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Tennis: Medvedev into Australian Open quarters, qualifier upsets Azarenka

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Daniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates after defeating Nuno Borges of Portugal during the men" s="" fourth="" round="" match="" at="" the="" Australian="" open="" tennis="" tournament="" in="" January="" Mast="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/sports/01/22/012224_tennis_ao_daniil-medvedev_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Daniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates after defeating Nuno Borges of Portugal during the men&#x27;s fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, January 22, 2024. <em>Mast Irham, EPA-EFE.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MELBOURNE, Australia-- Daniil Medvedev stayed on track for a third Australian Open final in four years on Monday as Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska upset former champion Victoria Azarenka to surge into the quarter-finals.</p><p>They made their moves ahead of an evening session headlined by Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, who is seeking to reach the last eight for the first time.</p><p>Russian third seed Medvedev was made to work hard by Portugal&#x27;s Nuno Borges before winning 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-1 after more than three hours on Rod Laver Arena.</p><p>The 27-year-old will meet Polish ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz for a place in the last four.</p><p>&quot;Before this match I was feeling 100 percent,&quot; said Medvedev, defeated by Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final and by Rafael Nadal the following year.</p><p>&quot;But he made me run third set and that&#x27;s why I missed a little bit too much. I was pretty dead to be honest. In the fourth set I managed to raise my energy levels.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/21/24/djokovic-sabalenka-reach-australian-open-qfinals">Tennis: Djokovic, Sabalenka in ruthless form to reach Australian Open quarter-finals</a></li></ul><p>Big-serving Hurkacz ended the dream run of French wildcard Arthur Cazaux 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 to advance to his first quarter-final at Melbourne Park.</p><p>Earlier, Yastremska fought off two set points in the first set and came from a break down in the second against two-time champion Azarenka to win 7-6 (8/6),6-4.</p><p>Her reward is a clash with unseeded Czech Linda Noskova, who went through when Ukraine&#x27;s Elina Svitolina retired with a bad back while trailing 3-0 in the first set.</p><p>&quot;I need to take a little bit of time to breathe because my heart I feel is going to jump out of my body,&quot; said Yastremska, who hammered Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round.</p><p>&quot;I always felt like I was running behind the train, but I think because I am a little bit of a fighter that&#x27;s why I won this match.&quot;</p><p>Noskova, 19, barely broke a sweat to progress after former world number three Svitolina was unable to complete her match on Margaret Court Arena.</p><p>The 19th seed needed a medical timeout at 2-0 down in the first set, during which she received treatment for her lower back, and she pulled out after being broken for the second time on her return.</p><p>&quot;I got a spasm, or I don&#x27;t know exactly what it is, but like shooting pain in the first game, the last two points,&quot; said Svitolina. &quot;Couldn&#x27;t do anything, completely locked my back.&quot;</p><p>Noskova, ranked 50 in the world, is enjoying a breakout tournament, including a stunning win against world number one Iga Swiatek in the third round.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/20/24/swiatek-dumped-out-of-australian-open-in-third-round">Top seed Swiatek dumped out of Australian Open as Alcaraz shines</a></li></ul><div><strong>- &#x27;Feeling great&#x27; -</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action during his 3rd round match against Juncheng Shang of China on Day 7 of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, January 20, 2024. Joel Carrett, EPA-EFE." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/sports/01/22/012224_tennis_ao_carlos-alcaraz_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action during his 3rd round match against Juncheng Shang of China on Day 7 of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, January 20, 2024. <em>Joel Carrett, EPA-EFE.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Spanish second seed Alcaraz has yet to be fully tested but has shown glimpses of his best form.</p><p>Speaking after Saturday&#x27;s third-round match, when Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng was forced to retire, trailing by two sets, Alcaraz said he was &quot;feeling great&quot;.</p><p>&quot;Probably seven, eight (out of ten),&quot; said the 20-year-old, giving himself marks. &quot;It&#x27;s a high note. But that&#x27;s how I feel.</p><p>&quot;I think I&#x27;m improving every day. Every match that I&#x27;m playing, I&#x27;m feeling better and better. Moving, hitting the ball, and, of course I&#x27;m getting used to this court as well.&quot;</p><p>The Australian Open is doubling up as a shootout for the number one spot and defending champion Djokovic has already laid down a marker, dropping just three games in his fourth-round match on Sunday.</p><p>German sixth seed Alexander Zverev takes on Britain&#x27;s 19th-seeded Cameron Norrie later in a match that could go the distance, while China&#x27;s 12th seed Zheng Qinwen faces Oceane Dodin of France.</p><p>© Agence France-Presse</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/19/24/sabalenka-sinner-fire-warning-shots-at-australian-open">Tennis: Sabalenka, Sinner fire warning shots at Australian Open</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hwHKAIUxYjk?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Daniil Medvedev stayed on track for a third Australian Open final in four years on Monday.