Djokovic Advances to Quarter-Finals After Mensik’s Withdrawal

Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record-setting 25th Grand Slam title has received a significant boost, as his fourth-round opponent, Jakub Mensik, has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury.

Originally slated to compete against the 20-year-old Czech player during the evening session in Melbourne on Monday, Djokovic will now automatically move into the quarter-finals.

In the next round, the Serbian star is set to face either the fifth seed, Lorenzo Musetti from Italy, or the ninth seed from the United States, Taylor Fritz.

This update follows the earlier withdrawal of two-time champion Naomi Osaka on Saturday. Other competitors, including 2025 titleholder Jannik Sinner, have encountered difficulties with the rising temperatures, which are predicted to soar to 42C on Tuesday.

If the tournament proceeds according to seeding predictions, the 38-year-old Djokovic may potentially meet Sinner in the semi-finals, and could then face world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the final match.

Having last secured a Grand Slam victory at the 2023 US Open, Djokovic currently shares the record of 24 major titles with Margaret Court.

Unbeaten thus far in this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic experienced a disappointing outcome in the semi-finals across all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2025.

After his third-round triumph over Botic van de Zandschulp on Saturday, Djokovic remarked, “I feel really good. The tournament has started off wonderfully for me. Of course, circumstances can shift. I’m not getting ahead of myself, as I learned a valuable lesson last year. I became overly enthusiastic too soon in several Grand Slams, performing exceptionally well up to the quarters and semis, only to suffer injuries in three out of four tournaments last year.”

Mensik previously triumphed over Djokovic in last year’s Miami Masters final, a victory that propelled him into the top 25 of the world rankings. He prepared for the Australian Open by clinching another tour title in Auckland.

Ranked 16th in Melbourne, Mensik was set to make his debut in the fourth round of a major event.

He expressed his disappointment on Instagram, stating, “This is a tough one to share. After exhausting all options to continue, I must withdraw from the Australian Open due to a worsening abdominal muscle injury. After extensive discussions with my team and medical professionals, we decided against stepping onto the court tomorrow [Monday].”

Despite his disappointment, Mensik acknowledged, “Reaching the fourth round here for the first time is a memory I will cherish. The energy from the fans has been incredible, and the atmosphere in Melbourne is genuinely exceptional. Thank you to my team for their unwavering support and to everyone sending messages and cheering me on; it means more than you realize. Now, I must focus on a proper recovery.”

To reach the last 16, Mensik had previously conquered Spanish players Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Jodar, as well as American Ethan Quinn.