Melbourne, Australia) – As had already happened in the second round, Hubert Hurkacz won another battle in five sets and reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open for the first time. At the end of a difficult match against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego last Wednesday, Hurkacz defeated the Canadian Denis Shapovalov this Friday by 7/6 (7-3), 6/4, 1/6, 4/6 and 6/ 3 in 3h37 from the start.

Current world number 11 at 25, Hurkacz is making his fifth appearance in the Australian Open main draw. Until then, the Pole had never passed the second round. But he is still a long way from his best Grand Slam result, which was the 2021 Wimbledon semi-final.

Hurkacz’s opponent in the round of 16 will come from the match between Daniil Medvedev and Sebastian Korda. The Pole has three wins and two losses against Medvedev, world number 8. He also won the two most recent duels, held in Miami and Halle last year. Facing 31st-ranked Korda, Hurkacz got the upper hand in the Delray Beach final two years ago.

Another reaching the round of 16 for the first time is Karen Khachanov, ranked 20th, who defeated American Frances Tiafoe by 6/3, 6/4, 3/6 and 7/6 (11-9). Climax for the Russian’s reaction in the fourth set, in which he saved five set points and prevented the dispute from getting any longer. The duel with Tiafoe lasted 3h32.

Khachanov is 26 and playing in his seventh Australian Open. He had fallen in the third round in the last four participations and crossed this barrier for the first time. His next rival is Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka, 27 and 33rd in the standings, who beat American Mackenzie McDonald by 7/6 (8-6), 6/3 and 6/2.

During the match, McDonald suffered an abdominal injury and had to remove it. Consequently, McDonald withdrew from the doubles group, in which he would play alongside Marcelo Melo. Khachanov leads the record against Nishioka 2-1.