Australian Open 2026: Novak Djokovic Advances to Quarter-Finals as Jakub Mensik Withdraws with Injury
Novak Djokovic's quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title received a significant boost after his opponent, Jakub Mensik, withdrew from the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury. Djokovic, who was set to face the 20-year-old Czech player in the fourth round on Monday evening, will now advance directly to the quarter-finals.
The Serb will now compete against either the fifth-seed Italian, Lorenzo Musetti, or the ninth-seed American, Taylor Fritz, in the last eight. This development follows the withdrawal of two-time champion Naomi Osaka on Saturday, adding to the challenges faced by other players in the scorching heat, which is predicted to reach 42C on Tuesday.
If the tournament progresses according to the seedings, Djokovic, aged 38, could potentially face Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals and the world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, in the final. Djokovic's last Grand Slam victory was at the 2023 US Open, where he equalled Margaret Court's record of 24 major titles.
Djokovic, who has yet to drop a set at this year's Australian Open, experienced a setback in 2025 when he was eliminated in the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams. Despite his success, he remains cautious, drawing from a lesson he learned the previous year.
"I feel really good," Djokovic said after his third-round victory over Botic van de Zandschulp on Saturday. "It's been a great start to the tournament. But things can change quickly. I'm not getting too excited because last year, I got injured in three out of four Grand Slams after reaching the quarters and semis."
Mensik, who defeated Djokovic in last year's Masters event in Miami, catapulted himself into the world's top 25 with that victory. He prepared for the Australian Open by winning another tour title in Auckland. Seeded 16th in Melbourne, Mensik was on track to reach the fourth round of a major for the first time in his career.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Mensik expressed his disappointment, stating, "After giving it our all, I have to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal muscle injury that worsened over the past matches. After long discussions with my team and doctors, we decided not to play tomorrow."
Mensik's journey included victories over Spanish players Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Jodar, as well as American Ethan Quinn, before reaching the last 16. Despite his withdrawal, Mensik's achievement of reaching the fourth round will be a memorable milestone in his career.
