Australian Open Day 8 live: Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend’s gross promise after win

The second week of the grand slam is upon us and the stakes are getting larger because the contenders look to go deep into the event.

The ladies’s draw has been blown open following World No. 1 Iga Swiatek’s shock loss on Saturday night time, whereas final yr’s runner-up Elena Rybakina has additionally been knocked out early.

Alex de Minaur has been in crimson scorching kind however faces his hardest check towards Russia’s Andrey Rublev tonight within the fourth spherical.

The match has been given high billing on Rod Laver Area, because the Demon relegated Novak Djokovic to the afternoon session.

Additionally in motion are defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, US famous person Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.

Lleyton Hewitt’s son Cruz may also play his first match within the boys’ event.

5.14pm – ‘Don’t do it’: WAG’s gross act after AO stunner

America’s highest ranked man Taylor Fritz has moved into the quarterfinals, downing 2023 AO finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in a 7-6 5-7 6-3 6-3 win.

It’s the primary time he’s made it to the quarters on the Australian Open, the place it’ll get no simpler as he comes up towards Novak Djokovic.

However publish match, the discuss instantly turned to a guess his girlfriend Morgan Riddle promised ought to he get the win.

For the win, she promised through Instagram that she would eat a jar of Vegemite on Stay if he received the match.

Fortunately for her, they occurred to have a 560g model of the product — possible she was which means a 150g model.

Followers instantly suggested her to not — and to be trustworthy, she ought to have held out for him successful the entire thing earlier than taking the Vegemite problem.

Fritz was undoubtedly happy, saying he’d informed his group he was going to win.

“My girlfirend thought I used to be too assured going into the match,” he stated.

“This can be a large jar however I’ll give it to her.”

Fritz promised to verify he lived as much as her facet of the guess however wouldn’t take part himself.

“I received’t be partaking however I’ll ensure that it occurs,” Fritz stated.

Requested if he’d tried it earlier than, he stated he: “wasn’t the largest fan”.

3.35pm – Djoker marches on in commanding vogue

No matter might have been ailing Novak Djokovic – and we all know he retains all his playing cards near his chest – he was in ruthless kind on Sunday.

A record-breaking efficiency regarded on the playing cards when he marched to a 6-0 6-0 lead over outclassed Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

Thankfully the Twentieth-seed prevented a disastrous ‘triple-bagel’, with Djokovic rounding off the third set 6-3 for a dominant victory in simply 1 hour, 44 minutes.

Requested about his efforts aftewards, Djokovic stated he was really relieved when Mannarino obtained his first recreation on the board.

“The primary two units have been among the finest units I’ve performed shortly,” the highest seed stated.

“I actually needed to lose that recreation within the third set, the stress was build up a lot within the stadium, I wanted to get that out of the way in which to refocus on what I wanted to do to shut out the match.”

Djokovic was additionally requested concerning the truth he was demoted to a daytime match for the primary time since 2021, with Aussie Alex de Minaur handed the coveted 7pm slot for his quarter-final towards Andrey Rublev on Sunday.

Djokovic’s response to the minor kerfuffle was about as chilly and calculating as we’ve come to count on from the Serbian famous person.

“The way in which I performed at the moment, I don’t thoughts taking part in within the day, to be trustworthy,” he fired again.

“Thanks, thanks guys for displaying up additionally.

“I do know it’s early within the day, nevertheless it’s Sunday, non-working day, thanks for displaying up.

“It’s no secret I like to play at 7pm, nevertheless it wasn’t dangerous in any respect at the moment. Not too dangerous.”

2.45pm – Djokovic in ‘misery’ amid pure domination

Novak is blowing his fourth spherical opponent Adrian Mannarino away on Rod Laver Area, nevertheless commentators have noticed the world No. 1 is struggling bodily as he battles sickness.

The Serb has taken each units with out conceding a single recreation to his French rival, nevertheless commentators have heard him grunting throughout factors.

“Djokovic is likely one of the most silent assassins we now have seen in tennis. He doesn’t grunt till late within the match or if the purpose will get actually lengthy,” Jim Courier stated.

“He’s grunting till the final (stroke) on each level. He’s with out query bodily wounded in the intervening time.

“He’s sick. He informed us he was sick 5 days earlier than the event. Would have thought by now he would have healed up.

“One thing continues to be not proper inside his physique as a result of his power ranges should not what we’re used to seeing.”

Commentator Brenton Velocity stated his followers could be involved.

“One other double… That’s about 10 or 15 metres away from our commentary place and Djokovic followers could also be anxious, he appears to be like in actual misery,” stated Velocity.

2.40pm – Second seed cruises via to quarters

Ladies’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka has made mild work of American qualifier Amanda Anisimova to advance to the quarter-finals.

Sabalenka overpowered her opponent with a 6-3 6-2 victory on Margaret Court docket Area – persevering with her dominant kind this yr at Melbourne Park.

She’s but to drop a set in her 4 matches.

2.30pm – Djokovic’s ruthless opening set

Novak Djokovic appears to be like to be in scary kind with the Serbian high seed taking his first set towards Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-0.

Djokovic really regarded to have a problem on his arms within the opening recreation as he needed to save two break factors towards the skillful Frenchman.

Nonetheless he by no means regarded troubled from there as he shortly confirmed he’s on one other stage to his opponent.

“That is an train in effectivity,” Jim Courier stated in commentary.

It’s a uncommon early outing on Rod Laver Area for Djokovic who’s made his stance clear that he prefers night time video games at Melbourne Park.

1.40pm – Rain stops play at Melbourne Park

Play has been suspended as a result of rain in second seed Aryna Sabalenka’s fourth spherical match towards Amanda Anisimova.

