Australian Open seeds tumble: Swiatek stunned as Alcaraz shines

Top-seeded Iga Swiatek’s quest for her first Australian Open title was abruptly halted as she succumbed to the 50th-ranked Linda Noskova in a thrilling three-set match. Noskova, in her debut appearance at the Australian Open, claimed victory with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 scoreline, leaving Swiatek’s unbeaten 18-match streak shattered.

The Australian Open continues to be a graveyard for top-10 women’s seeds, with only three remaining after the first week—defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Barbora Krejcikova. Sabalenka, ranked second in the world, now emerges as the frontrunner to defend her title in the absence of Swiatek.

In the men’s category, world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz showcased his dominance with a resounding victory over Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng, forcing his opponent to retire in the third set. Alcaraz, who missed the previous Australian Open due to injury, expressed the significance of moving into the second week and set up a clash with Miomir Kecmanovic in the last 16.

Elsewhere, third seed Daniil Medvedev overcame the after-effects of a late-night finish to defeat Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets. Medvedev admitted to feeling less than optimal but secured the win to advance. Portuguese player Nuno Borges, who defeated 13th seed Grigor Dimitrov, created history as the first Portuguese player in the Open Era to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open.