Djokovic v Lehecka, Alcaraz v Draper; Sabalenka, Coco


The Australian Open is winding down and the favorites remain in the hunt for the first Slam of the season. Sunday will see Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz one win from an a super showdown on Tuesday.

Djokovic played his best match by far of the tournament rolling Tomas Machac Friday night. He’ll now face another Machac’s countryman Jiri Lehecka who just won his second title in Brisbane earlier this month.

Lehecka lost to Djokovic in Australia last year but made the Melbourne quarters a few years ago and his big-hitting game could give the Serb some problems.

“There are some similarities between him and Machac, I think,” Djokovic Friday. “The Czech tennis school backhands are terrific.”

Carlos Alcaraz will test Jack Draper. Th Brit beat Alcaraz on the grass last year however after three consecutive five-set matches, how much will Draper have left in the tank for a fit and rested Alcaraz.

Alexander Zverev takes on of the three lefties in the final 16, Ugo Humbert and after two 0-2 comebacks, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina taks on Tommy Paul.

In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabelenka faces the teen Mirra Andreeva. Andreeva stunned Sabalenka at the French Open before the world No. 1 had her revenge in Brisbane. She roars in having won her last 17 matches at the Australian Open.

“Playing her on a clay court is, I would say, a bit easier,” Andreeva said of Sabalenka. “Of course on the hard courts, like here in Melbourne, I would say that for me is one of the fastest hard courts.

“Of course, this is not going to be easy. We’re just gonna see if I can handle the pressure and everything that’s gonna happen.”

Coco Gauff is the midst of another one of her streaks. The 20-year-old has won 21 of her last 23 matches and is a perfect 8-0 this season. She’ll be a big favorite against Belinda Bencic who is playing her first Slam after taking a year off to give birth to her new daughter.

Paula Badosa looks to reach his second straight Slam quarterfinals against the one of the surprises of the women’s draw, Olga Danilovic. And silver medalist Donna Vekic duels the woman who beat her last year in Melbourne Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

SUNDAY AUSTRALIAN OPEN SCHEDULE
Rod Laver Arena – 11:30 AM
SABALENKA, Aryna [1] vs. ANDREEVA, Mirra [14]
Not before: 1:00 PM
GAUFF, Coco (USA) [3] vs. BENCIC, Belinda (SUI)
Not before: 3:30 PM
DRAPER, Jack (GBR) [15] vs. ALCARAZ, Carlos (ESP) [3]

7:00 PM
1. MS405 DJOKOVIC, Novak (SRB) [7] vs. LEHECKA, Jiri (CZE) [24]
followed by
GORANSSON, Andre (SWE) /VERBEEK, Sem (NED) vs. SAVILLE, Luke (AUS) /TU, Li (AUS)

Margaret Court Arena – 11:30 AM
BOLELLI, Simone (ITA) /VAVASSORI, Andrea (ITA) [3] vs. MARTINEZ, Pedro (ESP) /MUNAR, Jaume (ESP)
Not before: 1:00 PM
BADOSA, Paula (ESP) [11] vs. DANILOVIC, Olga (SRB)
Not before: 3:00 PM
DAVIDOVICH FOKINA, Alejandro (ESP) vs. PAUL, Tommy (USA) [12]

John Cain Arena – 11:00 AM
GRIEKSPOOR, Tallon (NED) /VAN DE ZANDSCHULP, Botic (NED) vs. BORGES, Nuno (POR) /CABRAL, Francisco (POR)
Not before: 12:30 PM
VEKIC, Donna (CRO) [18] vs. PAVLYUCHENKOVA, Anastasia [27]
Not before: 3:00 PM
ERRANI, Sara (ITA) /PAOLINI, Jasmine (ITA) [4] vs. ANDREEVA, Mirra /SHNAIDER, Diana
Not before: 6:00 PM
HUMBERT, Ugo (FRA) [14] vs. ZVEREV, Alexander (GER) [2]


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