SNAPSHOT FROM DAY SIX OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN AT MELBOURNE PARK
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Samantha Stosur – the retiring great said a teary farewell to professional tennis after the eight-times grand slam champion and 2011 US Open singles winner lost her first-round mixed doubles match with Matt Ebden.
STAT OF THE DAY: Nine-times champion Novak Djokovic is the last remaining major winner in the men’s draw after dispatching his “Balkan brother” Grigor Dimitrov in a tough 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 third-round win.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “He helped me with some energy for sure – I win an extra two games because I eat the banana.” – Andrey Rublev made the most of Dan Evans’ mid-match generosity after being handed a much-needed piece of fruit from his British opponent.
TOURNAMENT SUMMARY: While Djokovic advanced to the second week for a 15th time, five-times finalist Andy Murray was knocked out, losing to 24th seed Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets. Alex de Minaur and Rublev were joined in the last 16 by ninth-seeded teenager Holger Rune. Former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova, Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and fourth and fifth-seeded 2022 season-ending championship finalists, Caroline Garcia and Aryna Sabalenka, all made the women’s last 16.
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