On a day when temperatures peaked in the afternoon at 40.2C, players had to battle their way through to the last 16 in the scotching sun. Home favourite Nick Kyrgios beat childhood hero Jo-Wilfred Tsonga to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. The 22-year-old beat the Frenchman 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) to keep home hopes alive.
Rafa Nadal recorded a straight-set win over Damir Dzumhur to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. Nadal beat the Bosnian 6-1 6-3 6-1 in one hour and 50 minutes.
Britain’s only hope Kyle Edmund secured an epic five-set victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili to reach the Australian Open fourth round for the first time in his career. Edmund edged 7-6(0) 3-6 4-6 6-0 7-5 in 3 hours 30 minutes in the Melbourne sun as temperatures hit 42C.
Third seed Grigor Dimitrov overcame 20-year-old Andrey Rublev in four sets to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. The Bulgarian, who lost to Rublev in last year’s US Open, did enough to avoid another defeat to Rublev. Dimitrov prevailed 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4.
In the women’s draw, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the round of 16 by beating Kiki Bertens 6-4 6-3.Wozniacki is in the round of 16 of a Grand Slam for the 20th time in her career and sixth time at the Australian Open.
Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit beat seventh seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in a finely-balanced duel that went the distance.The 32nd seed won 6-3 1-6 6-3 to move through to her first Australian Open Round of 16.Ostapenko who had her thigh bandaged before the game dominated the second set but failed to sustain the momentum.
Fourth seed Elina Svitolina ended 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk’s Australian Open run with a 6-2 6-2 victory to reach the fourth round for the first time in Melbourne. Svitolina proved too strong against fellow Ukrainian Kostyuk, who became the youngest player to win an Australian Open match in 22 years when she beat Peng Shuai in the first round.
Elise Mertens saw off Alize Cornet with a 7-5 6-4 victory to advance to the last 16.
