Australian Open Results, Day 6: Men's and Women's Round Up
The third round of matches in the men's and women's singles categories of the Australian Open 2019 concluded today on the courts of Melbourne Park.
Elina Svitolina was first up on Rod Laver Arena and unlike the previous rounds, she had a hard-fought battle over China's Zhang Shuai. She eventually came out on top after being a set down, winning the match 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Svitolina will take on USA's Madison Keys in the fourth round on Monday. The 2017 US Open finalist had an easy win over Elise Mertens, winning the match 6-3, 6-2.
Naomi Osaka and Karolina Pliskova too were taken the distance in their respective 3rd round encounters against Hsieh Su-wei and Camila Giorgi. While Osaka won her match 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, Pliskova won 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
Pliskova will take on two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round on Monday. The Spaniard won her match against Timea Bascinzky 7-6(5), 6-2.
Osaka on the other hand will take on Anastasija Sevastova in her fourth-round encounter on Monday.
In the blockbuster women's match of the day, Simona Halep defeated Venus Williams 6-2, 6-3. She dominated from start to finish and will now take on Serena Williams in what could be a cracker of a match on Monday.
Serena was too good for her opponent, Dayana Yastremska, defeating her 6-2, 6-1.
Moving over to the men's side, Novak Djokovic dropped his first set of the tournament today against Canadian sensation Denis Shapovalov. However, apart from that 3rd set which was riddled with unforced errors from Djokovic, he was dominant throughout.
He won 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 in slightly over 2 hours, and will take on Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round on Monday.
The Russian is yet to drop a set in this tournament so far. Today, he defeated David Goffin 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-3 and he will look to cause the tournament's biggest upset on Monday against the World No. 1.
Alexander Zverev wasn't tested much as he defeated local favourite Alex Bolt in straight sets - 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. He will take on Milos Raonic in the fourth round.
The big-hitting Canadian is having a great tournament so far and is on top of his game as he defeated France's Pierre Hugues Herbert 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(6).
Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta came out on top against Italy's Fabio Fognini, defeating him in four sets 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. He will take on Japan's No. 1 Kei Nishikori on Monday.
Unlike the first two rounds, where Nishikori was taken the distance, he had a relatively easy win over Joao Sousa today, defeating him 7-6(6), 6-1, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Borna Coric and Lucas Pouille will take on each other in the fourth round on Monday. While Coric defeated Filip Krajinovic in four sets, Pouille defeated Aussie wildcard Alexei Popyrin in five sets to put an end to the Australian challenge in men' singles.
The mixed doubles continued today and Leander Paes moved on to the next round alongside his partner Sam Stosur. They defeated Květa Peschke and Wesley Koolhof 6-4, 7-5.
In the next round, they will take on Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Robert Farah, the pair who defeated Rohan Bopanna and Yang Zhaoxuan in the first round today. Paes is the only Indian left in the Australian Open.