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Agence France-Presse

Carlos Alcaraz powered into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday and Novak Djokovic joined him without hitting a ball, as the next generation roared.
Aryna Sabalenka surged through but Coco Gauff was forced to fight at Melbourne Park, where temperatures eased to 22 degrees Celsius after the brutal heat of a day earlier.
Top seed Alcaraz was in ominous touch at Rod Laver Arena, dismissing the American Tommy Paul 7-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a masterclass.
The 22-year-old plays home hope and sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who defeated 10th seed and recent Hong Kong Open winner Alexander Bublik in straight sets.
Djokovic, chasing a record 25th grand slam crown, was scheduled to face Jakub Mensik in the last 16 on Monday but the Czech player pulled out injured.

Djokovic will face American ninth seed Taylor Fritz or fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy for a place in the semi-finals.
Alcaraz, who is yet to drop a set at this year’s tournament, has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne.
If he can finally break his Australian duck, he will become the youngest man in history to win a career Grand Slam of all four majors.
The Spaniard has in the past struggled with precision and a lack of consistency in his serving technique.
He is now sporting a new-look serve that has become a handy weapon – and that has been compared to Djokovic’s serve.
“I had a Djokovic message saying, ‘you have to pay me’,” he said in his on-court interview after making light work of 19th seed Paul, to laughter from an adoring crowd.
Alexander Zverev, well beaten by Jannik Sinner in last year’s final, plays Learner Tien of the United States next.

Germany’s third seed demolished Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, while Tien, the 25th seed, ran out a surprisingly easy three-set winner over three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev.
Tien, 20, is the youngest men’s quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park since Nick Kyrgios in 2015.
World No 1 Sabalenka will face impressive 18-year-old American Iva Jovic in a tasty last-eight encounter.
Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Melbourne champion, saw off the brave challenge of 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko.
Sabalenka won 6-1, 7-6 while Jovic destroyed unseeded Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 in just 53 dominant minutes.
“What an incredible player for such a young age,” said Sabalenka of the 17th-seeded Hong Kong Open winner Mboko, who has emerged as a serious threat in the past year.
“I feel like I am a kid still! She pushed me really hard today and played incredible tennis.”

Sabalenka raced through the second-set tiebreak – the 20th grand slam tiebreak in a row she has won – to seal victory.
She has yet to drop a set at the tournament as her title charge ominously gathers pace.
But in Jovic, who turned 18 only last month, she clashes with a player in red-hot form and rising fast, now ranked 27 having been 191 this time last year.
Jovic, who stunned two-time grand slam finalist and seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in the third round, said: “I feel great. I’m really glad to get through.
“I said it last year, I hope to be able to play her this year because you definitely want to play the best and see how it goes,” she added of Sabalenka.
Jovic is the youngest player to reach the women’s quarter-finals at the Australian Open without dropping a set since Venus Williams in 1998.
Third-seeded American Gauff will face Ukrainian 12th seed Elina Svitolina, who knocked out Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva 6-2, 6-4 in a late match.
Gauff dropped a set for the second match in a row before clawing her way past Karolina Muchova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
The 21-year-old Gauff, a two-time major champion, has never gone beyond the last four at Melbourne Park.


Australian Open: Alcaraz beats Djokovic in men’s final, completes career grand slam

Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz have tennis history in their sights in Australian Open final

Ice-cool Rybakina gets revenge over Sabalenka in tense Australian Open final

Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai win the Australian Open women’s doubles title

Australian Open

Australian Open: Alcaraz, Djokovic into last 8 as Sabalenka faces hot teen prospect

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz is sporting a new-look serve and won comfortably against American Tommy Paul. Photo: AFP

Australia’s Alex de Minaur (right) saw off Hong Kong Open champ Alexander Bublik on Sunday. Photo: EPA

Aryna Sabalenka (left) saw off the brave challenge of 19-year-old Victoria Mboko. Photo: AFP

Coco Gauff dropped a set for the second match in a row before beating Karolina Muchova. Photo: EPA

Extraordinary end to women’s Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 run as winners finish hand in hand

Slovakian Veronika Leng (left) and Vietnam’s Hau Ha won Saturday’s Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100 race while holding hands. Photo: Handout

Qin Guidu, who was second 12 months ago, won the men’s race in 8:52.36. Photo: Handout.

Mainland China athlete Chi Lingjie was next home after the joint winners. Photo: Handout

Dakota Jones finished fourth in the men’s race. Photo: Handout

From roller skates to Olympic ice, Hongkonger Darren Kwok’s dream runs to Milano-Cortina

Hong Kong skater Darren Kwok was a reserve four years ago but is the sole pick for next month’s Winter Games. Photo: Karma Lo

Darren Kwok (front) training with coach Sun Dandan at the Ice Rink in Discovery Bay. Photo: Karma Lo

Darren Kwok (left) and Joey Lam will compete across three events at Milano-Cortina. Photo: Karma Lo

Sport

Tennis

Top seed Spaniard was in ominous touch and Serb legend gets a walkover as both Hong Kong Open champions finally bow out and on same day


Top seed Spaniard was in ominous touch and Serb legend gets a walkover as both Hong Kong Open champions finally bow out and on same day.


Australian Open: Alcaraz, Djokovic into last 8 as Sabalenka faces hot teen prospect

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Top seed Spaniard was in ominous touch and Serb legend gets a walkover as both Hong Kong Open champions finally bow out and on same day

Top seed Spaniard was in ominous touch and Serb legend gets a walkover as both Hong Kong Open champions finally bow out and on same day