Australian Open 2024 results: Carlos Alcaraz advances to fourth round after Shang Juncheng retires

January 20, 2024, 06:41 GMT

Updated 6 minutes ago

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Carlos Alcaraz (left) consoled Shang Juncheng after his retirement due to injury

Venue: Melbourne Park. Dates: 14th – 28th January
Coverage: Tennis Breakfast commentary daily from 07:00 GMT on Radio 5 Sports Extra and ` Sounds, with selected live text commentary and match reports on the ` Sport website and app

Carlos Alcaraz confidently reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time after his opponent Shang Juncheng from China withdrew due to injury.

The second-seeded Spaniard was leading 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 when his 18-year-old opponent, who had taken a medical break for treatment on his right thigh, ended the game.

It was the first time that the 20-year-old Alcaraz played against a younger opponent at tour level.

“It’s not the way anyone wants to move forward,” Alcaraz said.

Wimbledon champion Alcaraz has now reached the fourth round of all four majors.

He missed the Australian Open last year with a leg injury but is one of the favorites to challenge Novak Djokovic for the title this year.

“I missed the tournament last year,” he said. “I watched the games at home from the couch and wanted to play here in the second week. It feels special.”

His clash with Shang at Rod Laver Arena lasted just 66 minutes, with the Chinese player visibly hampered in his movement.

Alcaraz will face Miomir Kecmanovic for a place in the quarterfinals after the Serb saved two match points and beat 14th seed Tommy Paul 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-0 defeated.

Elsewhere on Saturday, world number 69 Nuno Borges eliminated 13th seed Grigor Dimitrov to reach the fourth round.

The 26-year-old from Portugal, who has never made it past the second round of a Grand Slam before, fell flat on his back as he won 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 celebrated. 8-6) Victory over the Bulgarians.

Dimitrov, who came into the Australian Open after winning the Brisbane International, had a chance to force a deciding set at 6-5 in the tiebreak, but he double-faulted, allowing Borges to win.

“It’s great for Portugal, I guess,” Borges said. “I am proud to be Portuguese and to be here and take part in the biggest tournaments in the world.

“I hope I show the younger kids that it’s possible. With a bit of luck and hard work it is possible to achieve it. Just live in the moment.”

Borges faces Daniil Medvedev, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in just over two hours.

It was a more convincing win for the third-seeded Russian compared to his second-round triumph over Emil Ruusuvuori, which lasted four hours and ended at 3:40 a.m. local time on Friday.

“It wasn't easy, I don't feel fresh, I don't feel 100%,” Medvedev said.

“At least I have this super ability that I can sleep wherever I want, whenever I want. When I was younger, I would go out at night after games and sometimes train without sleep. Maybe that helped me play today.”

The 2021 US Open champion said he has been feeling “calmer” with himself lately.

“Honestly, I felt like I was always a happy person in life. I think even more so now,” he said.

“I feel like I know where I'm going. I know what I have to do in life.”

German number six seed Alexander Zverev beat Alex Michelsen 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to set up a round of 16 draw with British number one Cameron Norrie, who defeated Casper Ruud in four sets.

French wildcard Arthur Cazaux, the world No. 122, who defeated No. 8 seed Holger Rune in the second round on Thursday, also defeated No. 30 seed Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands with a dominant 6-3, 6-3 , 6-1 win eliminated.

The 21-year-old Cazaux will face Poland's Hubert Hurkacz after the ninth seed came from a set down to win 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 against France's Ugo Humbert.