Carlos Alcaraz is advancing swiftly through the Australian Open 2025, now safely tucked away in the quarterfinals after his opponent Jack Draper had to retire due to injury. Draper, who had battled through three grueling five-set matches and spent over 12 hours on court, was trailing Alcaraz 7-5, 6-1 when he decided to pull out, citing problems stemming from tendinitis in his left hip. "I was really, really sore after I played my last match," Draper remarked to reporters, referring to the taxing nature of his previous matches.
Although Alcaraz expressed his sympathy for Draper, he could not hide the tactical advantage his premature advancement offered. "This is not the way I want to win a match, to get through to the next round," he affirmed, highlighting his appreciation for Draper as both a competitor and friend. Alcaraz composed a heartfelt message on camera, saying, "You will be where you deserve. Get well soon Jack." The Spanish tennis sensation now awaits to face either the ten-time champion Novak Djokovic or Czech 24th seed Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the mixed doubles segment of the tournament has also seen some advancements worth noting. Veteran Indian player Rohan Bopanna, at 44 years old, made headlines as he teamed up with China’s Zhang Shuai, another experienced player at 35, to reach the quarterfinals. They earned their spot after receiving a walkover against the American-French fourth-seed duo of Taylor Townsend and Hugo Nys. Bopanna, who made history last year by becoming the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title, has rekindled hope for India as he remains the last competitor from the country as other Indian players faced early exits.
Bopanna and his partner had previously defeated France’s Kristina Mladenovic and Croatia’s Ivan Dodig. Their next opponents are yet to be determined from the match between Olivia Gadecki and John Peers against Hungary's Timea Babos and El Salvador's Marcelo Arevalo. Despite Bopanna's mixed doubles success, his mens’ doubles partnership with Colombian Nicolás Barrientos ended prematurely, losing to Spain’s Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar.
Not all names have been celebrated at the 2025 Australian Open, as Daniil Medvedev has found himself embroiled in controversy. Known for his fiery temperament, the Russian fifth seed was slapped with over £60,000 worth of fines for unsportsmanlike conduct. Medvedev had smashed his racquet against a net camera during his first-round win over Kasidit Samrej, and later displayed similar behavior after throwing his racquet during his second-round loss against American teenager Learner Tien. This early exit was particularly shocking as Medvedev reached the final last year but found himself crashing out much sooner this time around.
Djokovic too found himself under the spotlight, albeit for different reasons. Following his victory, the crowd's behavior displeased him to the extent he declined the customary post-match interview—an unusual move for the star. "I don’t want to keep answering questions. It’s just not the time for it," he stated, leaving fans puzzled. His reaction shed light on the pressure faced by top players, especially when engaging with fan expectations.
The 2025 Australian Open has already showcased significant talent, drawing big names such as defending champion Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Aryna Sabalenka among others. With the tournament just entering the fourth round, the excitement is only poised to grow as we edge closer to the quarterfinals scheduled for January 20 and 21. Notably, fans tuning from the U.S. will continue to navigate the time zone differences as matches commence at 7 p.m. ET the evening prior for most games.
The tournament has been closely followed, with various viewing options available including ESPN, ABC, and Tennis Channel for live broadcasts. For those wanting to catch the action without the constraints of cable, solutions such as ESPN+ and Sling TV offer streaming packages to stay connected to the Grand Slam experience.
Although some players are sidelined and certain matches have drawn criticism, the orchestrated chaos of the Australian Open provides both thrilling sportsmanship and behind-the-scenes drama. Above all, fans can look forward to the electrifying encounters of the quarterfinals as the tournament narrows its focus on the top contenders.