The tennis gods swoop in to save tennis's golden prince. And, a Sunday order of play chock full of big match-ups.

We're into the second week at the Australian Open!

I've got the full rundown of who won, who said what, and who's showing out on the show courts on Day 8!

Not subscribed yet? Here you go!

🔥 Sinner's Diving Intervention Jannik Sinner, fighting off waves of cramps and down a break in 3rd set, finds an escape hatch in the form of a 10-minute extreme heat suspension of play. The 2-time defending champ rallies to defeat Eliot Spizzirri, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

🦘 Inglis Lessons Maddison Inglis becomes the first Australian qualifier to reach the AO 4th round since Amanda Tobin Dingwell in 1985. The Aussie moved on after Naomi Osaka unexpectedly withdrew, saying on Instagram: "Having to stop here breaks my heart."

🎭 Pour One Out for Stan the Man Stan Wawrinka's 20-year Australian Open journey wnd with a with a 7-6⁵, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory. The 40-year-old former AO champion shared beers on court, and did a farewell lap pointing to his heart.

🏆 Another Record for The GOAT Novak Djokovic made history by defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6⁴, becoming the first player ever to reach 400 Grand Slam singles wins. He also equalled Roger Federer's record of 102 AO victories.

😱 An AO Omen? Here's a weird stat to this about. Coco Gauff has won the title at every event where she's faced Karolina Muchova. (Cincinnati 2023, US Open 2023, Beijing 2024, and United Cup 2025.) They face each other again on Day 8!

"I can't blame anyone in the crowd for cheering for Stan here. It's amazing what he's out here doing." - Taylor Fritz on Stan Wawrinka's career farewell.¹

"I wouldn't say he got saved by it. He's too good of a player to say that, but at the same time it was challenging timing and that's just the nature of sport." - Eliot Spizzirri on the timing of the extreme heat suspension during his match with Jannik Sinner ²

"We both don't make it easy on our opponents. So, naturally, we're not making it easy on each other." - Learner Tien on Daniil Medvedev ahead of their AO rematch ³

"The best that I've played at a Slam was up until I got injured at the US Open last summer … but to be in the form that I'm in as early as it is in the year is really encouraging." - Ben Shelton on his form heading into the 2nd week of the Australian Open ⁴

"She wants to make me eat her disgusting apple pie with cheese on top of it if I lose, which I said I refuse. So she's going to have to think of something else." - Madison Keys on the "bet" she made with Jessica Pegula ahead of their 4th round match ⁵

ROD LAVER ARENA

Day Session

◆ Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Victoria Mboko (17) ✨MATCH OF THE DAY!✨

◆ Carlos Alcaraz (1) vs. Tommy Paul (19)

Night Session

◆ Alex de Minaur (6) vs. Alexander Bublik (10)

◆ Mirra Andreeva (8) vs. Elina Svitolina (12)

MARGARET COURT ARENA

Day Session

◆ Coco Gauff (3) vs. Karolina Muchova (19)

◆ Daniil Medvedev (11) vs. Learner Tien (25)

JOHN CAIN ARENA

Day Session

◆ Iva Jovic (29) vs. Yulia Putintseva

Night Session

◆ Alexander Zverev (3) vs. Francisco Cerundolo (18)

¹ Ubha, Ravi. "Fritz puts an end to Wawrinka's final AO run." Australian Open, 24 January 2026. link

² Smith, Sophie. "Sinner through under closed roof in 'tough match'." Australian Open, 24 January 2026. link

³ Ubha, Ravi. "AO 2026 Day 8 preview: Medvedev, Tien set for second act." Australian Open, 24 January 2026. link

⁴ Imhoff, Dan. "Shelton sends warning as Italian men make AO history." Australian Open, 24 January 2026. link

⁵ Mansell, Jackson. "Lobs and volleys: The best of Day 7 at AO 2026." Australian Open, 24 January 2026. link