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Mixed doubles team of Indian tennis player Sania Mirza and USA’s Rajeev Ram advanced to the quarter-finals of Australian Open 2022 after defeating the duo of Dutch Matwe Middelkoopa and Australia’s Ellen Perez on Sunday (January 23).
Mirza and Ram needed an hour and 27 minutes to oust the Dutch-Aussie combination 7-6 (4), 6-4.
Previously Mirza and Ram had defeated Serbian pair of Aleksandra Krunic and Nikola Cacic in the opening round fixture.
Zverev crashes out
On the other hand, third-seeded Alexander Zverev was knocked out of the fourth round of Australian Open men’s singles after the German tennis player faced a shocking defeat against Canada’s 14th seeded Denis Shapovalov.
Zverev lost to the Canadian tennis player 3-6, 6-7 (5/7), 3-6 in the fourth round match.
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, qualified for the quarter-finals after defeating French tennis player Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (16-14), 6-2, 6-2. The Spaniard won an epic 28-minute first set tie-break to seal his victory. Later, Nadal called the first set as an “emotional” one.
“First set (was) very, very emotional,” Nadal said.
“Anything could happen there. I was a little bit lucky at the end. I had chances, he had a lot of chances too.”
“I’m very happy I survived that first set, without a doubt. That crazy first set was so important.
“Probably the one I least expected to finish in three. Definitely happy with where the game is at. I played pretty smart today,” the Spaniard added.
In the quarter-finals, the 35-year-old Nadal will take on Shapovalov.
Azarenka suffers shocking defeat
In the women’s singles, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka crashed out of the Australian Open after she suffered a 6-2, 6-2 defeat against fourth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova in a fourth round fixture.
Fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari also faced a surprise 7 (7)- 6 (0), 6-3 defeat against USA’s 24th seeded Jessica Pegula.
In the men’s doubles, Australian pair of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis advanced to the next stage after defeating Gonzalo Escobar and Ariel Behar by 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Eighth-seeded Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa defeated USA’s Madison Keys 6-3, 6-1 to win her fourth round fixture.
