Citi Open Stars & Champs Perform at Australian Open

 

2022 Australian Open Update:

Spanish great Rafael Nadal advanced to his 14th Australian Open quarterfinal on Sunday. (Peter Staples/ATP Tour)

Get ready for an epic night of tennis! Citi Open's top stars and champions are set to headline a star-studded lineup in Rod Laver Arena tonight to kick off quarterfinal action at the 2022 Australian Open.   2021 Citi Open star and 2009 Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal led off in the featured match of the evening on the east coast against Canadian world No. 14 Denis Shapovalov on ESPN2.   The 20-time Grand Slam champ defeated Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, 7-6(14), 6-2, 6-2, on Sunday to reach his 14th Australian Open quarterfinal. Nadal saved four set points in an epic opening-set tiebreak. After that, it was smooth sailing, though the former world No. 1 would never admit it.   “Everybody knows how mentally tough this game is," said Nadal in his post-match interview. "It was a tough one, and after that crazy first set, I think it was so important the break at the beginning of the second set...I was a little bit lucky at the end.”   Shapovalov's fourth-round victory was more shocking. The Canadian booked his fifth meeting with Nadal after a stunning win over two-time Citi Open champion and world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3, in the upset of the tournament, thus far. Zverev was the favorite to advance at the top of the draw in Djokovic's absence.   READ MORE: Zverev: 'One Of My Worst Matches Since Wimbledon'   “It’s probably the one I least expected to finish in three,” said Shapovalov of his fourth victory of the tournament. “I’m very happy with my performance, definitely happy with where my game is at.”    Nadal leads their ATP Head2Head series, 3-1, and the Canadian knows what to expect from the 89-time ATP titlist in what could be a defining match for both players.   “It’s always an honor to go up against a guy like Rafa,” said Shapovalov. “It’s always going to be a battle against him. It’s going to be a tough one and I’m definitely going to enjoy it.”   “Shapovalov is a player with amazing potential,” said Nadal. “Everybody knows that when he’s playing well, it's very difficult to stop him with his big serve, amazing forehand, and very quick.”

WATCH: Jessica Pegula def. Maria Sakkari | Australian Open 2022 - Extended Highlights (4R)

Two-time Citi Open champion and current world No. 21 Jessica Pegula continued her magical run in Melbourne in the featured women's quarterfinal of the evening against world No. 1 Ash Barty on ESPN+.    The Buffalo native upset Greek No. 5 seed Maria Sakkari, 7-6(0), 6-3, on Sunday to notch another Top-10 win and reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the second year in a row.   Pegula made 17 of 21 returns and extends a strong streak in Melbourne that began at last year's Australian Open. The victory over Sakkari was her eighth, career Top-10 win. The American scored her first in the opening round of the 2021 competition over Citi Open star Victoria Azarenka.    "That definitely was the best match I've played this year, you know, this tournament for sure," said Pegula in her post-match interview. "I'm glad I was able to bring it today and keep my stats pretty well."   Pegula faced the best player in the world to go further than she has ever gone at a major. Barty, a two-time major titlist, defeated American teen sensation Amanda Anisimova, 6-4, 6-3, in the Round of 16 to set up the encounter.    Though the pair have met only once before, in the first round of the 2019 French Open, Barty, who prevailed in straight sets, is very familiar with Pegula's game.    "She's able to hold the baseline really well," said the world No. 1 of Pegula. "Her swings are quite linear and she gets a racquet behind the ball and swings through the path. The ball comes at you at a different trajectory, and her ability to absorb pace and then add to it when she wants to is exceptional. It's going to be a challenge for me to try and push her off that baseline and make her uncomfortable and feel like she has to create.   "But I know that she's also going to be doing the exact same thing to me and trying to make me uncomfortable," added Barty. "That's the chess game that we play. You go out there and have fun with it, see who can execute better on the day, and that's about all there is to it."   Should Pegula advance, she would reach her first Grand Slam semifinal. Barty, meanwhile, is looking to reach her second Australian Open semifinal. The Aussie won the 2019 French Open and 2021 Wimbledon Championship, but has yet to book a final appearance at her home Slam.   Follow the action on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter @citiopen

French world No. 20 Gael Monfils has yet to drop a set in Melbourne. (Peter Staples/ATP Tour)

2016 Citi Open champion and French world No. 20 Gael Monfils faced Italian world No. 7 Matteo Berrettini for a spot in the final-4 in the last match on Rod Laver around 4:30 a.m. EST on ESPN+.    Monfils has begun 2022 strong. The Paris native won the Australian Open tuneup Adelaide 1 without losing a set and has yet to drop a set in Melbourne ahead of his fourth encounter with Berrettini.   The acrobatic Frenchman was given a real test by Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in the fourth round on Sunday, but stayed firm to reach his 10th Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory in two hours and 35 minutes in John Cain Arena.   The victory takes Monfils to the last eight in Melbourne for the first time since 2016, but the Frenchman has grander designs in mind this time around.   “It’s been a long journey for me and I’m quite happy, but it’s not finished,” said Monfils in his post-match interview. “I will try to play this quarter-final not like the last time, I will try to be better. It’s an achievement but we’re not quite finished yet.”   Berrettini advanced with a straight-sets win over Spain's Pablo Carreño Busta, 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-4, and leads Monfils, 3-0, in their ATP Head2Head.   Click Here to Read 'Gamers: Monfils On His Video Game Origins & Respect For Esports Athletes' | ATPTour.com

