Australian Open 2026, Day 8 Highlights: Svitolina beats Andreeva, Alcaraz, Zverev advance to quarters

Elina Svitolina has cruised into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a composed and clinical performance against Mirra Andreeva.

The Ukrainian controlled the contest from start to finish, winning 6-2, 6-4 without being seriously troubled.

Svitolina now sets up a blockbuster quarter-final clash, where she will take on Coco Gauff for a place in the last four.

That was a highly disappointing start from Mirra Andreeva. The 18-year-old surrendered her serve early, briefly fought back to secure a break in response, but the momentum was short-lived.

Elina Svitolina turned the screws relentlessly, applying suffocating pressure from the baseline to seize control and pocket the opening set 6-2.

The question now is whether Andreeva can regroup and respond, or if Svitolina will continue to dictate proceedings.

Elina Svitolina is battling eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in the final singles match of the day at Rod Laver Arena, with a coveted quarter-final spot on the line.

The stakes are high, as the winner will move on to face Coco Gauff, who booked her place with a hard-fought victory over Karolina Muchova in the fourth round.

Alex de Minaur marches into the quarter-final at Melbourne Park with an emphatic statement of intent, brushing aside Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in a commanding display. After a competitive opening set, the Australian raised his intensity, suffocating Bublik with relentless pace and precision to close out the contest in ruthless fashion.

Now, a formidable challenge awaits. De Minaur’s reward is a blockbuster clash against World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, who cruised past Tommy Paul in straight sets. It sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final, with the home favourite set to test himself against the reigning king of men’s tennis under the bright lights of Melbourne Park.

The familiar comeback never arrived for Daniil Medvedev this time.

The 11th seed’s Australian Open 2026 campaign ended in shock as he was outplayed 4-6, 0-6, 3-6 by American Learner Tien.

When Medvedev drops sets, fans usually brace for a fightback. Instead, Tien stayed in control throughout, handing the Russian a rare second-set bagel and closing out one of the biggest upsets of the Australian Open so far.

Alexander Zverev stormed into the quarterfinals with a commanding 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory over 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo, producing a performance that underlined his authority from the very first ball. The 2025 Australian Open finalist was ruthless in his execution, dictating play with his heavy groundstrokes and serve as the world No. 3 kept Cerundolo under constant pressure, never allowing the Argentine to settle into a rhythm.

Learner Tien rose to the occasion with a fearless display to clinch the opening set 6-4 against Daniil Medvedev, matching the former world No. 1 shot for shot and refusing to be overawed by the stage.

Coco Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 on Sunday night to book her place in the Australian Open quarterfinals. The world No. 3's three-set victory marked her 10th career Grand Slam quarterfinal and also activated a historic statistical omen that has gone on to deliver every major title of her career.

Carlos Alcaraz has stamped his authority over Tommy Paul as he breezes past him in the fourth round fixture. He beat him 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 7-5 in straight sets at the Rod Laver Arena. The Spaniard was tested by his American rival in the first set, who took the game into an intense tie-breaker. However, Alcaraz found his mojo back in the next two sets and exerted his dominance over Paul.

Carlos Alcaraz beats Tommy Paul 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 7-5 at the Rod Laver Arena.

After an intense tie-breaker in the first set, Carlos Alcaraz has returned to his rampaging best in the second one against Tommy Paul, unleashing his raw power on the American rival, who was no match for it. The world number one is pumped up and is eyeing to storm into the fifth round as he wins the second set 6-4.

And when the big moments arrive, he always delivers.

With almost nothing separating Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul, the opening set deservedly went into a tiebreaker. Even there, the two went toe-to-toe, before the Spanish world No. 1 had the final say, clinching the set 7(8)-6(8).

Play has been temporarily suspended during the Round 4 clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul at the Rod Laver Arena due to a medical emergency involving a spectator.

The stoppage is more serious than a routine delay and briefly echoes the earlier interruption involving Jannik Sinner, though under very different circumstances. 

For now, all attention is on the wellbeing of the fan, with play set to resume once the situation is resolved.

Talk about living up to the buzz

Carlos Alcaraz vs Tommy Paul is delivering in full at the Rod Laver Arena.

The clash was always expected to be fierce, and the opening set has proved exactly that. Alcaraz’s power and flair up against Paul’s fearless shot-making, with neither player giving anything away.

As expected, it’s gone right down to a first-set tiebreaker, and even here there’s barely anything separating the two. Big points, loud crowd, and tension everywhere — this one’s just getting started

The World no 1 Carlos Alcaraz is in action at the Rod Laver Arena as he takes on Tommy Paul in his fourth round fixture. The Spaniard is off to a rusty start in his game, being a break down against his American rival. Hoewever, given his class, he's set to bounce back in style in no time.

What began as a one-sided Round 4 clash quickly turned into a full-blown fight. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka had the final laugh, holding her nerve to close out a 6-1, 7(6)-6(1) win.

Canada’s Victoria Mboko was swept aside in the opening set but returned with renewed panache in the second, pushing Sabalenka to the brink. Fearless hitting and relentless pressure dragged the match into a tense tie-break after a series of toe-to-toe baseline exchanges.

Mboko emptied the tank, but fatigue crept in at the decisive moment. Sabalenka pounced, dominated the breaker, and shut the door emphatically.

A proper Round 4 battle — and Sabalenka is through to the next round.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has wasted no time stamping her authority at the Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka has completely bossed the opening exchanges against Victoria Mboko, ripping through the first set 6-1 with her trademark power and ruthless depth. Mboko has barely had room to breathe as the top seed has dictated points from the first ball.

Unless the Canadian finds answers — and fast — this is shaping up to be a brutally one-sided affair under the bright lights of Melbourne’s main court.

Here's the Order of Play:

Rod Laver Arena

• Women’s Singles - (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs (17) Victoria Mboko - 6 AM
• Men’s Singles - (1) Carlos Alcaraz vs (19) Tommy Paul - Not before 8 AM
• Men’s Singles - (6) Alex de Minaur vs (10) Alexander Bublik - 1:30 p.m. IST
• Women’s Singles - (8) Mirra Andreeva vs (12) Elina Svitolina

Margaret Court Arena

• Women’s Singles - (3) Coco Gauff (USA) vs (19) Karolina Muchova - Not before 9 a.m AM
• Men’s Singles - (11) Daniil Medvedev vs (25) Learner Tien - Not before 10:30 AM

John Cain Arena

• Women’s Singles - (29) Iva Jovic vs Yulia Putintseva - Not before 7:30 AM
• Men’s Singles - (3) Alexander Zverev vs (18) Francisco Cerundolo - Not before 11:30 AM

INDIANS IN ACTION

Court 12

• Junior Boys’ Singles, First Round - Arnav Paparkar- vs Vihaan Reddy (USA) - 4:30 a.m. IST
• Junior Boys’ Doubles, First Round - Arnav Paparkar/Roshan Santhosh (USA) vs [1] Yannick Alexandrescou (FRA)/Ryo Tabata (JPN) - Not before 10 a.m. IST

Court 15

• Junior Girls’ Singles, First Round - Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi vs Anna Pushkareva

Home favourite Alex de Minaur will carry Australian hopes when he meets Alexander Bublik in the evening session. A spot in the last eight is at stake as the Melbourne crowd builds for a big night.

Carlos Alcaraz steps on court later against Tommy Paul with history in sight. The Spaniard is chasing the only major missing from his collection and a place in the quarter-finals.
 

Aryna Sabalenka returns to Rod Laver Arena today to face Canada’s Victoria Mboko in a high-profile round of 16 clash. The world No. 1 will look to assert her authority as the tournament enters its decisive phase.