Sabalenka is at present up 4-1 within the first set because the gamers anticipate the roof to be closed on Margaret Court docket Area.

1.20pm – Teenage famous person powers into quarter-finals

American star Coco Guaff has demolished her fourth spherical opponent Magdalena Frech 6-1 6-2 in a 63-minute massacre to advance to the quarter-finals.

The 19-year-old paid credit score to tennis legend Rod Laver after her dominant efficiency within the enviornment named after him.

“Fortunately once I observed he got here I used to be up rather a lot, so I wasn’t too nervous,” Guaff stated.

“You guys have been clapping and I used to be like I do know it’s not for us, it’s solely the primary set

“Then I noticed the display and I used to be like ‘oh it is smart’.

“So actually actually thanks for coming to my match and it’s not solely you, there’s plenty of legends within the field so thanks all for coming.”

Laver is anticipated to be a daily face on the Australian Open for the ultimate seven days of the event because it reaches its ultimate phases.

12pm – Hewitt to make Aussie Open debut

Aussie tennis nice Lleyton Hewitt has revealed he’s ‘unbelievably proud’ as his son Cruz prepares to make his Aussie Open debut on Sunday afternoon within the junior boys’ singles occasion.

Cruz gained entry to the event via a wildcard, and can tackle sixth seed Alexander Razeghi later at the moment.

“Simply unbelievably proud, to be trustworthy,” Lleyton Hewitt stated on Channel 9.

“They requested me late final night time if I’d exit and heat him up this morning on Present Court docket 3. Only a actually particular second.

“My first ever primary draw match on the Australian Open was really out on Present Court docket 3 as nicely.

“Just a few nice reminiscences coming again of me taking part in right here. He’s been across the traps, however he’s labored extraordinarily onerous to get this chance. He’s taking part in nicely.

“He’s nonetheless very younger. That is all a studying expertise. That’s what the junior occasion is all about.

“You need to get the chance to play right here in seniors sooner or later. He’s been lucky sufficient to get a wildcard and hopefully goes out, has quite a lot of enjoyable.”

11am – Aussie star caught up in ‘regarding’ meltdown

Aussie star Storm Hunter got here to the assist of her distressed doubles companion Katarina Siniakova on Saturday throughout a ‘regarding’ incident of their doubles match towards fellow Aussie pair Maddison Inglis and Destinee Aiava.

Siniakova misplaced her cool after double-faulting within the second set at hand a break again to her opponents.

The Czech star smashed her racquet earlier than returning to her seat and yelling out at her group in her supporter’s field.

The clear emotional misery on her face led to some concern from Hunter and the commentators.

“There’s one thing occurring isn’t there?” Abigail Johnson stated in commentatary.

“I feel that is one thing deeper than a match.

“She’s been in more durable conditions than this.

“It’s regarding to be trustworthy as a result of we don’t know these gamers as individuals … something might be taking place off the courtroom and we do not know.”

Siniakova quickly recovered with the assistance of Hunter and the pair went on to win the match in three units.

10.45am – Djokovic opponent doesn’t know who he’s taking part in

Novak Djokovic is the heavy favorite to make it via to the quarterfinals towards Adrian Mannarino, who apparently doesn’t even know he’s taking part in the Serbian champion.

John Millman defined on 9: “Adrian Mannarino doesn’t know who he’s taking part in. He doesn’t verify the draw forward of time.

“Tries to maintain it a secret. Actually powerful left-handed participant although.”

Djokovic, who prefers the night circumstances at Rod Laver Area, will play his first day session match since 2021.

10.30am – Laver desires extra from Demon

Australian tennis legend Rod Laver has touched down in Melbourne and has given his predictions for the event.

Laver believes Novak Djokovic is timing his run to perfection and continues to be the person to beat regardless of dropping some units in his early rounds.

“It’s virtually to me like he’s priming himself to get via to the ultimate. He’ll lose a set someplace in these five-setters and I’m considering ‘Is he having us on’ as a result of he may win this in two and two and two (6-2 6-2 6-2).

“He serves nicely, his groundstrokes are unbeatable so I’ve to consider until somebody miraculously performs their finest tennis to knock him off, they’ll begin placing a part of his initials on the trophy now.”

Whereas Laver believes Djokovic shall be virtually inconceivable to beat, he declared now could be time for Alex de Minaur to make a significant breakthrough.

“Alex de Minaur is a good participant,” Laver stated.

“He must be doing greater than he’s doing as a result of he’s obtained a terrific recreation.

“However there’s 10 or 15 gamers who’re so proficient now that there’s no straightforward matches.

“Alex is hard, but in addition all the opposite gamers have improved and the competitors is getting a lot greater now.”

John Millman believes the house crowd benefit may give de Minaur the sting over Rublev, who he has crushed earlier than.

“It’s well worth the win,” Millman stated on 9.

“I truthfully the way in which he performs and the power that Alex makes use of from that crowd, it lifts him one other couple of ranges.”

Australian Open Day 8 schedule of play

Rod Laver Area

Magdalena Frech (POL) vs. [4] Coco Gauff (USA) — 12pm

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [20] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) — not earlier than 1.30pm

[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs. [5] Andrey Rublev — 7pm

Margaret Court docket Area

Amanda Anisimova (USA) vs. [2] Aryna Sabalenka — not earlier than 1pm

[4] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs. [15] Karen Khachanov — not earlier than 4pm

John Cain Area

Mirra Andreeva vs. [9] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) — 4pm

[12] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. [7] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

KIA Area

Marta Kostyuk (UKR) vs. [Q] Maria Timofeeva

Initially revealed as Australian Open Day 8 reside: Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend’s gross promise after win