Defending champion Novak Djokovic eased into round four of the Australian Open by beating Yoshihito Nishioka. Djokovic breezed through 6-3 6-2 6-2 in only 85 minutes. Djokovic, this year’s second seed, was ruthless and efficient with his serving, breaking Nishioka five times from six opportunities.
Roger Federer edged John Millman in an epic Australian Open clash which went down to a fifth set and a match-deciding tie-break. Millman went into the third-round meeting knowing exactly what it feels like to beat Federer, after prevailing over him in four sets at the 2018 US Open. He pushed the world No 3 all the way and capitalised on the erratic nature of Federer’s output. An unforced error count of 82 plagued the six-time Australian Open champion, but he showed his true quality when it mattered.
Odion Ighalo and Islam Slimani are two of a number of players Manchester United have looked at as they try to bring in a striker on loan following the long-term injury to Marcus Rashford. Former Watford forward Ighalo is with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua and has two years left on his contract while Slimani is on loan at Monaco from Leicester.
Dutch motorcyclist Edwin Straver has died after a crash at the Dakar Rally. Straver, 48, crashed 124 kilometres into stage 11 on 16 January and suffered a cardiac arrest before being to airlifted to hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “The entire Dakar caravan would like to extend its sincere condolences to Edwin’s family and friends,” said organisers in a statement.
American teenager Coco Gauff stunned defending champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. The 15-year-old excelled at the Rod Laver Arena and eased to a 6-3 6-4 victory in 67 minutes. Osaka, the world number four, struggled with unforced errors throughout – making 30 compared to Gauff’s 17. “I don’t know where that came from,” the American said after the match. “Honestly, like, what is my life?” “Two years ago I lost in the first round in juniors and now I’m here,” Gauff added.
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki saw her hugely impressive career come to a close as she went out in the Australian Open third round. Wozniacki, 29, revealed her intention to retire in November, fittingly calling time at the venue where she won her only Grand Slam title. Now ranked 36th, Wozniacki’s 15-year career ended with a 7-5 3-6 7-5 defeat by Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur.
Seven-time champion Serena Williams has been knocked out of the Australian Open, losing 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 to China’s Wang Qiang in the third round. The defeat means the 38-year-old American’s quest for a 24th Grand Slam singles title goes on. Wang served for the match at 5-4 in the second set but Williams broke her for the first time and then won a tie-break to level at one set all. The 27th seed recovered and sealed victory on her third match point.
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