Australian Open day 8 highlights (wrapup)

Highlights of the eighth day of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Monday, times local (GMT +11):

0004 TSITSIPAS HOLDS ON AGAINST FRITZ

Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas came back from a set down on two occasions to claim a 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over American Taylor Fritz and book his place in the quarter-finals, where he will play Jannik Sinner.

“I gave everything out there tonight. I’m very proud of myself for the way I fought,” Tsitsipas said.

0003 KANEPI KNOCKS OUT SABALENKA

Kaia Kanepi fought back from a set down to claim a shock 5-7 6-2 7-6(10) win over world number two Aryna Sabalenka. The Estonian will be looking to win her first Grand Slam quarter-final match at the seventh time of asking when she plays Iga Swiatek next.

2122 SWIATEK RALLIES PAST CIRSTEA

Poland’s Iga Swiatek came back from a set down to beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 5-7 6-3 6-3 in a tight contest on Margaret Court Arena to reach the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the first time.

“For me, a week without crying is not a week. I cry when I lose, I cry when I win,” said Swiatek after sealing her place in the last eight.

1956 SINNER STORMS INTO QUARTER-FINALS

Italy’s Sinner, the 11th seed, made quick work of local favourite Alex de Minaur with a 7-6(3) 6-3 6-4 win on Rod Laver Arena to reach his maiden Australian Open quarter-final and join compatriot Matteo Berrettini in the last eight.

1832 MEDVEDEV OVERCOMES INSPIRED CRESSY

World number two Daniil Medvedev, a finalist last year, held off unseeded American Maxime Cressy 6-2 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 7-5 in a 3-1/2 hour contest on Margaret Court Arena to set up a quarter-final clash with Felix Auger-Alissime.

1810 AUGER-ALIASSIME BESTS CILIC TO REACH LAST EIGHT

Ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime outlasted 2018 runner-up Marin Cilic 2-6 7-6(7) 6-2 7-6(4) in three hours and 35 minutes on John Cain Arena to reach his first Australian Open quarter-final.

Auger-Aliassime, 21, joins compatriot Denis Shapovalov in the last eight, marking the first occasion that multiple Canadian men have reached the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam.

1656 CORNET DOWNS HALEP TO REACH QUARTER-FINALS

Unseeded Alize Cornet, making her 63rd main draw appearance at a Grand Slam, reached the quarter-finals for the first time with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 win over 2018 Australian Open runner-up Simona Halep in a gruelling contest on Rod Laver Arena.

Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn had held the previous record for the most appearances before reaching the last eight at a major, achieving the feat on her 45th at Wimbledon in 2008.

1405 COLLINS FIGHTS BACK TO DOWN MERTENS

Danielle Collins rallied from a set down to beat 19th seed Elise Mertens 4-6 6-4 6-4 and become the third American woman to reach the last eight, joining Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys.

Collins secured the win on her third matchpoint when a tired Mertens double faulted.

1115 PLAY UNDERWAY ON DAY EIGHT

Play got underway as scheduled on day eight of the championships. Danielle Collins and Elise Mertens were first up on Rod Laver Arena for their fourth-round tie.

Another warm day at Melbourne Park was in prospect with temperatures already approaching 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and forecast to hit a high of 34.