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 during the evening session on Monday, will now advance directly to the quarter-finals.
The Serb will now compete against either the fifth-seeded Italian, Lorenzo Musetti, or the ninth-ranked American, Taylor Fritz, in the last eight. This development follows the withdrawal of two-time champion Naomi Osaka on Saturday, and other players, such as 2025 winner Jannik Sinner, have faced challenges in the scorching heat, which is expected to reach a sweltering 42C on Tuesday.
If the remaining matches proceed according to the seedings, Djokovic, the 38-year-old Serb, could potentially face Sinner in the semi-finals and the world's top-ranked player, Carlos Alcaraz, in the final. Djokovic's last Grand Slam victory was at the 2023 US Open, where he tied with 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 this, he remains optimistic, stating after his third-round win over Botic van de Zandschulp on Saturday, "I feel really good. It's been a great start to the tournament."
"Of course, things can change," he added, "but I'm not getting ahead of myself. Last year, I learned my lesson. I got too excited too early in some Grand Slams, playing exceptionally well and reaching the quarters and semis, only to get injured in three out of four events."
Mensik, who defeated Djokovic in the final of last year's Masters event in Miami, catapulting him into the world's top 25, prepared for the Australian Open by winning another tour title in Auckland. Seeded 16th in Melbourne, he was set to make his fourth-round debut at a major. However, he shared on Instagram, "This is a tough one to write. 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 extensive discussions with my team and doctors, we decided not to play tomorrow [Monday]. Despite my disappointment, reaching the fourth round here for the first time is an achievement I'll cherish for a long time. The energy from the fans and the unique atmosphere in Melbourne truly made it special."
"Thank you to my team for their unwavering support and to everyone who sent messages and cheers. It means more than you can imagine. Now, it's time to recover properly."
Mensik had previously defeated Spanish players Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Jodar, as well as American Ethan Quinn, to reach the last 16.
