Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Alex De Minaur
Alex De Minaur looking ahead to facing nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic: “I’m not going to read into too much of that injury. Ultimately he’s one of the best players in the world, and I’m just going to have to take it to him and not shy away from the occasion.
“I’m going to make sure to make it as tough as I can, and, you know, just bring the recent experience I’ve had on court and how I’ve been feeling. Just ultimately it’s not shy away from the opportunity and the occasion.
“I mean, this is the matches I want. It’s going to be exciting. I will get fired up, get the crowd behind me, and I’ll definitely have a good time.”
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Alex De Minaur
Rublev’s match going to a fifth-set tiebreak means there has been a slight deley to Djokovic vs De Minaur, which is set to get underway at around 8:30am. Djokovic looking to extend his 24-match win-streak at the Australian Open but is looking forward to the test of facing a home player in Melbourne.
“It’s a big challenge of playing an Aussie guy here in front of his home crowd,” Djokovic said. “I’m sure that the atmosphere will be electric, and he’s going to have a lot of support, and he’s going to be pumped to try to win the match.
“But I’ve had experiences before. I played Lleyton Hewitt here. I played some big Aussie players, so I know how that feels. I know what to expect, so to say, in terms of atmosphere, the match itself.
“The fact that I never faced him is also challenging for both me and him. I think we don’t know much about each other’s games, but still we know each other pretty well because he’s been around for quite a few years. I’ve watched him play numerous times. I know how he plays.”
Australian Open 2023: Game, set and match!
Rublev is asked about his quarter-final: “No one wants to play Novak,” he says, seemingly forgetting that the Serbian is facing an Australian Alex De Minaur in the next match. “I forgot, sorry!”
Australian Open 2023: Game, set and match!
What an extraordinary finale to Andrey Rublev vs Holger Rune! It went to a match tiebreak, with the 19-year-old Rune storming to a 5-0 lead in the race to 10 points. But Rublev stormed back, winning nine of the next 11 points to bring up two match points. From there, Rune saved both – the second with a stunning backhand winner.
But Rublev responded again – the Russian was a break down with Rune serving for the match, too – and set up another match point. He got a massive slice of luck with a dead net-cord on match point, but that was a brilliant contest.
“It’s not a rollercoaster, it’s like putting a gun to your head,” jokes Rublev. “Rollercoasters are easier. Never in my life have I won a match like this.”
Rublev faces the winner of Djokovic vs De Minaur.
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Alex De Minaur
Novak Djokovic speaking about his hamstring injury, following his straight-sets win over Grigor Dimitrov: “It kind of always starts well in last few matches, including this one, and then some movement happens and then it gets worse. Pills kick in, some hot cream and stuff. That works for a little bit, then it doesn’t, then works again.
“It’s really a roller coaster, honestly. It requires a lot of energy that is being spent from my side mentally and physically, as well, to deal with the match with my opponent and also with not ideal physical state.
“But it is what it is. It’s kind of a circumstances that you have to accept. I’m just very grateful that I’m actually able to play. The way it looked just before the tournament started, I thought that it wouldn’t be possible. I’m still here and still holding on.”
Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic vs Alex De Minaur
Novak Djokovic vs Alex De Minaur is the headline match on the Rod Laver Arena and will take place from 8am GMT, following the contest between Andrey Rublev and Alex De Minaur.
How to watch the Australian Open 2023
You can watch the Australian Open live on Eurosport in the UK. The action will be broadcast on Eurosport’s TV channels, or fans can tune into Discovery+ to stream the tournament, where an Entertainment & Sport pass is available for either £6.99/month or £59.99/year.
Sky has also announced that starting today, Discovery+ will be available at no extra cost for Sky customers, including for Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers.
If you’re not already a Sky customer, you can get a Sky Stream box, which comes with Sky TV and a Netflix basic plan. The device is currently discounted in Sky’s winter sale (was £26 per month, now £24 per month, Sky.com). This is Sky’s new device, and doesn’t require a satellite dish as it streams Sky directly over wifi.
Australian Open 2023
There are some interesting scores out there – with three of the four men’s singles matches currently taking place.
Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune are into a fifth set on Rod Laver Arena. Rune had the chance to serve for the set but Rublev has broken back. It’s 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 5-5 in the fifth.
Elsewhere Ben Shelton has forced a fifth against JJ Wolf, with three of the previous four sets going to tiebreaks. It’s 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) there.
Roberto Bautista Agut, who knocked out Andy Murray in the third round, is back in action against Tommy Paul.
Australian Open 2023: Pliskova races into fourth round
Former world number one Karolina Pliskova needed only 55 minutes to beat China’s Zhang Shuai 6-0 6-4 to move into the quarter-finals. Pliskova fired 12 aces and 33 winners to set up a clash with Magda Linette.
Australian Open 2023: Linette stuns fourth seed Garcia
Poland’s Magda Linette reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 7-6(3) 6-4 upset of fourth seed Caroline Garcia in just under two hours at Rod Laver Arena.
Linette made only 14 unforced errors to Garcia’s 33 in a disciplined performance and will next face former world number one Karolina Pliskova.
Australian Open 2023: Sabalenka into quarter-finals for first time
Arnya Sabalenka stormed into the Melbourne Park quarter-finals for the first time with a 7-5 6-2 victory over Swiss Belinda Bencic, setting up a meeting with teenager Linda Fruhvirtova or Donna Vekic.
Bencic drew first blood with a break in the third game but the Belarusian fifth seed cut down the unforced errors and upped the pace of her serve to run out a worthy winner in 87 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
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