Australian Open 2026: Novak Djokovic Into Round Four

Novak Djokovic continued his excellent progress at the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Denis Istomin.


The Serb, who has actually won the past 3 titles in Melbourne, won 6-3 6-3 7-5 and plays Fabio Fognini in round 4.


Serena Williams won a tournament-record 61st singles match by beating Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 6-3 in round 3.


Ana Ivanovic, who beat Australia's Sam Stosur 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 6-2, is next for leading seed Williams, while China's Li Na beat Lucie Safarova 1-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.


Third seed David Ferrer beat 29th seed Jeremy Chardy in straight sets and 15th-ranked Fognini saw off the challenge of Sam Querrey 7-5 6-4 6-4.


Spain's Tommy Robredo, the number 17 seed, beat France's ninth seed Richard Gasquet 2-6 7-5 6-4 7-6 (8-6).


The conditions continued to be a concern for gamers, with the temperature reaching a high of 41.4 C a day after matches were suspended on Thursday due to the fact that of 43.3 C heat,


Rod Laver Arena


S Williams (US) [1] beat Hantuchova (Svk) [31] 6-3 6-3


Five-time champ Williams was not at her best and appeared to be fighting with the heat, though she still showed too strong for Hantuchova.


The world primary raced into a 5-3 lead however needed to conserve 2 break points to hold serve before clinching the very first set.


Williams, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament, broke early in the 2nd however her opponent remained in battling mood and responded to level at 3-3.


Hantuchova's hopes were temporary, nevertheless, as Williams seized the initiative in the Slovakian's next service game and served out for the success, sealing it with an effective forehand winner on her fourth match point.


"It was a tough match," stated Williams. "Daniela is a great opponent so I'm actually happy to come out with the win. It was hot but you need to play, you need to be prepared and prepare yourself mentally. I'm delighted to survive."


Serena and sister Venus Williams later on withdrew from the doubles shortly before their first-round match due to the fact that of an injury to Venus's left leg.


Ferrer (Spa) (3] beat Chardy (Fra) [29] 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-2


Ferrer reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the 15th consecutive time as he eased past Chardy.


After the Spaniard won the opening set in uncomplicated style, Chardy put up a more powerful difficulty in the 2nd however was not able to convert any of his 5 set points, permitting Ferrer to take it on a tie-break.


That proved the decisive moment in the match, as Ferrer completed the triumph to set up a conference with Germany's Florian Mayer for a place in the quarter-finals.


"The key was when I won the second set," Ferrer said. "At 4-3 in the second set I made a lot of mistakes. I had actually set points down and after winning the second set I played more unwinded. Maybe it was my finest match this week."


Dellacqua (Aus) beat Zheng (Chn) 6-2 6-4


Ivanovic (Ser) [14] beat Stosur (Aus) [17] 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 6-2


Home preferred Stosur edged a thrilling first set after rain stopped have fun with when she was 8-7 up in the tie-break.


Former world number one Ivanovic, 26, broke serve once in the second set and two times in the decider as she concluded success with a basic volley into an open court.


"It was a match of the greatest quality. She is an extremely hard opponent and I simply hung in there," said Ivanovic, who reached the Australian Open last in 2008.


"Winning in Auckland provided me a great deal of self-confidence and I'm eagerly anticipating the challenge of playing Serena."


Djokovic (Ser) [2] beat Istomin (Uzb) 6-3 6-3 7-5


Four-time champion Djokovic reduced securely into round four with a straightforward triumph over Uzbekistan's Istomin.


The Serb, whose last defeat in this tournament can be found in the 2010 quarter-finals, broke in the third and ninth video games to finish up the first set and another break showed decisive in the fourth game of the 2nd set.


Djokovic looked set to clinch triumph without dropping his serve, however while serving for the match at 5-4 up in the 3rd set, he double-faulted and hit a backhand into the web to provide Istomin a lifeline.


However, the 2nd seed instantly broke back and made no mistake second time around in serving out the match.


