Australian Open 2026 Day 8 Highlights

MELBOURNE – As the second week of the Australian Open dawned, the tension at Melbourne Park ratcheted up a notch. Day 8, traditionally one of the most jam-packed days of the tennis calendar, delivered a spectacle of high-octane drama, ruthless dominance, and one earth-shattering upset that has completely reshaped the bottom half of the men’s draw.

Under the bright lights of Sunday, the crowds packed into Rod Laver, Margaret Court, and John Cain Arenas witnessed the field narrow to the elite eight for the bottom half of the draw. Here is the comprehensive wrap of the action from the three main show courts.

Australian Open 2026: Day 9 Order of Play (26 January)

Rod Laver Arena: Favorites Hold Firm, But Not Without a Fight

The centerpiece of the day on Rod Laver Arena saw the World No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz, face a stern test against American 19th seed Tommy Paul. While the straight-sets scoreline of 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-5 might suggest a routine day at the office, the match was anything but.

The opening set was a gladiatorial battle, with Paul matching Alcaraz’s power from the baseline. It required a gritty tiebreak, which Alcaraz edged 8-6, to separate the two. Paul continued to press in the second and third sets, but the Spaniard’s ability to conjure magic on crucial points proved the difference. Alcaraz moves into the quarterfinals after a marathon 2-hour and 44-minute tussle, looking every bit the favorite, though battle-hardened.

Earlier in the day, defending champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her march through the draw. Facing the talented Canadian youngster Victoria Mboko (seeded 17th), Sabalenka displayed her trademark aggression. After breezing through the first set 6-1, Sabalenka faced resistance in the second as Mboko found her rhythm. However, the Belarusian slammed the door in the tiebreak, winning it 7-1 to seal the match in 1 hour and 26 minutes.

The night session belonged to the home hero. The “Demon,” Alex de Minaur, sent the Australian crowd into raptures with a clinical dismantling of the mercurial Alexander Bublik. The 6th seed was relentless, turning defense into offense with blistering speed. Bublik, seeded 10th, had no answers for the Australian’s intensity. De Minaur raced to a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 victory in just over an hour and a half, keeping the dream of a home champion very much alive.

Rounding out the RLA action, veteran Elina Svitolina (12) utilized her experience to quell the challenge of 8th seed Mirra Andreeva. In a battle of generations, Svitolina’s steadiness frustrated the young prodigy, resulting in a composed 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Margaret Court Arena: The Shock of the Tournament

If Rod Laver Arena was about the establishment holding ground, Margaret Court Arena was the site of the tournament’s biggest earthquake.

In a result that stunned the tennis world, American Learner Tien (25) evicted the 11th seed and former champion Daniil Medvedev. The scoreline was stark: 6-4, 6-0, 6-3. Medvedev, known for his deep court position and tactical mind, was completely unraveled by Tien’s fearless shot-making. The second set “bagel” (6-0) was a particularly shocking passage of play where the Russian failed to win a single game. Tien closed out the match in 1 hour and 42 minutes, marking the biggest win of his young career.

On the women’s side, American superstar Coco Gauff (3) survived a scare against the crafty Czech, Karolina Muchova. After dominating the first set 6-1, Gauff lost her way in the second as Muchova’s slice and variety disrupted her rhythm. However, Gauff regrouped in the decider, breaking early and holding her nerve to win 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in just under two hours.

The arena also hosted thrilling doubles action. In the Mixed Doubles, the Australian wildcard pairing of Olivia Gadecki and John Peers delighted the local fans with a comeback win over Siegemund and Roger-Vasselin, taking the match tiebreak 10-5. Later, in the Women’s Doubles, the 7th seeded pair Danilina and Krunic edged out the Australian duo of Hunter and Joint in a tight two-setter, 7-5, 7-6(6).

John Cain Arena: Zverev Cruises, Jovic Dominates

Over at “The People’s Court,” the atmosphere was electric as fans crowded in to see 3rd seed Alexander Zverev. The German did not disappoint, putting on a serving masterclass against Argentine Francisco Cerundolo (18). Zverev was efficient and focused, breaking Cerundolo once in the first set and managing the key moments perfectly to record a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory. It was a clean, 2-hour and 12-minute performance that signals Zverev is peaking at the right time.

However, the most ruthless performance of the day on this court belonged to American Iva Jovic. The 29th seed spent less than an hour on court, absolutely demolishing Yulia Putintseva. Jovic dropped only one game in the entire match, winning 6-0, 6-1 in a mere 53 minutes. Her power and precision were overwhelming, sending a warning shot to the rest of the women’s field.

The doubles specialists also had their time to shine on John Cain. The top-tier duo of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos (3) booked their spot in the next round with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over the American pair Cash and Tracy. Meanwhile, the British-Polish combination of Johnson and Zielinski dispatched Pavlasek and Smith in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

Looking Ahead

As Day 8 concludes, the quarterfinal lineups are taking shape. The narrative of the tournament has shifted; with Medvedev out, the bottom half of the men’s draw has opened up, potentially paving the way for a deep run by Learner Tien or clearing the path for Zverev. Meanwhile, the women’s draw sees heavyweights Sabalenka and Gauff on a collision course, while the resurgence of Svitolina adds an intriguing emotional layer to the second week.

Melbourne Park now catches its breath before the quarterfinals begin, but the echoes of the crowd cheering for De Minaur and the gasps following Medvedev’s exit will linger well into tomorrow.

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