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Novak Djokovic’s straight-sets win against Alex de Minaur on Monday answered some big questions related to the Serbian’s 2023 Australian Open title bid. Not just for those watching on as he dismantled the home favourite on Rod Laver Arena, but also for the nine-time champion himself.

“A week ago I didn't really think about the title, I just thought about being in a good enough condition to play the next match,” acknowledged Djokovic after easing past De Minaur 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in two hours and six minutes. “Until tonight. Tonight, the way I played, the way I felt, gives me reason now to believe that I can go all the way.”

Djokovic sustained a left hamstring injury en route to lifting his 92nd tour-level title at the Adelaide International 1 earlier this month, and he appeared to be affected by it at various times throughout the opening three rounds at Melbourne Park. That was not the case against De Minaur on Monday, when he moved with freedom throughout his imperious win.

“I always believe I can go all the way in terms of my tennis,” said the nine-time Australian Open titlist. “But the way my leg felt before tonight wasn't giving me too many hopes, so to say, for the entire tournament, to go all the way through. Tonight, I feel that, so I feel positive about it.”

Djokovic delivered a near-flawless performance on Rod Laver Arena, with De Minaur later calling it ‘Novak very close to his best’. The 35-year-old, who will return to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings should he lift the trophy in Melbourne, was reluctant to get too carried away with his display but acknowledged it as his best of a 2023 season in which he now holds a 9-0 record.

The men’s singles field at the 2023 Australian Open is down to eight and Tuesday’s action sees half the remaining competitors bidding for a semi-final spot.

Stefanos Tsitsipas seeks to halt the dream run of Jiri Lehecka in the night session on Rod Laver Arena, where the third-seeded Greek is chasing his third consecutive Australian Open semi-final appearance. Earlier on Tuesday, Karen Khachanov and Sebastian Korda are in action, with both players appearing in their maiden Australian Open quarter-final.

ATPTour.com previews the quarter-final matchups on Day 9 at Melbourne Park.

View Schedule | View Singles Draw | View Doubles Draw

[BREAK POINT]

To say Ben Shelton’s first trip outside of the United States has been a success would be an understatement.

When the American set off for Australia, he was stepping into the unknown. Fast forward one month and the 20-year-old is playing like a seasoned pro, with his victory against J.J. Wolf propelling him into the quarter-finals on debut at the Australian Open.

Speaking after his five-set win on Monday, Shelton admitted that his run in Melbourne has surpassed all expectations.

“[It is] definitely a surprise,” Shelton said. “I got on the plane with no expectations. I know that it's very hard to adjust to Australia from the United States just with the jetlag, time change and everything. It being my first time, never being out of the United States, I knew it would be a struggle.

“But I think it has helped me a little bit having that expectation or the feeling that I have to perform, but being able to just go out there, be myself and play free. I think that's been a big contribution to my success.”

Question marks were raised about Novak Djokovic’s fitness throughout the first week of the Australian Open. Playing with a hamstring injury that was strapped, the Serbian looked in discomfort throughout his victories against Roberto Carballes Baena, Enzo Couacaud and Grigor Dimitrov.

With all eyes on the Serbian, his fitness fears were put to bed against Alex de Minaur on Monday. In a dominant display, the former World No. 1 moved freely to dispatch the Australian 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 and reach the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

"I really wanted to win in straight sets," Djokovic said. "You obviously don't know what is going to happen on the court. I thought the first four, five games was close. After breaking serve in the first set, I started feeling more free and more loose to hit through the ball and be more aggressive.

"I thought he was a bit more nervous towards the end of the second [set] and the beginning of the third set. I thought that was my opportunity to capitalise on those chances. Tennis is a very quick and dynamic sport. Things can change in a matter of moments, matter of points. But I kept my focus all the way through and played the best match of the year so far."

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Australian wild cards Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler thrilled their home fans in Margaret Court Arena as they advanced to the Australian Open quarter-finals in dramatic fashion on Monday. In a 1-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 win against Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar, the pair saved a match point with a winner at 7/8 in the second-set tie-break and rode that momentum to victory.

Despite winning 87 points to their opponents' 99, Hijikata/Kubler were at their best in the crucial moments as they edged the tie-break and won four of the match's final five games. It is the second straight match in which the pair battled back from a set down to advance, after their second-round win against sixth seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara.

Their victory sets up a showdown with top seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, who earned a 6-4, 6-2 win against Nikola Cacic and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in Kia Arena.

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Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski continued their run by shocking second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 6-7(4), 7-6(8), 6-2. The unseeded pair saved one match point at 5/6 in the second-set tie-break before pulling away in the third set to earn victory against the 2020 Australian Open champions in two hours and 33 minutes.

