Australian Open quarter-finals: Alcaraz unbeaten, Gauff out, Swiatek calls for player privacy

TUESDAY at Melbourne Park delivered a mix of expected progress and surprising upsets as the Australian Open moved into the quarter-final stage. 

Spanish world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz continued his unbeaten run, breezing past home favourite Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena. The 22-year-old, playing beyond the quarter-finals for the first time in Australia, remains on course for his maiden Australian Open title.

"I'm just really happy how I'm playing every match, each round my level is increasing," Alcaraz said after the win. "Today I felt really comfortable, playing great tennis that I am really proud of."

Germany’s Alexander Zverev also secured a semi-final spot with a four-set win over American Learner Tien, producing 24 aces in a 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory. The 28-year-old, recovering from an injury-hit 2025 season and mental health struggles, said, "The last 10 days I felt healthy, which is very nice, and pain-free, which I haven't felt in a long time. Probably in 12 months."

Lack of privacy at Melbourne Park

On the women’s side, Elina Svitolina continued her impressive run, defeating Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2 in the quarter-finals. The 21-year-old American, who had never advanced past the Melbourne semi-finals, struggled in 38 degrees Celsius heat and visibly lost her composure, repeatedly smashing her racquet behind the scenes. 

Gauff later reflected on the lack of privacy at Melbourne Park, saying, "I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn't broadcast it, but obviously they did. So maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room."

Belarusian world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka also reached the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over American Iva Jovic, setting up a showdown with Svitolina. Sabalenka said her win "means the world to me" and expressed hope that her performance could bring "a little light" to fellow Ukrainians enduring the ongoing conflict in their country.

Looking ahead to Wednesday

The quarter-finals continue on Wednesday with some of the tournament’s biggest names in action. 

Novak Djokovic, seeking a record 25th Grand Slam, faces Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti. Djokovic, yet to drop a set and having benefited from a fourth-round walkover, is heavily favoured, holding nine wins from 10 previous meetings with Musetti. Musetti, 20, told reporters, "Just won once against him. Hopefully, I'll take my revenge, because last time in Athens we were really, really close. 

“I feel like I have another chance now."

Defending champion Jannik Sinner will face American Ben Shelton in the night session, while Poland’s Iga Swiatek squares off against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, a rematch of their WTA Finals clash last November, which Rybakina won 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. 

Swiatek stressed, "It doesn't make sense to overanalyse who won the last ones or how it has been looking. Every match is a different story. In every match, she's been a tough opponent, and her tennis for sure is great. I need to be 100% ready and go for it and use my experience, and also the knowledge from previous matches."

Periphery stories shaping the draw

Beyond the matches themselves, player welfare and off-court moments have become talking points. 

Swiatek compared Melbourne Park’s constant surveillance to other majors, saying, "There are some spaces that you can at least go when you need to. But there are some tournaments where it's impossible and you are constantly observed, if not by the fans ... then by the cameras." 

She added that the situation leaves players feeling exposed.

On Tuesday, the tournament also confirmed the semi-final line-ups in the men’s and women’s draws: Alcaraz meets Zverev, and Svitolina faces Sabalenka, creating a mix of experience and rising talent that promises high stakes for the final four.

Wednesday’s schedule (all times Cairo/ Pretoria)

• 11.30am – Elena Rybakina vs Iga Swiatek (Rod Laver Arena)
• 1.30pm – Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova (Rod Laver Arena)
• 1.30pm – Lorenzo Musetti vs Novak Djokovic (Rod Laver Arena)
• 7pm – Ben Shelton vs Jannik Sinner (Rod Laver Arena)
• 7pm – Ena Shibahara/Vera Zvonareva vs Kimberly Birrell/Talia Gibson (Rod Laver Arena)