Sabalenka dominates as Djokovic and Alcaraz eye Melbourne showdown

Aryna Sabalenka continued her quest for a third consecutive Australian Open title with an emphatic win on 18 January, while Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz remained on course for a blockbuster quarter-final clash.

Double-defending champion Sabalenka breezed past Russia's 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, securing a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory in just 62 minutes.

The Belarusian extended her winning streak at Melbourne Park to 18 matches, showcasing her dominance in sweltering 32°C heat.

"I'm super happy to get through this difficult match in straight sets," said Sabalenka, who will now face either Croatia's Donna Vekic or Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter-finals.

The second seed overcame early struggles with her serve in cooler conditions, appearing untouchable as temperatures soared.

"The ball was flying like a rocket. I hope conditions stay the same till the end of the tournament," she added.

In other women's last-16 matches, American third seed Coco Gauff, unbeaten this season with a 12-match streak, faced Switzerland's Belinda Bencic.

Meanwhile, Spain's Paula Badosa took on Serbia's Olga Danilovic, with both matches promising exciting quarter-final contenders.

Djokovic builds momentum

In the men's draw, Novak Djokovic appeared to hit his stride, sweeping past Czech 24th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in the third round.

The 37-year-old, chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, acknowledged his improvement.

"This is definitely the best match I've played in the tournament," said Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion, who is coached by Andy Murray for this campaign.

Djokovic will face either Carlos Alcaraz or Britain's Jack Draper in the quarter-finals. Draper, known for his resilience, battled through three consecutive five-setters to reach this stage and promised a fight against the four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz.

"I need to be brave in the way I play," said Draper, the 15th seed, who has displayed exceptional stamina throughout the tournament.

Other contenders shine

Elsewhere, American 12th seed Tommy Paul aimed to replicate his 2023 semi-final performance as he faced Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The winner would go on to meet either Germany's second seed Alexander Zverev or French 14th seed Ugo Humbert, who squared off on John Cain Arena.

Zverev has yet to drop a set in the tournament, further establishing himself as a serious contender.

Meanwhile, Gauff, the world's highest-paid female athlete according to Forbes, embraced her role as a rising star. The 20-year-old attributed her humility to her upbringing.

"I grew up in the church. It keeps me grounded," said Gauff. "I'm lucky to do what I do and get paid for it. I'm very grateful."