The Americans are out in force in the 2023 Australian Open quarter-finals, and among them is Tommy Paul.

The 25-year-old delivered a rock-solid fourth-round performance Monday at Melbourne Park, where he prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a clean-hitting matchup against Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Paul was a constant menace to the Spaniard in his return games on Margaret Court Arena. He converted six of 15 break points to maintain the upper hand for much of the match, despite a second-set Bautista Agut revival. Against a player renowned for his ability to regularly hit through opponents, Paul outhit Bautista Agut by 58 winners to 35 to seal his 11th-straight victory against Spanish opponents in three hours and 19 minutes.

Paul takes on Ben Shelton next in Melbourne after the 20-year-old downed J.J. Wolf in five sets to extend his dream Australian Open debut. With Sebastian Korda also into the quarter-finals, this marks the first time since 2000 that three American men have reached the last eight in Melbourne — and the first time at any Slam since the 2005 US Open.

More to follow…

The first Top 10 matchup of the 2023 Australian Open exceeded its blockbuster billing as Andrey Rublev edged Holger Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(11-9) on Monday in Rod Laver Arena.

In a scarcely believable fifth set, Rublev fought back from 2-5, saved two match points on serve at 5-6, then clawed back from a 0/5 hole in the decisive tie-break. On his third match point, he clinched victory in the cruelest of ways from the Dane's perspective, when a net cord dribbled over the net.

"I never in my life was able to win matches like this," Rublev said post-match. "This is the first ever time that I won something like this, especially in a very special tournament, the Australian Open, to be in the quarter-finals. So it’s something I will remember for sure all my life. I have no words, I am shaking and happy.” 

Amazing Andrey!@AndreyRublev97 comes from 0-5 down in the match tiebreak to defeat Holger Rune in a classic at Rod Laver Arena.#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/Ms3S4Vi4wN

Over the course of three hours, 37 minutes, the twists and turns started early and began to build toward the climax early in the fourth set. Rune was struggling physically as he saved two break points in its first game, but after a visit from the trainer, he found and stole the set — but only after failing to serve it out at 5-3.

American Ben Shelton continued his dream run at the Australian Open Monday when he overcame countryman J.J. Wolf 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

In a thrilling clash full of power hitting, the 20-year-old fired 64 winners and saved both break points he faced to earn the biggest win of his career after three hours, 51 minutes.

"It has been a dream so far," Shelton said after a second straight win in John Cain Arena. "Thank you to everyone who came out today, you guys are the best.

"It was a gruelling match. There were a lot of swings throughout the match, going to me and then him. I was focused on being energetic, trusting my fitness and hustling. I was courageous and I think I did a good job of competing at the highest level in the fifth set."

[ATP APP]

Novak Djokovic looks to avoid an upset against home favourite Alex de Minaur when they meet in the fourth round Monday at the 2023 Australian Open. Also on Monday’s card is a Rod Laver Arena showdown which will decide the clash of Top-10 seeds Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune. And the Americans look to continue their strong performance in Melbourne, where Tommy Paul, J.J. Wolf, and Ben Shelton are all competing in the round of 16.

ATPTour.com looks at what to watch on Day 8 at Melbourne Park as players bid for a quarter-final spot.

[4] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [22] Alex de Minaur (AUS)

With a potential 10th Australian Open crown in sight, the fourth seed must first get past a tricky test under the lights on Rod Laver Arena as home hope de Minaur looks to spoil the Serbian’s chances in their first meeting.

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Djokovic, who hasn’t lost in Melbourne since 2018 (did not play in 2022), is bidding to record his 25th consecutive match win at the Australian Open and equal his longest streak of victories at the season’s first Slam.

Second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury narrowly avoided an upset against home favourites Marc Polmans and Alexei Popyrin during Sunday’s second-round doubles action at the 2023 Australian Open. The 2022 Nitto ATP Finals champions ousted the Aussie wild card duo 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3.

Ram and Salisbury, who are No. 1 and 2 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings, play their best tennis when the stage is the biggest. In 2022, the American-British duo earned four team titles, including the US Open crown. Ram and Salisbury are aiming for their second Australian Open title (2020).

[ATP APP]

They will next meet Polish team Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski, who rallied from a set down to take out Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7).

Two French teams were victorious Sunday, including Arthur Rinderknech and Benjamin Bonzi, who fended off all six break points faced to down Nicolas Barrientos and Ariel Behar 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(2). Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin defeated Indian duo N.Sriram Balaji and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan 6-4, 6-4.

Stefanos Tsitsipas passed a real test of his title-winning credentials Sunday at the Australian Open, where the third seed held firm in the face of a Jannik Sinner onslaught to clinch a thrilling 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 fourth-round victory.

