World number one Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals at a scorching Australian Open on Sunday and was joined by Coco Gauff, while Carlos Alcaraz advanced when Jack Draper dropped out.
Four-time major champion Alcaraz will face Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 if the Serbian great beats 24th-seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Two-time defending champion Sabalenka stunned 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in a ruthless display on the hottest day of the tournament so far.
As temperatures reached 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) in Melbourne, Gauff lost a set for the first time this season but fought back to beat Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
Sabalenka and Gauff will meet in the semifinals if they win their respective matches in the last eight.
Belarusian Sabalenka was on a scorching Center Court for only 62 minutes before recording an 18th consecutive victory at Melbourne Park.
“I’m super happy to get through this tough match in straight sets,” said Sabalenka, who will next face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The Russian 27th seed beat struggling Croatian 18th seed Donna Vekic 7-6 (7/0), 6-0.
Sabalenka struggled with her serve in colder conditions during the first week, but was untouchable as the mercury soared early in the second.
“The ball was flying like a rocket. I hope the conditions will remain the same until the end of the tournament,” Sabalenka said.
World number three Gauff will next face 11th-seeded Spaniard Paula Badosa, who dismantled Serbian Olga Danilovic 6-1, 7-6 (7/2).
“I thought in the first set she played great tennis and it was difficult for me to be offensive,” American Gauff said after outlasting Bencic to extend her unbeaten streak to 13 matches since last year’s WTA Tour Finals.
“I just played more aggressive in the second set and then in the third. But overall I’m happy with the way I played.”
– Djokovic waits –
Alcaraz has promised to get a kangaroo tattoo if he wins the Australian Open for the first time.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, who has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne, was leading 7-5, 6-1 when British 15th seed Draper shook his hand.
Draper had played his previous three matches in five sets, all trailing 2-1, and that seemed to have taken its toll.
He had spent nearly 13 hours on the field compared to six for Alcaraz.
Draper withdrew from the United Cup before Melbourne due to a hip injury.
“It’s not how I wanted to win. But I’m obviously happy to play another quarter-final here in Australia,” Alcaraz said.
“I’m happy with the level I’m playing at. On and off the pitch, I feel really comfortable here,” he added.
While Alcaraz awaits the winner, Djokovic, 37, will look to keep his end of the bargain against Lehecka in the prime-time match at Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic appears to be growing in the tournament, a worrying sign for his rivals, as he targets an 11th Melbourne crown and a historic 25th Grand Slam title.
He lost a set in each of his first two matches, but beat Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in the third round. Djokovic now has his old rival Andy Murray as coach.
12th-seeded American Tommy Paul destroyed Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for just a three-game loss as he bids to match or better his 2023 semifinal appearance.
Paul will meet either German second seed Alexander Zverev, who is yet to lose a set, or French 14th seed Ugo Humbert. They face each other on the John Cain Arena.
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