Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves at the crowd after his defeat against Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their men's singles third round match on day five of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 30, 2024. Angela Weiss, AFP/File

Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves at the crowd after his defeat against Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their men's singles third round match on day five of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 30, 2024. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

US Open

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736931891291AFP__20240831__36EZ3PP__v1__Preview__TennisUsaOpen.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Serbia&#x27;s Novak Djokovic waves at the crowd after his defeat against Australia&#x27;s Alexei Popyrin during their men&#x27;s singles third round match on day five of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 30, 2024. Angela Weiss, AFP/File"/>Serbia&#x27;s Novak Djokovic waves at the crowd after his defeat against Australia&#x27;s Alexei Popyrin during their men&#x27;s singles third round match on day five of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 30, 2024. Angela Weiss, AFP/File</div>MELBOURNE, Australia -- Novak Djokovic made a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday but last year&#x27;s women&#x27;s finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far.Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all also winners on a rainy day four.Play was suspended on outside courts in the early evening because of the wet weather.Playing under the roof on Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic needed four sets for the second match in a row before defeating Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2.It was Djokovic&#x27;s 430th singles match at a major to claim sole ownership of most ever played, men or women, in the Open Era ahead of Roger Federer (429) and Serena Williams (423).The Serb is chasing a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and historic 25th Grand Slam crown.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/1/13/tennis-djokovic-joins-alcaraz-sinner-in-melbourne-round-two-2113">READ: Djokovic joins Alcaraz, Sinner in Melbourne round two but Kyrgios out</a></div>&quot;Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I&#x27;m just blessed to be making another record,&quot; said Djokovic, 37, now coached by former rival Andy Murray.Djokovic faces Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac next and is drawn to meet Spain&#x27;s red-hot Alcaraz in the last eight.Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz dropped just five games in an ominous display to sprint into the third round.The third seed showed no mercy to Japan&#x27;s Yoshihito Nishioka in a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 rout in 81 minutes.&quot;The less time you spend on court in the Grand Slams, especially in the beginning, it is going to be better,&quot; said Alcaraz, who is yet to go beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne.Second seed Alexander Zverev of Germany is seeking a first Grand Slam title and has enjoyed two days off since his straight-sets win on Sunday night against Lucas Pouille.He again plays in the graveyard slot, the last evening match on Rod Laver Arena, this time against Spaniard Pedro Martinez.<div>- Olympic champ ousted -</div>Olympic champion Zheng was sent packing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 by world number 97 Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the women&#x27;s draw at age 36.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/1/12/tennis-zheng-andreeva-win-as-rain-lashes-australian-open-on-day-1-1611">READ: Zheng, Andreeva win as rain lashes Australian Open on Day 1</a></div>&quot;I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis. I had nothing to lose so I just told myself to swing free,&quot; said the German.&quot;It&#x27;s tennis. Nothing more,&quot; said China&#x27;s Zheng, 22, who was given two time violations and lost her cool as her tilt at a maiden major crown evaporated in only the second round.Sabalenka dropped her serve three times and faced 11 break points before overcoming Spain&#x27;s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, rattling off the last five games in a row.&quot;She played incredible tennis today and it was a really tough one. I expected this tennis from her, I&#x27;m really glad I was able to win this match,&quot; said Sabalenka, who beat Zheng in the 2024 final.The win kept the Belarusian world number one on course for a rare hat-trick of consecutive Australian Open titles, a feat last achieved 26 years ago by Martina Hingis and only matched by four other women in history.Former world number one Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 champion in Australia but now unseeded, stormed back to defeat 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.Osaka called it a &quot;little revenge&quot; for defeat at the US Open in August to the Czech.American seventh seed Jessica Pegula, beaten in the US Open final by Sabalenka last year, eased through 6-4, 6-2 against Belgium&#x27;s Elise Mertens.World number three Coco Gauff is unbeaten this year after inspiring her country to victory in the United Cup and breezing past former champion Sofia Kenin in the first round in Melbourne.She faces Britain&#x27;s Jodie Burrage.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Novak Djokovic made a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday but last year's women's finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far.

Novak Djokovic made a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday but last year's women's finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far.

Tennis: Djokovic makes slice of history as Zheng stunned in Melbourne | ABS-CBN

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Tennis: Djokovic makes slice of history as Zheng stunned in Melbourne

Tennis: Djokovic makes slice of history as Zheng stunned in Melbourne

Agence France-Presse,

Daniel Hicks

Published Jan 15, 2025 05:06 PM PHT

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