Having marched through his opening three matches in Melbourne without dropping a set, the Greek was presented with the biggest test of his campaign by 21-year-old Sinner. For the first two sets, Tsitsipas seemed on course to repeat his straight-sets win against the Italian in the pair’s quarter-final at the 2022 Australian Open, but his hopes of a similarly one-sided result were dashed by a remarkable change in level from his opponent.

An increasingly confident Sinner dominated the baseline exchanges in the third and fourth sets to carry the momentum into a decider on Rod Laver Arena. Yet Tsitsipas retained his composure, dialled in behind his serve and huge forehand, and clinched a decisive break in the sixth game of the fifth set en route to a gripping four-hour win.

“It was a long match, guys, I feel like I spent an entire century in this court playing tennis,” said Tsitsipas to the crowd. “It felt so long. What a great night… I’m really excited to be sharing moments like this on the court, especially in Australia. I’m trying to do my best out here, it’s not easy. I had an unbelievable opponent on the other side of the court today, playing incredible tennis in the third and fourth sets.”

The victory extended Tsitsipas’ ATP Head2Head series lead against Sinner to 5-1. The Greek, who will rise to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time should he lift the trophy in Melbourne, will next take on Jiri Lehecka as he bids for a third straight Australian Open semi-final appearance.

Monday will be a massive day for J.J. Wolf, and not just because he will compete in the fourth round at the Australian Open.

The Cincinnati native will be waking up early to watch his hometown Cincinnati Bengals play in the NFL Playoffs against the Buffalo Bills. The football game begins at 7 a.m. in Melbourne.

“I’m going to have to. There’s no way I’m missing that,” Wolf said. “I’ve got my jersey and everything, so I’ll be rocking it.”

Wolf will be wearing a Joe Burrow jersey, which his father got him for Christmas. Bengals quarterback Burrow and Wolf both attended Ohio State University for three years.

But the American’s overall focus will be on his match against countryman Ben Shelton. Both men are in the fourth round on their Australian Open main draw debuts.

One week ago, Jiri Lehecka had not won a match in the main draw of a Grand Slam. Now, he is an Australian Open quarter-finalist.

The Czech’s brand of heavy baseline hitting and silky net play proved too much for sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime to handle Sunday on Margaret Court Arena, where Lehecka powered to an impressive 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-6(3) fourth-round victory.

“Honestly, it feels amazing,” said Lehecka. “It’s tough for me to find some words because what we’ve been through last year and now coming back to Australia. [I lost] in the first round last year, so of course if somebody had told me before the tournament that I would play like this, then I wouldn’t believe them, but I'm super happy that I’m through and I’m excited.”

The World No. 71 Lehecka fell in the first round at all four majors last season but has upset a series of top opponents across the first week in Melbourne. The 21-year-old, who finished his 2022 season on a high by reaching the championship match at the Next Gen ATP Finals, also upset 21st seed Borna Coric in the first round and 11th seed Cameron Norrie in the third round.

“Of course, all the guys I have beaten over here, all of them are incredible players and I must have played my best tennis," said Lehecka. "[I had] to show all the cards I have to beat them. Coric in the first round, [Christopher] Eubanks in the second round and Norrie, now Felix. It sounds crazy, but it’s true, and I’m very happy and so excited to continue the journey.”

Sebastian Korda earned the biggest win of his career Sunday when he battled past 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz in five gripping sets to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.

The 29th seed advanced to the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time with a back-and-forth 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) victory against the Polish star. Korda will play Karen Khachanov for a place in the semi-finals.

"Awesome. I couldn't have done it without you guys. You guys pushed me through," Korda told the crowd. "I wasn't feeling too much energy towards the fourth and the fifth, but you guys really picked me up and without you guys I don't think it would have been possible today, so thank you!"

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The American claimed an upset in the third round when he ousted back-to-back Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev in a nearly flawless straight-sets display. He backed up that triumph with a gritty performance inside Rod Laver Arena against the the 2021 Wimbledon semi-finalist.

Karen Khachanov cruised into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday with a scintillating performance against Yoshihito Nishioka.

The 18th seed defeated the Japanese lefty 6-0, 6-0, 7-6(4) to reach the last eight at the year's first major for the first time. Khachanov, who will next play 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz or 29th seed Sebastian Korda, has now advanced to the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams, the 50th man in the Open Era to accomplish the feat.

"First two sets I didn't know what was going on, but it's never easy when you are going with the score too easy. You feel it," Khachanov said. "Then at one point Yoshi tried to turn it around, he pumped the crowd and it's normal. I tried to stay focussed all the match from the beginning until the end. But it's not easy to win with this score, three sets, so the third set it was a really tough one and I'm playing well, so I'm really happy to go through."

