Denis Shapovalov of Canada exited the Australian Open in the second round on Thursday in Melbourne after a defeat by Marin Cilic of Croatia in straight sets. The No. 21 seed from Richmond Hill, Ontario, was the last Canadian player left in the men’s singles draw.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka stood out at the Australian Open. Djokovic clinched his 399th Grand Slam win with a dominant victory over Francesco Maestrelli, moving closer to a historic 400th win. The 24-time major champion is eyeing his 25th Grand Slam title, aiming to surpass Ken Rosewall’s record as the oldest man in the Open era to win a major singles championship.
Wawrinka, aged 40 years and 310 days, became the first man over 40 to reach the third round of a major since Rosewall in 1978. His marathon comeback win against Arthur Gea marked the longest match of the tournament so far. Wawrinka, set to retire at the end of the year, will face No. 9 Taylor Fritz next.
In a contrasting turn of events, Naomi Osaka experienced a tense match against Sorana Cirstea following her viral grand entrance in the previous round. Osaka’s on-court demeanor sparked controversy, leading to a strained exchange with Cirstea post-match.
The Australian Open also witnessed defending champion Madison Keys staging a remarkable comeback to secure a third-round spot. The tournament’s combined day and night attendance hit a record high, raising concerns about crowd capacity.
Before the night session, a moment of silence was observed to honor the victims of the recent Bondi Beach terror attack, emphasizing the message of hope: “Light Will Win.”