"I needed to have really quick footwork and a precise first service, as high a percentage as possible, using every chance to take control over the rally," he stated. "I have actually done actually well."


Hisense Arena


Li (Chn) [4] beat Safarova (Cze) [26] 1-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3


Fourth seed Li, runner-up in 2011 and 2013, endured a Safarova match point as she narrowly avoided ending up being the highest-ranked casualty of the first week in a contest lasting 2 hours and 37 minutes.


Safarova, who has actually never ever beaten a top-10 opponent in a WTA Tour occasion, served for victory in the ninth video game of the second set and held a match point in the 12th but Li hung on before controling the tie-break to force a decider.


The third set was delicately poised until Li broke the Czech in the 8th game, and Safarova had no answer.


Kerber (Ger) [9] beat Riske (US) 6-3 6-4


Berdych (Cze) [7] beat Dzumhur (Bih) 6-4 6-2 6-2


Robredo (Spa) [17] beat Gasquet (Fra) [9] 2-6 7-5 6-4 7-6 (8-6)


Margaret Court Arena


Pennetta (Ita) [28] beat Barthel (Ger) 6-1 7-5


Anderson (SA) [19] beat R-Vasselin (Fra) 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 7-5


Fognini (Ita) [15] beat Querrey (US) 7-5 6-4 6-4


Genie's army


Lleyton Hewitt has his 'Fanatics' and Bernie Tomic has 'Tomic's Kittens', but the most significant noise around Melbourne Park on Friday originated from an unforeseen love affair between Australia and Canada.


Genie Bouchard, the rising star and 30th seed, is through to the 4th round of a Grand Slam for the very first time and on course for a quarter-final with Serena Williams.


And the 19-year-old has actually been vociferously supported throughout by a group of Australian students, 'Genie's Army', who have sung a brochure of songs about the Canadian and offered her presents consisting of a toy kangaroo after her first 2 wins.


"They appeared to my very first round away on Court 15 with their tee shirts," Bouchard told BBC Sport.


"They're really into it and encouraging and it's great to see I have 'very fans' in Australia. They create a big environment on the court and it's enjoyable to play when they exist."


Quotes of the day


"I inform you this: I'm not equipped to address that concern. I'm going to leave it alone." Serena Williams is requested her ideas on the tournament doctor's recommendation that male "evolved on the high plains of Africa going after antelope".


"Serena is on top of the game for so long now. You know, she's somebody we admire. I eagerly anticipate that difficulty. I've been playing some excellent tennis and it's going to be nice test to see where I'm at." Ana Ivanovic is buoyant ahead of her fourth-round match with the world top.


"Because I didn't practice much, I was not able to prepare yourself for the next match. Today I was completely kaput." Poland's Jerzy Janowicz produces his best German to sum up a day in which he lost in straight sets to Florian Mayer while playing in sunglasses.


"I believe five centimetres saved my competition. If she struck it in, my entire team was on the way to the airport." Li Na on how Lucie Safarova was within a hair of knocking her out on match point.


"I was a bit ill and also my mind was not working. I simply enjoyed the ball and just struck it. I didn't know where I struck it." Li's compatriot Zheng Jie after her 6-2 6-4 defeat by Australia's Casey Dellacqua


"They are extremely sad. Especially when you inform the fashion brand that they need to make white, they resemble, 'Oh, OK, what can we do?' It's simply for hopefully 2 weeks. Then they can go again." Tomas Berdych on it to his package sponsors that the blue-and-white striped number he's using in Melbourne won't wash at Wimbledon.


"I've constantly stated I take pleasure in playing in the heat, the conditions and stuff. But today wasn't an example of that." South African Kevin Andersen might have done without investing 4 hours coming back from 2 sets down to beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin.


"Some of the papers and TV stations called me after the match. They said the entire of Bosnia didn't sleep tonight, that everybody was in front of their TV and they were so proud." Damir Dzumhur, the 21-year-old qualifier, who ended up being the first Bosnian to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam competition, after losing to Tomas Berdych.


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