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Entering the match, Nishioka had won all nine sets he played through three rounds. But the 31st seed struggled to find any rhythm inside John Cain Arena, where Khachanov stormed through the first two sets in 46 minutes.

Jiri Lehecka made his main draw debut at all four Grand Slams in 2022, his breakthrough season. But the Czech was unable to make his mark at the majors, falling short in the first round on each occasion.

What would the 21-year-old have said if told before the start of the season he would reach the fourth round at the Australian Open?

“I wouldn’t believe you,” Lehecka told ATPTour.com with a smile. “But deep in my mind, I always knew that results like this are possible for me.”

The World No. 71 has played mature beyond his years at Melbourne Park, defeating two ATP Masters 1000 champions — Borna Coric and Cameron Norrie — en route to the Round of 16. And the Czech shows no signs of slowing down.

“I felt like my game was there, but that I just needed to focus on some small details that can get me through these tough matches,” Lehecka said. “That’s something that I think we worked hard on a lot and focussed on every day and every practice. Now for me, the most important thing is just to stay focussed on the right things."

One year ago Yoshihito Nishioka lost in the first round of the Australian Open. It was his lowest low.

The Japanese lefty was struggling to find motivation and fell to No. 123 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Nishioka was prepared to call it a career.

“Last year was like a nightmare,” Nishioka told ATPTour.com. “My ranking dropped [to] around 120 or something, but then I got a feeling like ‘Oh, I cannot come back anymore [to the] Top 50.’ I said in two years I will retire if I cannot make it. Then the Japanese fans were very surprised with that. It was real, I was thinking like that.”

Nishioka told himself he would focus for two years to try to make the most of his tennis.

“If it doesn’t work, if [I’m not] successful, then I will quit,” Nishioka recalled himself thinking. “After a couple months, I was doing very well and then I got the confidence. Then I got a new coach and he supported me a lot, others [on the] team also [were] very supportive. Now, I’m finally around Top 30.”

The last time Andy Murray exited the Australian Open at the hands of Roberto Bautista Agut, there was speculation that the former World No. 1 had made his final appearance at Melbourne Park. Skip ahead four years to the Scot’s four-set defeat to the Spaniard Saturday and Murray’s immediate playing future looks brighter as a 35-year-old than it did when he was 31.

Although Murray understandably showed some fatigue against RBA after coming into the match following back-to-back five sets wins – including a five-hour, 45 minute epic against Thanasi Kokkinakis that finished after 4 a.m. Friday, the five-time Australian Open finalist appears to be in good physical condition for a man who has undergone back surgery, two hip surgeries and who has played 954 tour-level matches.

“You never know exactly when the end is going to be,” said Murray, who underwent a second hip surgery after the Australian Open in 2019. “I would like to go out playing tennis like this, where I'm competing with the best players in the world in the biggest events and doing myself justice.

“There were maybe times the last year or so where I didn't really feel like I was playing well, and I didn't enjoy the way that I was playing. Those sacrifices and that effort that I put in allowed me to get through those matches and play at a high level that I think was entertaining for the people watching.

[BREAK POINT]

Novak Djokovic remained on track to capture a record-extending 10th Australian Open title Saturday when he defeated Grigor Dimitrov to reach the fourth round. However, question marks remain over the Serbian’s fitness as he once again struggled with a hamstring injury.

“It kind of always starts well in the past few matches, including this one, and then some movement happens and then [the leg] gets worse,” said Djokovic, who received two medical timeouts during his three-hour, seven-minute win. “The pills kicked in, some hot cream and stuff. That works for a little bit, then it doesn't work again. It's really a roller coaster.

“It requires a lot of energy that is being spent from my side mentally and physically, to deal with the match with my opponent and also not the ideal physical state. But it is what it is. It's a kind of circumstances that you have to accept. I'm just very grateful that I'm actually able to play. The way it looked just before the tournament started, I thought that it wouldn't be possible. I'm still here and still holding on.”

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Djokovic entered the event with a left hamstring injury suffered en route to the title in Adelaide. The 35-year-old, who will return to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings if he wins a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title in Melbourne, was pleased with how he battled against the 27th seed.

The Australian Open has produced an opening week of upsets, with four of the Top 10 seeds falling before the fourth-round stage. With the pressure mounting, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime will look to overcome tricky tests against Jannik Sinner and Jiri Lehecka, respectively, and stay alive in Melbourne on Sunday.

ATPTour.com looks at what to watch on Day 7 as players look to reach the quarter-finals.

View Schedule | View Singles Draw | View Doubles Draw

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[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. [15] Jannik Sinner (ITA)

Tsitsipas is the highest seed left in the draw, following Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud’s early exits. Despite seeds tumbling around him, the Greek has had no such problems, not dropping a set en route to the fourth round.