Another 1 Bites the Dust

01/23/2023 Another 1 Bites the Dust

By: Jeff Yoder

#1 Iga Swiatek Ousted Early as Historic Australian Open Upsets Continue

Another 1-seed bites the dust! No. 22 Elena Rybakina shocked No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the women’s draw Saturday in Melbourne with a straight-set victory that made Open Era history. With Swiatek’s departure from the Australian Open, she joins No. 2 Ons Jabeur and both the 1- and 2-seeds from the men’s draw (Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud) on the upset list. It’s the first major in the Open Era where both of the top-two seeds in both draws failed to reach the quarterfinals. And that means the door is wide open for No. 4 Novak Djokovic and a surprise winner in the women’s bracket. Another week down under is coming in fast with the quarterfinals beginning today.

 

Watch: #22 E. Rybakina def. #1 I. Swiatek (6-4, 6-4)

 

Men’s Highlights

#3 S. Tsitsipas def. #15 J. Sinner (6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3)

#4 N. Djokovic def. #27 G. Dimitrov (7-6, 6-3, 6-4)

J. Lehecka def. #6 F. Auger-Aliassime (4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 7-6)

#29 S. Korda def. #10 H. Hurkacz (3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6)

 

Women’s Highlights

#3 J. Pegula def. #20 B. Krejcikova (7-5, 6-2)

#4 C. Garcia def. L. Siegemund (1-6, 6-3, 6-3)

#5 A. Sabalenka def. #26 E. Mertens (6-2, 6-3)

#17 J. Ostapenko def. #7 C. Gauff (7-5, 6-3)

 

*Quarterfinals Begin Today

 

Additional Storylines

Sky Sports: Iga Swiatek & Coco Gauff Both Suffer Shock Exits in Melbourne

NY Times: At the Australian Open, American Men Advance en Masse

 

Photo: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images