Australian Open 2024: Sabalenka & Sinner storm into fourth round, boosting their title chances

• Aryna Sabalenka dominates with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Lesia Tsurenko.
• Jannik Sinner drops just four games against Sebastian Baez.
• Amanda Anisimova upsets Paula Badosa 7-5, 6-4 in her return.

Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open, boosting their chances for the title.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic faces another challenging match. Coco Gauff, the US Open champion, made headlines with a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 victory, and 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva came from behind to defeat France’s Diane Parry.

Sabalenka, the defending champion from Belarus, secured an impressive 6-0, 6-0 win against 28th seed Lesia Tsurenko on Rod Laver Arena. Sinner had a dominant performance, dropping just four games in the match against Sebastian Baez, ranked 29th. Youngster Amanda Anisimova also notched a victory, ending Paula Badosa’s injury comeback with a 7-5, 6-4 win.

Anisimova, returning after an eight-month hiatus due to burnout and mental health issues, is set to face Sabalenka in the next round. Sabalenka, the second seed and last year’s Grand Slam title winner in Melbourne, has been in top form, having dropped just six games in her three matches so far in the tournament.

“Last year (world number one) Iga (Swiatek) won so many sets 6-0 and this is one of the goals,” she said. “I´m trying to get closer to her.

“I´m super happy with the level I´m playing at so far and hopefully I can keep going like that or even better.”

Anisimova, who defeated world No. 2 Badosa to win her first WTA championship at the age of 17, shocked even herself by making it to the Roland Garros semi-finals.

“It´s quite unbelievable after taking some time off, but I´m really feeling good,” said the American, who is now aged 22.

The fourth seed Unlike Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, and Carlos Alcaraz, the three players ahead of Sinner in the rankings, Sinner has met expectations thus far and has not lost a set.

“Generally, I´m playing really well and feeling great here,” said Sinner, who will next play Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov. “I´m just happy with how I´m feeling right now.”

Both seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas and twelve-seeded Taylor Fritz claimed victories, and they will now square off for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The ten-time champion Djokovic has performed poorly in the competition and acknowledged being sick.

In the evening, he will take on Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who overcame Andy Murray and Gael Monfils in the previous rounds, in an attempt to extend his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam victory.

“His results are really impressive, he´s obviously playing maybe the tennis of his life on the hard court,” Djokovic said of the 30th seed. “I have to be very, very prepared and ready for that.”

Also Read

Top coach predicts Jannik Sinner to overtake Carlos Alcaraz in 2024 season

The coach predicted that Jannik Sinner would outperform Carlos Alcaraz in 2024....