By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 18, 2025
Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva will kick off round of 16 action with a Day 8 blockbuster in Melbourne.
Photo Source: Getty
Can you say sweet 16???? Day 8 of the Australian Open will feature round of 16 matchups for the top half on the women’s side and the bottom half on the men’s side.

And the full order of play is here:
Here’s what we’ll be keeping close tabs on…
Rivalry Renewed
Last year in Paris, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva stunned Aryna Sabalenka out of Roland-Garros. A few weeks ago in Brisbane, Aryna Sabalenka took her revenge on Mirra Andreeva en route to her 18th career title.
The pair will meet again on Sunday in Melbourne, as defending two-time champion Sabalenka bids for her 18th consecutive Aussie Open victory against a teenager who has proven to be a tough out at the Grand Slams over the course of her blossoming career.
Sabalenka holds the 3-1 edge overall, but Andreeva will enter Rod Laver Arena having felt the sensation of victory at the Grand Slam level against Sabalenka. Though she lost 6-3, 6-2 to Sabalenka at Brisbane, she competed well in that match and got a feel of what it is like to face the World No.1 on a fast-playing hard court (their other three meetings were on European clay). It may not get Andreeva over the edge against the best hard court player in women’s tennis, but it can’t hurt.
Five-Set Warriors, Can They Keep It Going?
Jack Draper and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina have been absolute warriors in Melbourne in week one. Draper has won three consecutive five-setters, while Davidovich Fokina has won back-to-back matches from two sets to love down. The Spaniard saved a pair of match points in his five-set takedown of Czech Jakub Mensik on Day 6, but what will he have left when he faces 12th-seeded Tommy Paul?
Meanwhile Draper, who became the seventh player in history to win each of his first three rounds in five sets, will need to summon everything he has left to face Carlos Alcaraz in the final match of the Rod Laver Day session.
Both warriors will be heavy underdogs, but they’ve shown us already that they shouldn’t be counted out – even when down.
Nole's Next Czechmate
Novak Djokovic earned his first straight-sets victory of this year’s Australian Open on Friday against Czech Tomas Macha. On Sunday he’ll look to double up as he faces another rising talent from Czechia in 24th-seeded Jiri Lehecka.
The Grand Slam king is one match from a heavily anticipated showdown with Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, so he’ll want to be as ruthlessly efficient as possible. But can he do it against a physical phenom like Lehecka? Djokovic took the pair’s only meeting in three sets at United Cup in 2024.
Other Notable Day 8 Clashes
Coco Gauff looks to stretch her season-opening win streak to nine against Belinda Bencic on Rod Laver Arena. Gauff has been very solid through three rounds, while Bencic has been a pleasant surprise. The Swiss is just nine month removed from giving birth to her baby Bella and she’s looking fit and fabulous. … Alexander Zverev has quietly held up his seed through three rounds but his competition will stiffen when he faces tricky Ugo Humbert on John Cain Arena. Zverev owns a 2-1 record against Humbert, and he’s won their last two meetings.