Australian Open live: Djokovic expresses regret for near miss with ball kid as fourth-round matches commence
MELBOURNE, Australia — It is Day 8 at the Australian Open, marking the commencement of the fourth-round matches. World No. 1s Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka will take to Rod Laver Arena, aiming for spots in the quarterfinals, alongside Coco Gauff and top-ranked Australian Alex de Minaur.
On the previous day at Melbourne Park, temperatures soared to a blistering 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), prompting organizers to activate the tournament’s extreme heat policy. Play was suspended on all courts shortly after 2:30pm local time, with matches only allowed to resume on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena after the roofs were closed. The interruption on the outer courts extended for nearly five hours.
Day 7 also witnessed two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka withdraw from the event due to an abdominal injury, while Novak Djokovic narrowly avoided a default for hitting a ball towards a ball kid.
Stay tuned as ESPN’s team of reporters provides all the latest updates, results, match schedules, and more from Day 9 at the Australian Open.
Source: espn.com
