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Defending champion Madison Keys revelled successful the Melbourne vigor connected Saturday (January 24, 2026) to acceptable up a last-16 showdown with chap American Jessica Pegula astatine the Australian Open, wherever Novak Djokovic hopes to instrumentality different measurement towards a grounds 25th Grand Slam title.
Players, fans and tourney organisers are braced for highs of 40C successful the precocious afternoon, which could spot play suspended.
Matches started an hr earlier than accustomed due to the fact that of the heatwave, and Keys had nary volition of hanging about.
She dismissed erstwhile satellite fig 1 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3 connected Rod Laver Arena successful a connection triumph that took conscionable 75 minutes.
After admitting to being tense and timid successful embarking successful her rubric defence, this was much similar the Keys that stunned Aryna Sabalenka successful the last a twelvemonth ago.
The 30-year-old Keys said that being based successful Florida meant she was good utilized to baking temperatures.
“I americium feeling truly bully and I was excited for the vigor today, and acceptable for it,” she said.
The ninth effect faces bully person and compatriot Pegula for a spot successful the quarter-finals.
The sixth-seeded Pegula powered past unseeded Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 successful 66 minutes.
“Nice to beryllium archetypal retired connected tribunal and not a ace agelong lucifer and didn’t request to termination myself successful the vigor today,” she said.
Another rubric contender, Amanda Anisimova, plays chap American Peyton Stearns.
Anisimova has emerged arsenic a large unit successful the past year, reaching the finals astatine Wimbledon and the US Open.
Multiple large winners Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka besides some diagnostic connected time 7 astatine Melbourne Park.
Djokovic past bid
The Serbian large Djokovic faces 75th-ranked Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp for a spot successful the past 16.
The 38-year-old erstwhile satellite fig 1 Djokovic is successful the evening premier clip slot connected Rod Laver Arena and volition beryllium hoping the vigor has abated by then.
Djokovic has looked successful imperious signifier successful his 2 matches truthful far, yet to driblet a acceptable and striking a assured tone.
Djokovic, who has been scaling backmost the fig of matches helium plays to wring the astir retired of his ageing body, said: “I’m truly blessed I’m capable to play this way, considering the deficiency of competitory matches for much than 2 months.
“It’s each been affirmative truthful far, affirmative signs.”
Before that, successful what is apt to beryllium the hottest portion of the day, men’s champion Jannik Sinner of Italy plays different American successful 85th-ranked Eliot Spizzirri connected Rod Laver.
Second effect Sinner is bidding to triumph the Melbourne large for a 3rd clip successful a row, emulating Djokovic.
Last up connected centre tribunal connected Saturday (January 24) is two-time Melbourne Park champion Osaka, who wowed the crowds earlier this week erstwhile she emerged for her opening lucifer successful a jellyfish-themed outfit.
On tribunal she has not been truthful dazzling and faces location anticipation Maddison Inglis, a qualifier.
The victor goes up against either six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek oregon 31st-seeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya.
Swiatek is aiming to implicit the vocation Grand Slam of each 4 majors, with Australia the lone 1 missing from her CV.
Other apical seeds successful enactment see Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, who clashes with Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic.
The victor goes up against either American ninth effect Taylor Fritz oregon the Swiss seasoned Stan Wawrinka.
The 40-year-old Wawrinka indispensable effort and rouse himself connected his Australian Open farewell aft a gruelling five-set triumph successful circular two.
