Australian Open | Medvedev-Hurkacz and Zverev-Alcaraz duels in the quarter-finals

(Melbourne) Carlos Alcaraz completed part of his Grand Slam by reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time on Monday, setting the table for a duel against reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev .

Alcaraz, the 20-year-old Wimbledon champion, missed the first major tournament of the season in 2023 due to injury. He made sure to make the most of the opportunity this time around.

Alcaraz, the second seed, defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 in less than two hours on Monday, in the curtain-raiser of the evening program at Melbourne Park.

He only conceded one set, en route to the quarterfinals. Zverev reached this stage of the Australian competition for the third time, after having fought a five-set duel in the fourth round which concluded 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 and 7 -6 (3) after four hours of play against 19^e top seed Cameron Norrie.

It was the 32^e men’s match to reach the five-set limit this year in Melbourne, a modern era record.

Their match at Margaret Court Arena resumed after being briefly interrupted by an anti-war protester in the third set. The protester was intercepted by event security.

Earlier today, Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz learned they will face each other in the quarterfinals, after both players won their fourth-round match.

Third player in the world, Medvedev had some difficulties, but finally won 6-3, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-1 against Nuno Borges, 69^e in the world.

For his part, Hurkacz defeated the young Frenchman Arthur Cazaux 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Cazaux had received a bye into the main draw of the tournament, the first major tournament of the season.

Medvedev placed 13 aces, against nine double faults. His opponent, who had five aces and made only three double faults, finished the match with 69% of his first balls in play, 6% more than Medvedev.

Medvedev won 22 points more than Borges.

In the defeat, Cazaux hit 17 aces, compared to 11 on Hurkacz’s side. Both athletes only made a double fault.

Hurkacz won 92% of the points played on his first serve.

With Simon Cambers of the Associated Press