Abigail Johnson said in commentatary.
“I think this is something deeper than a match.
“She’s been in tougher situations than this.
“It’s concerning to be honest because we don’t know these players as people … anything could be happening off the court and we have no idea.”
Siniakova soon recovered with the help of Hunter and the pair went on to win the match in three sets.
10.45am – Djokovic opponent doesn’t know who he’s playing
Novak Djokovic is the heavy favourite to make it through to the quarterfinals against Adrian Mannarino, who apparently doesn’t even know he’s playing the Serbian champion.
John Millman explained on Nine: “Adrian Mannarino doesn’t know who he’s playing. He does not check the draw ahead of time.
“Tries to keep it a secret. Really tough left-handed player though.”
Djokovic, who prefers the evening conditions at Rod Laver Arena, will play his first day session match since 2021.
10.30am – Laver wants more from Demon
Australian tennis legend Rod Laver has touched down in Melbourne and has given his predictions for the tournament.
Laver believes Novak Djokovic is timing his run to perfection and is still the man to beat despite dropping some sets in his early rounds.
“It is almost to me like he’s priming himself to get through to the final. He’ll lose a set somewhere in these five-setters and I’m thinking ‘Is he having us on’ because he could win this in two and two and two (6-2 6-2 6-2).
“He serves well, his groundstrokes are unbeatable so I have to believe unless someone miraculously plays their best tennis to knock him off, they can start putting part of his initials on the trophy now.”
While Laver believes Djokovic will be almost impossible to beat, he declared now is time for Alex de Minaur to make a major breakthrough.
“Alex de Minaur is a great player,” Laver said.
“He should be doing more than he’s doing because he’s got a great game.
“But there’s 10 or 15 players who are so talented now that there’s no easy matches.
“Alex is tough, but also all the other players have improved and the competition is getting so much bigger now.”
John Millman believes the home crowd advantage could give de Minaur the edge over Rublev, who he has beaten before.
“It is worth the win,” Millman said on Nine.
“I honestly the way he plays and the energy that Alex uses from that crowd, it lifts him another couple of levels.”
Australian Open Day 8 schedule of play
Rod Laver Arena
Magdalena Frech (POL) vs. [4] Coco Gauff (USA) — 12pm
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [20] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) — not before 1.30pm
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs. [5] Andrey Rublev — 7pm
Margaret Court Arena
Amanda Anisimova (USA) vs. [2] Aryna Sabalenka — not before 1pm
[4] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [15] Karen Khachanov — not before 4pm
John Cain Arena
Mirra Andreeva vs. [9] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) — 4pm
[12] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. [7] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
KIA Arena
Marta Kostyuk (UKR) vs. [Q] Maria Timofeeva
Originally published as Australian Open Day 8 live: Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend’s gross promise after win