Australian Open 2026: Novak Djokovic Into Round Four

Novak Djokovic continued his impressive progress at the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Denis Istomin.

The Serb, who has won the previous 3 titles in Melbourne, won 6-3 6-3 7-5 and plays Fabio Fognini in round 4.

Serena Williams won a tournament-record 61st singles match by beating Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 6-3 in round 3.

Ana Ivanovic, who beat Australia's Sam Stosur 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 6-2, is next for front runner Williams, while China's Li Na beat Lucie Safarova 1-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.

Third seed David Ferrer beat 29th seed Jeremy Chardy in straight sets and 15th-ranked Fognini saw off the difficulty of Sam Querrey 7-5 6-4 6-4.

Spain's Tommy Robredo, the number 17 seed, beat France's ninth seed Richard Gasquet 2-6 7-5 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

The conditions continued to be a concern for gamers, with the temperature level reaching a high of 41.4 C a day after matches were suspended on Thursday because of 43.3 C heat,

Rod Laver Arena

S Williams (US) [1] beat Hantuchova (Svk) [31] 6-3 6-3

Five-time champ Williams was not at her finest and appeared to be dealing with the heat, though she still showed too strong for Hantuchova.

The world top raced into a 5-3 lead however had to conserve two break points to hold serve before clinching the first set.

Williams, who has yet to drop a set in the competition, broke early in the second but her challenger was in battling mood and responded to level at 3-3.

Hantuchova's hopes were short-lived, nevertheless, as Williams seized the initiative in the Slovakian's next service game and served out for the triumph, sealing it with a powerful forehand winner on her fourth match point.

"It was a tough match," said Williams. "Daniela is a fantastic challenger so I'm truly happy to come out with the win. It was hot however you need to play, you need to be all set and prepare yourself psychologically. I'm delighted to make it through."

Serena and sister Venus Williams later on withdrew from the doubles shortly before their first-round match due to the fact that of an injury to Venus's left leg.

Ferrer (Spa) (3] beat Chardy (Fra) [29] 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-2

Ferrer reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the 15th successive time as he eased past Chardy.

After the Spaniard won the opening embeded in straightforward fashion, Chardy installed a more powerful difficulty in the second however was unable to convert any of his 5 set points, enabling Ferrer to take it on a tie-break.

That proved the decisive moment in the match, as Ferrer completed the victory to set up a meeting with Germany's Florian Mayer for a location in the quarter-finals.

"The key was when I won the 2nd set," Ferrer stated. "At 4-3 in the second set I made a lot of mistakes. I had actually set points down and after winning the 2nd set I played more relaxed. Maybe it was my best match this week."

Dellacqua (Aus) beat Zheng (Chn) 6-2 6-4

Ivanovic (Ser) [14] beat Stosur (Aus) [17] 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 6-2

Home preferred Stosur edged a thrilling initially set after rain stopped have fun with when she was 8-7 up in the tie-break.

Former world top Ivanovic, 26, broke serve once in the 2nd set and two times in the decider as she wrapped up triumph with a simple volley into an open court.

"It was a match of the greatest quality. She is a really hard opponent and I simply hung in there," said Ivanovic, who reached the Australian Open final in 2008.

"Winning in Auckland gave me a lot of confidence and I'm anticipating the obstacle of playing Serena."

Djokovic (Ser) [2] beat Istomin (Uzb) 6-3 6-3 7-5

Four-time champ Djokovic reduced securely into round 4 with an uncomplicated success over Uzbekistan's Istomin.

The Serb, whose last defeat in this tournament came in the 2010 quarter-finals, broke in the 3rd and ninth games to conclude the very first set and another break proved decisive in the fourth game of the 2nd set.

Djokovic looked set to clinch success without dropping his serve, however while serving for the match at 5-4 up in the 3rd set, he double-faulted and hit a backhand into the internet to provide Istomin a lifeline.

However, the second seed immediately broke back and made no mistake 2nd time around in serving out the match.

