Australian Open 2025: De Minaur sweeps past Michelsen into quarter-finals – as it happened

Iga Swiatek hammered Eva Lys, Emma Nacvarro outlasted Daria Kasatkina – just – and Alex de Minaur saw off Alex Michelsen

Back on Court, Shelton leads Monfils 4-2 in their third-set breaker and if he sees it out, might the Frenchman retire? I could see him convincing himself he’s good for one more set, but two?

Lys starts well, narrowly missing a backhand down the line that would’ve given her a break, before Swiatek secures her hold through deuce. She’s never gone further than the semis here, which is in some way surprising – the balls bounce slower and lower than on other hard courts, meaning the surface is more clay-like than at Flushing Meadow, where she won in 2022. And though, in 2023, it took Elena Rybakina to beat her in Melbourme, last term it was Linda Noskova. I’d be surprised if she got past Coco Gauff or Aryna Sabalenka, likely final opponents, but she’s got a good chance of getting there given standing in her way are Kasatkina or Navarro, then Svitolina. She breaks immediately for 2-0.

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Champion Scarlets launch Academy U18 title defence

The Scarlets launch the defence of their Academy U18 Championship title when they take on Cardiff Rugby at Llandovery’s Church Bank ground (Sunday, 19 January). Head coach Tom Phillips has 15 players back from last season and is hoping for a repeat performance. With a host of Llandovery College and Coleg Sir Gar players in […]

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