New Delhi: India’s Rohan Bopanna entered the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles competition as the Australian Open as he and his Chinese partner Zhang Shuai benefitted from a walkover in their second round game in Melbourne on Sunday.
Bopanna and Shuai were scheduled to face fourth seeded Taylor Townsend of the USA and Hugo Nys of Monaco but the Bopanna and Zhang moved to the last eight without having to take to the court.
Bopanna and Shuai are drawn to face the winner of a clash between Hungary’s Timea Babos and El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo, and Australia’s Olivia Gadecki and John Peers in the quarters.
In the first round, Bopanna and Zhang had beaten Kristina Mladenovic of France and Ivan Dodic of Croatia 6-4, 6-4 to enter the second round.
Bopanna earlier made a first round early exit from men’s doubles.
Zverev zooms into quarters
Second seed Alexander Zverev is advanced into the quarter-finals of Melbourne Park with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over France’s Ugo Humbert.
The German second seed seized initiative early as he took the first set with ease and though Humbert managed to get some momentum after claiming the second set but Zverev quickly regained control as Humbert’s game disintegrated and struggled to keep up pace.
A friend wasn’t going to let the croaky voice slide, Andrea!@alexzverev • @andreapetkovic • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/dxNC5xgZho
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2025
Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur advanced to the fourth round after dropping a set to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The eighth seeded Australian’s willingness to sprint across baselines made the difference in the match.
In an unrelated incident, two-time US Open winner Pat Rafter will replace Patrick McEnroe as vice-captain of Team World at the Laver Cup in 2025.
Rafter will provide support to captain Andre Agassi at the event that is scheduled to be in San Francisco in September.
Rohan Bopanna his Chinese partner Zhang Shuai benefitted from a walkover in their second round game in Melbourne on Sunday. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
