Alcaraz marks 100th Grand Slam match with record-breaking win
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his 100th Grand Slam match in style, defeating Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. The 22-year-old Spaniard improved his Slam record to 87-13, tying Bjorn Borg for the best major record in 100 matches.
Alcaraz surpassed Rafael Nadal and John McEnroe, who both stood at 86-14 after their first 100 matches, while Novak Djokovic (79-21) and Roger Federer (80-20) trail behind. His rival Jannik Sinner had reached 81-19 in his 100th match last year at Wimbledon, coincidentally against Alcaraz.
Despite a brief lapse in the second set, where he lost four consecutive games after leading 3-0, Alcaraz regrouped to secure the set and raced through the third. He will next face 19th seed Tommy Paul, who advanced after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired. Alcaraz, already a six-time major champion, is chasing his maiden Australian Open crown, which would complete his Career Grand Slam and make him the youngest player to achieve the feat.
Gauff battles past Baptiste; Jovic stuns Paolini
World No. 3 Coco Gauff overcame a stern challenge from compatriot Hailey Baptiste, winning 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 to book her place in the Round of 16. The victory marked her 77th Grand Slam match win in her 100th major appearance, joining an elite group of players to reach this milestone before turning 22.
Baptiste’s aggressive forehand troubled Gauff early, but the 21-year-old responded with a flawless second set bagel before clinching the decider. Gauff will next face No. 19 seed Karolina Muchova, a 2021 AO semifinalist, as she aims for her third consecutive quarterfinal in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Iva Jovic produced the biggest upset of the tournament so far, defeating seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 7-6(3). The win propelled Jovic into the second week of a Slam for the first time in her career and marked her maiden victory over a Top 10 opponent.
Medvedev’s vintage five-set comeback
Daniil Medvedev showcased resilience and experience in a dramatic third-round clash against Fabian Marozsan. The 11th seed rallied from two sets down and a break to win 6-7(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3 after nearly four hours of play.
Medvedev’s crucial break at 5-5 in the third set shifted momentum, and he went on to win nine consecutive games, crushing Marozsan’s hopes. The three-time Melbourne finalist has now reached the fourth round of a Slam 18 times, a feat bettered only by Djokovic, Zverev, Nadal, and Sinner since his AO debut in 2017.
The Russian, riding an eight-match winning streak that includes a Brisbane title earlier this month, will next face Learner Tien, who defeated Nuno Borges in straight sets.
Sabalenka survives Potapova scare; Mboko advances
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka endured her toughest test yet at AO 2026, edging past Anastasia Potapova 7-6(4), 7-6(7) in a tense two-hour battle. Sabalenka, who led 7-6(4), 4-0 before Potapova mounted a comeback, saved four set points in the second-set tiebreak to secure victory.
The four-time major champion extended her streak of reaching at least the fourth round in 13 consecutive Grand Slam appearances. She will next face Canada’s Victoria Mboko, the 17th seed making her AO debut.
Mboko earned her place in the last 16 with a hard-fought 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-3 win over Clara Tauson. After losing momentum in the second set, the 19-year-old Canadian regrouped in the decider, breaking Tauson back immediately and sealing the match with backhand winners.