Canada’s Denis Shapovalov suffered a defeat in straight sets against Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Shapovalov, seeded 21st, was the last Canadian player in the men’s singles draw.
Meanwhile, at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic achieved his 399th Grand Slam match win by defeating Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Djokovic is now just one win away from becoming the first player to reach 400 Grand Slam victories. The 38-year-old is also vying to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, aiming to surpass Ken Rosewall’s record as the oldest man to win a major singles championship in the Open era.
In another remarkable feat, 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka became the first man over 40 to reach the third round of a major since 1978. He clinched a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) comeback victory over 21-year-old Arthur Gea. Wawrinka, who plans to retire at the end of the year, will face No. 9 Taylor Fritz in the next round.
Naomi Osaka faced a tense match against Sorana Cirstea, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. The encounter ended on a contentious note, with Cirstea expressing displeasure over Osaka’s on-court demeanor. Osaka, a two-time Australian Open winner, addressed the situation, emphasizing her efforts to play well and acknowledging Cirstea’s skill.
Defending champion Madison Keys overcame a challenging second set to defeat Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5, advancing to a third-round match against Karolína Plíšková. Keys, who claimed her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne last year, remains confident about her performance in the tournament.
The Australian Open continues to draw massive crowds, setting a new record with a total attendance of 103,720 for the day and night sessions. The tournament has garnered over 508,430 attendees so far, sparking discussions about crowd management.
Before the night session commenced, spectators paid tribute to the victims of the recent Bondi Beach terror attack with a moment of silence. The event was part of Australia’s national day of mourning, symbolizing hope and resilience with the message “Light Will Win.”