2019 Citi Open singles champion Nick Kyrgios continues hunt for maiden Slam with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis (left) in men's doubles. (Peter Staples/ATP Tour)

2019 Citi Open singles champion Nick Kyrgios also headlined the action in Melbourne Park. The Aussie superstar received plenty of crowd support when he and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis continued their hunt for a maiden Slam in men’s doubles.   The hometown favorites, a.k.a. "Special K," outlasted No. 15 seed Gonzalo Escobar and Ariel Behar, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals in a nail-biter on Sunday, on the heels of a contentious upset over top seeds and 2021 Wimbledon champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, 7-6(8), 6-3, in the second round. “Just letting you know after yesterday’s chop fest in doubles, my opponents' coach and trainer proceeded to threaten to fight in the players' gym,” Kyrgios tweeted, after the stunning second-round upset.   "It was pretty funny; I'm not going to lie," said Kokkinakis, in more detail, after their third-round victory over Escobar and Behar. "Me and Nick were trying to be professionals, so we were in the gym after the match for one of the first times ever. I'm going to be honest, it was Pavic's fitness trainer who came up and smashed a foam roller against the pole as hard as he can. I thought he was joking and I wasn't sure if he was about to berate his players.   "He then came up to Nick and said we were being disrespectful and that we were showboating," continued Kokkinakis. "Nick hit the opponent with a ball, but that's normal in doubles.   "At the end of the day they were a bit salty they lost," concluded Kokkinakis. "They've won their fair share of tournaments and I'm sure if we had played away in Croatia it would have been the same."   Kyrgios reached the quarterfinals twice before in singles at the 2015 Australian Open and 2014 Wimbledon Championships, but has yet to reach the final-4 at a Slam in singles or doubles. Meanwhile, Kokkinakis had never advanced beyond the third round at a major in singles or doubles until their current run in Melbourne.   Check out ‘Nick Kyrgios locker room footage leaked after claims rival doubles team wanted to 'fight'’ | UK Express

More Citi Open Stars Advance to Quarters!   Tsitsipas Survives Fritz    FAA Tops Cilic & Faced Medvedev    Click Here for the Most Up to Date Match Schedule

Two-time Citi Open semifinalist Stefanos Tsitsipas clawed past Taylor Fritz in a Melbourne thriller on Monday to reach the quarterfinals. (Peter Staples/ATP Tour)

Elsewhere, Citi Open's top stars and champions continue to make headway in the bottom half of the men's singles draw.   With his back against the wall, two-time Citi Open semifinalist Stefanos Tsitsipas stepped up and delivered in his fourth-round match on Monday. The Greek world No. 4 clawed past rising American star Taylor Fritz, 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a Melbourne thriller to reach the quarterfinals.   Trailing by two sets to one, the Greek's Australian Open hopes were hanging by a thread. But Tsitsipas was able to raise his level in the fourth and fifth sets, firing backhands and hammering forehands from all angles of Rod Laver Arena to advance after three hours and 23 minutes.   “I gave everything out on the court today,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview. “I am very proud of myself with the way I fought and the way I stay consistent in the crucial moments. I am overwhelmed. The stadium was on fire. It is too good to be true.”   The world No. 4, who hit 53 winners and broke Fritz three times, has reached the semifinals in Melbourne twice (2019, 2021). but has yet to capture a Grand Slam crown. He'll take on 2021 Citi Open champion and world No. 10 Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals tomorrow, after the Italian Next-Gen star downed Australian Alex de Minaur, 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4, in his fourth-round match yesterday.

WATCH: Jannik Sinner def. Alex de Minaur | Australian Open 2022 - Highlights (4R)

In the quarter below, Citi Open star Felix Auger-Aliassime is showing no signs of panicking under pressure either.   The Canadian world No. 9 recovered from a slow start to reach his third consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal on Monday with an impressive 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2, 7-6(4) win over No. 27 seed and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.   “It puts my self-belief even higher,” said Auger-Aliassime in his on-court interview. “This was my first win against him, at an important moment like this. I told him at the end of the match, he’s a champion, the way he handles himself, the way he plays, so he’s going to come out with his best level and test me and make me earn my win. I’m really relieved and happy to get through, especially the way I did it.”   Auger-Aliassime next meets Russian world No. 2 and 2019 Citi Open finalist Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals tomorrow. Medvedev beat American Maxime Cressy, 6-2, 7-6(4,) 6-7(4), 7-5, to set up the encounter and leads their ATP Head2Head series, 3-0. But the Canadian says he feels physically ready for the challenge.   “I’m feeling good,” said Auger-Aliassime. “It was quite hot at the start, the sun here in Australia hits you pretty hard. It’s still early in the day, I’m going to have time to recover before I play again on Wednesday, so it’s the perfect scenario.”   Auger-Aliassime, whose best result at a major was a run to the semifinals of the 2021 US Open, is now 7-2 on the season and led Canada to win their first ATP Cup title earlier this month. Medvedev is looking to win his second major title in Melbourne. The Russian reached the final last year, but lost to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, whom he later defeated in New York to win his first Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open.    Follow Daniil & Felix and all your favorite Citi Open stars on Twitter @citiopen!

WATCH: Felix Auger-Aliassime def. Marin Cilic | Australian Open 2022 - Extended Highlights (4R)

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