Australian Open 2026: Novak Djokovic into quarterfinals after Mensik pullout

Daily Update, Sports

Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion, will continue his quest ⁠for a 25th Grand Slam crown to surpass the record he currently shares with ⁠Margaret Court

Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals after his fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik withdrawn due to an abdominal injury on Sunday (January 25, 2026), a day before they were scheduled to meet at Melbourne Park.

Czech 16th seed Mensik came through a tight clash with American Ethan Quinn 6-2 7-6(5) 7-6(5) on Saturday (January 24), but the 20-year-old said he had been bearing the injury that will prevent him from facing his idol Djokovic.

Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion, will continue his quest ⁠for a record-extending Melbourne Park title and a 25th Grand Slam crown to surpass the record he currently shares with Margaret Court.

“This is a ⁠tough one to write,” Mensik said on Instagram.

“After doing everything we could keep going, I have to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal muscle injury that has progressed over the last matches.

“Now, it’s time to recover properly.”

“Even though I’m disappointed, making the fourth round here for the first time is something I will carry with me for a long time. I felt so much energy from the fans and the atmosphere in Melbourne was truly special.” Mensik beat Serbia Djokovic in last year’s Miami Open final. Djokovic had taken the youngster under his wing a few years ago.

“The fact that my match was to be against Novak on Rod Laver ⁠Arena makes it even more difficult,” Mensik said.

I’m super sad not to step onto the court and to compete against my idol and the G.O.A.T.

“Fourth seed Djokovic will face American Taylor Fritz or Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the last eight, with a potential clash against defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals.

Jakub Mensik has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an abdomen muscle injury, giving Novak Djokovic a walkover into the quarter-finals.

“After doing everything we could to keep going, I have to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal muscle injury that has progressed over the last matches,” said Mensik. “Even though I’m disappointed, making the fourth round here for the first time is something I will carry with me for a long time.

“I felt so much energy from the fans and the atmosphere in Melbourne was truly special.

After battling former Top-10 star Pablo Carreno Busta in five sets in the first round, Mensik beat Rafael Jodar and Ethan Quinn in straight sets. But he will not take the court for what would have been a rematch of the 2025 Miami final, won by Mensik.

Djokovic will take on fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti or ninth seed Tyler Fritz in the quarter-finals. The 10-time Australian Open champion is pursuing his 25th major trophy.

Melbourne:

Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals of ⁠the Australian Open after his fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew with an abdominal injury on Sunday, a day before they were scheduled to ‌face off‌ at Melbourne Park.

Czech 16th seed Mensik came through a tight third-round clash against American, Ethan Quinn, with a 6-2 7-6(5) 7-6(5) win on Saturday, but the 20-year-old said he had been carrying an injury that prevented him from confronting his mentor Djokovic.

Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion, will now continue his quest for a record-extending Melbourne Park title and standalone 25th Grand Slam crown to break the tie with Margaret Court.

“After doing everything we could keep going, I have to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal muscle injury that has progressed over the last matches.

MELBOURNE, Australia —

Novak Djokovic has had a walkover into the Australian Open quarterfinals after Jakub Mensik withdrawn 24 hours ahead of their scheduled fourth-round match with an abdominal injury.

The tournament confirmed Mensik’s withdrawal late Sunday. The match was scheduled for Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.

“After last couple of matches, I began to feel worse, and actually the problem is my abdominal muscle on the left side,” Mensik said in comments published by the tournament. “Like I said, last few matches it got significantly worse, and I think if I would step on the court tomorrow, it would be such a big risk for me for my next weeks, for my next tournaments, and actually for my health.”

No. 16-seeded Mensik beat Ethan Quinn in straight sets on Saturday. He was the second player in as many days to withdraw before a match because of an abdominal injury, with Naomi Osaka drawing out of her fourth-round match on Saturday night.

Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record 10 times and is a 24-time major champion.

He became the first player to reach 400 wins in Grand Slam singles when he beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6–3, 6–4, 7–6 (4) on Saturday night in the third round.

Djokovic will be content with a night off as he continues to fine-tune his bid to end the domination of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner of the major titles in the last two years.

The 38-year-old former No. 1 won his last major singles title in 2023. He reached the semiconductors of all four Grand Slam events last year but didn’t reach a championship match.

After his third-round win here, Djokovic said two-time defending Australian Open champion Sinner and 22-year-old Alcaraz are “playing on a different level right now (but) I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money.”

With his first-round win over Pedro Martínez, Djokovic equaled two all-time tennis records by starting his 21st Australian Open and his 81st Grand Slam event, and he added another landmark with his 100th win at Melbourne Park.