"I needed to have very quick footwork and an exact very first service, as high a portion as possible, utilizing every opportunity to take control over the rally," he stated. "I've done actually well."

Hisense Arena

Li (Chn) [4] beat Safarova (Cze) [26] 1-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3

Fourth seed Li, runner-up in 2011 and 2013, endured a Safarova match point as she narrowly avoided becoming the highest-ranked casualty of the first week in a contest long lasting 2 hours and 37 minutes.

Safarova, who has never ever beaten a top-10 opponent in a WTA Tour occasion, served for triumph in the ninth video game of the second set and held a match point in the 12th but Li hung on before controling the tie-break to force a decider.

The third set was delicately poised till Li broke the Czech in the 8th video game, and Safarova had no answer.

Kerber (Ger) [9] beat Riske (US) 6-3 6-4

Berdych (Cze) [7] beat Dzumhur (Bih) 6-4 6-2 6-2

Robredo (Spa) [17] beat Gasquet (Fra) [9] 2-6 7-5 6-4 7-6 (8-6)

Margaret Court Arena

Pennetta (Ita) [28] beat Barthel (Ger) 6-1 7-5

Anderson (SA) [19] beat R-Vasselin (Fra) 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 7-5

Fognini (Ita) [15] beat Querrey (US) 7-5 6-4 6-4

Genie's army

Lleyton Hewitt has his 'Fanatics' and Bernie Tomic has 'Tomic's Kittens', however the biggest sound around Melbourne Park on Friday originated from an unforeseen love affair between Australia and Canada.

Genie Bouchard, the rising star and 30th seed, is through to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the very first time and on course for a quarter-final with Serena Williams.

And the 19-year-old has been vociferously supported throughout by a group of Australian students, 'Genie's Army', who have actually sung a catalogue of tunes about the Canadian and given her gifts including a toy kangaroo after her first 2 wins.

"They appeared to my preliminary away on Court 15 with their tee shirts," Bouchard informed BBC Sport.

"They're actually into it and helpful and it's fantastic to see I have 'very fans' in Australia. They create a big atmosphere on the court and it's enjoyable to play when they're there."

Quotes of the day

"I tell you this: I'm not equipped to address that question. I'm going to leave it alone." Serena Williams is requested her ideas on the competition medical professional's suggestion that male "progressed on the high plains of Africa chasing after antelope".

"Serena is on top of the video game for so long now. You know, she's somebody we admire. I look forward to that obstacle. I've been playing some great tennis and it's going to be great test to see where I'm at." Ana Ivanovic is buoyant ahead of her fourth-round match with the world number one.

"Because I didn't practice much, I was unable to get all set for the next match. Today I was completely kaput." Poland's Jerzy Janowicz produces his finest German to summarize a day in which he lost in straight sets to Florian Mayer while playing in sunglasses.

"I believe five centimetres saved my tournament. If she hit it in, my entire group was on the way to the airport." Li Na on how Lucie Safarova was within a whisker of knocking her out on match point.

"I was a little bit sick and also my mind was not working. I simply watched the ball and just struck it. I didn't understand where I hit it." Li's compatriot Zheng Jie after her 6-2 6-4 defeat by Australia's Casey Dellacqua

"They are really sad. Especially when you tell the fashion brand that they have to make white, they resemble, 'Oh, OK, what can we do?' It's just for hopefully two weeks. Then they can go again." Tomas Berdych on breaking it to his set sponsors that the blue-and-white striped number he's using in Melbourne will not wash at Wimbledon.

"I've always stated I enjoy playing in the heat, the conditions and things. But today wasn't an example of that." South African Kevin Andersen could have done without investing 4 hours returning from 2 sets down to beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

"Some of the newspapers and TV stations called me after the match. They said the entire of Bosnia didn't sleep this evening, that everybody was in front of their TV and they were so proud." Damir Dzumhur, the 21-year-old qualifier, who became the very first Bosnian to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament, after losing to Tomas Berdych.

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